The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1912-08-13


thirty minutes l was at the gate of
Yore Hall.
Irang the great bell thrice. and birds
fed from the caves at the clatter, and
the rabbits that had sported by the
thicket disappeared I'm the warren.
Some minutes after the third ring,
and when l was preparing to drive off
and leave Jabez Ladd to his own af-
fairs, the stable door opened. and girl
came out, dressed. II seemed to me.
curiously In Il smart white frock; but
with untidy hair. though much OF Il:
\ and an exceedingly pretty face. which
had been the prettier for little scour-
ing. The creature had great dark eyes
like grisette of Bordeaux: and when
she saw ne. stood swayng upon her
feet. and laughing as she bit at her
| apron-strings. as though my advent
was an exceedingly humorous thing.
Then she said
rs 1t Mr.. Ladd you're wanting?"
l told her that 1t was.
You'll not be n county mann" she
asked.
I'm from London" said I. land my
name is Bernard Sutton. Tell Mr.. Ladd
that I'll not keep him five minutes"
There's no need" said she, shipper
ing again; hes been AIDED since the
milk"
I'm bed!" cried I amazed.
YES" said she, Its over late for
company: but if yen write something
I'll run up with it; the housekeepers
away sick"
She seemed to think that all this
was good joke, and wondered, l
doubt not, that did not shipper at her
again. l was on the very point of
whipping up the nag, and leaving such
n curious household, when one of the
landing windows went up with a
creak, and Ladd himself, with a muf-
fer round his throat, was visible.
What dye want in my grounds? p"
he roared. Here. you hussy, what
are We chattering there for?-thought
! was asleep did ye-hal"
Good evening, Mr.. Ladd,' said I
| quietly; I'm sorry, but | appear to
have disturbed you. I've a word for
your ear if you'll come down"
"Hullo," cried he, in his cracked
and piercing voice; why it's you, is
it? egad, ! thought you were the
butcher! What's your business ?-Pm
biding in bed, as you can see"
81 can't shout" said I, and my
business is private
Wont it waltz" he snarled "You
haven't come to sell me anything?"
81 don't sell stun in the street." said
l. come down and I'll talk to you.
But if you don't want to hear-well,
go to bed"
His curiosity got the better of him
at this point, and he snapped out the
words. I'm coming down." and then
disappeared from the window. But
he had no intention of opening
the front door, as found pres
emily when of a sudden he APP
| peared at a easement upon the
! ground floor, and resumed the CONVEX
sation.
You're not asking after my health, -
| said he, but I'll let you know that I'm
eat up with cold; can we have done
| with it straight off?"
J YES" said l, leaning over from the
dog-cart to spare my voice. do you
know tall man with yellow hair
who's got two emeralds TO SELF"
At these words his face whitened
in the sunlight. and he opened his
| great mouth to speak, but no sound
came. Then quickly he drew small
box from his pocket, such as I had
seen in the hands of the velvet-coated
man. and took a tabloid from 1t.
I'll be about letting you in" said
he, as he went to shut down the case
ment.
But l said. 81 think not, there's a
drive of five miles to Whitchurch be-
fore me, and this horse trips"
For the love of Cod" cried he, sud
denly putting off all self-restraint,
don't go till I've heard you-man,
my life may depend upon it,"
'How's that" said l.
'Tm going to tell YOU" said he;
:and if yen stay Wen crack a bottle
OF port together"
He whetted my curiosity now, and
! presently | heard him nagging at the
pretty girl who had first greeted me.
After that he threw the stable door
wide open, and dressed only, as I
could see, in a loose dressing-gown
| th'ih a pan VI Nttl Dtl clippers, ne leu
the horse to a stall that had the half
of roof; crying to the maid to get
her down TO the house of a man he
named, there to beg a feed of corn and
the loan of a boy But while he was
doing IT, he shivered necessarily, and
seemed eaten up with fear.
You appear to think that I'm put
ing up with you" said l, when / heard
his orders; there's no need to look
after the nag-I shan't be here ten
minutes"
Not ten minutes!" ne exclaimed
still with quavering voice. ooh, but
you will-when you've heard my talk
Would you see me murderer
did not answer, being ia the main
amused at his attempts to get the
horse out of the trap. and particularly
to unbuckle the very stin belly-band.
The girl had gone tripping off with
herself to the village as ! thought
but though at that time ] had no in
tention of staying beyond an hour
with him, unshafted the animal my
self, and tethered the beast TO the
rickety manger. throwing my own rug
across hts loins; then l followed Laid
through q black and smoke-washed
kitchen to a dingy apartment near the