Western Kansas world., 1912-12-28
cHAPrER III-continued.

Keziah came in response to the call,
her sewing in her hand The renova-
ton of the parsonage had SO far pro-
gressed that she could now find time
for a little sewing. after the dinner
dishes were done.
"Keziah," said the captain pompous-
1y, 1--WE expect you to look out for Mr.
Ellery in every respect The par1sn
committee expects that-yes."
'T'll try" said Mrs. Coffin shortly.
yes. Well, that's all. You can go
We must be going, too. Mr. Ellery.
Please consider our house at your dis
posal any time. Be neighborly-hum
-ha!-be neighborly."
yes" purred Annabel. DO come
and see us often. Cougenial society
is very scarce in Trumet. for me espe-
cially. We can read together Are
you fond of Moore. Mr.. Ellery? just
dote on him.
The last "hum-ha" was partially
drowned by the click OF the gate. ke-
ziah closed the dining-room door.
Mrs. Coffin,'' said the minister, !
shan't trouble the parish committee
Be sure of that I'm perfectly salts
fed"
Keziah sat down In the rocker and
AC4 ASSUlt fVAS OhI5hAJ AOA -
moment Then she said, without
looking up:
That's good. l own up i like to
hear you say 1t. And 1 am glad there
are some things I do like about this
new place of mine. Because-weIl.
because there's likely to be others that
/ shan't like at ALL"
On Friday evening the minister
hi irtr
Before it, and afterwards, he heard
Cutters. He learned that Captain
Eben Hammond had preached against
him in the chapel on Sunday. Most
Of his own parishioners seemed to
think 1t good joke.
The sun of the following Thursday
morning rose behind a curtain of fog
as dense as that of the day upon
which Ellery arrived. A fat calm in
the forenoon, the wind changed about
three o'clock. and, beginning with a
sharp and sudden squall from the
northwest, blew hard and steady. Yet
the fog still cloaked everything and
refused TO be blown away.
Coin out in this, Mr.. Elleryi" ex-
claimed Keziah, in amazement, as the
minister put on his hat and coat about
seven that evening. "Sakes alivei
you won't be able to see the way to
the gate. It's as dark as a nigger's
pocket and thicker than young ones
in q poor mans family, as my father
used to say. You'll be wet through.
Where in the world are you bound for
this night ?"
The minister equivocated. He said
he had been in the house all day and
felt like a walk.
Well. take an umbrella, then" was
the housekeeper's advice. You'll
need it before you get back, I cal1ate. .
1t was dark enough and thick
enough, in all conscience. The main
road was a black, wet void, through
which CLEANS from lighted windows
were big vague, yellow blotches The
umbrella was useful in the same way
that blind mans cane is useful, in
feeling the way. Two or three strag
glers who met the minister carried
lanterns. John Ellery stumbled or
through the mist till he reached the
Corners" where the store was located
and the roads forked. There. he
turned to the right, into the way
called locally "Hammond's Turn-off.
A short distance down the ssTurn-off'
stood small, brown-shingled building
its windows alight. Opposite its door
on either side of the road, grew 9
spreading hornbeam tree surrounded
by cluster of swamp blackberry
bushes In the black shadow of the
hornbeam Mr.. Ellery stood still. He
twas debating in his mind question
Isho, "a he or should he not enter that
but ing?
As he stood there. groups OF people
lemerged from the fog and darkness:
land passed in at the door, Some O.
them he had seen during his fortnigh
lin Trumet- Others were strangers Il
him. A lantern danced and wabblet
,up the Turmoil" from the direction
tof tie bay shore and the packet wharf
iTt Grew nearrand he saw that il wa.
lcarried by an old man with long, white
hair aud chin beard, who walked witt
la slight limp. Beside him was thir
woman wearing a black poke bonne
land n shawl. In the rear of the pail
came another woman, a young woman
t3udging by the way she was dressed
and her 1.-THE. vigorous STEP The trio
halted on the platform of the building
The old man blew out the lantern
Then he threw the door open and 4
tstream Of FELLOW light poured ovel
the group.