Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1912-11-14
CHAPTER III-contlnued.


"Keziah," he commanded. "Hum-
ha! Keziah. come in here a minute.
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 little sewing, after the dinner
dishes were done.
"Keziah," said the captain pompous-
ly. I'VE expect you to look out for MT.
Ellery in every respect. The parish
committee expects that-yes.'
"I1l try" said Mrs. Coffin shortly.
Eyes. 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
liable neighborly."
YES" purred Annabel. DO come
and see us often. Congenial 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, IL
shan't trouble the parish committee.
BE sure Of that. I'm perfectly salts
fed"
Keziah sat down in the rocker and
her needle moved very briskly for
moment. Then she said, without
looking up:
That's good. own up like to
hear you say It, And am glad there
are some things ! do like about this
new place Of mine. Because
because there's likely to be others that
shan't like at all"
On Friday evening the minister
conducted his first prayer meeting.
Before it, and afterwards, he heard
a good deal concerning the Come
Cutters. He learned that Captain
Eben Hammond had preached against
him in the chapel on Sunday. Most
of his own parishioners seemed to
think It good joke.
The sun of the following Thursday
morning rose behind curtain of fog
as dense as that of the day upon
which Ellery arrived fiat calm in
the forenoon, the wind changed about
three o'clock, and, begiHa+Ag with
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.. Ellery!" ex-
claimed Keziah, in amazement, as the
minister put on his hat and coat about
seven that evening. "Sakes alivel
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 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.
We'll, take an umbrella, then" was
the housekeeper's advice. You'll
need 1t before you get back, | callate. q"
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 a blind mans cane Is useful. in
feeling the way. Two or three strag.
glers who met the minister carried
lanterns. John Ellery stumbled on
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 "Turn.off'
stood small, brown-shingled building
its windows alight. Opposite its door
on either side of the road, grew q
spreading hornbeam tree surrounded
by cluster of swamp blackberry
bushes. In the black shadow of tho
hornbeam Mr.. Ellery stood still. Ht
was debating in his mind a question,
should he or should he not enter that
building?
AS ne stood there, groups Of peopl,
emerged from the fog and darkness.
and passed in at the door. Some o.
them he had seen during his fortnigh
in Trumet. Others were strangers Il
him. lantern danced and wabbleC
up the Turmoil" from the direction
of the bay shore and the packet wharf
1t drew near, and he saw that 1t wa!
carried by an old man with long, whit,
hair and chin beard, who walked will
a slight limp. Beside him was a THU
woman wearing black poke bonnie
and shawl In the rear of the pal
came another woman, young woman
judging by the way she was dressed
and her 1.-THE, vigorous step. The trit
halted on the platform of the building
The old man blew out the lantern
Then he threw the door open and
stream of yellow light poured owe
the group.