Gilpin observer., 1913-01-02
CHAPTER III-contInued.

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-
~. I'VE expect you to look out for Mr..
Ellery in every respect. The parish
committee expects that-yes."
'T1l 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 Annabely 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 dinipg-room door.
Mrs. Coffin" said the minister. II
shan't trouble the parish committee.
Be sure Of that. I'm perfectly salts
ned"
Keziah sat down In the rocker and
her needle moved very briskly for a,
moment. Then she said, without
looking up:
That's good. own up l like to
hear you say 1t. And am glad there
are some things l do like about this
new place of mine. Because-well.
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
. 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 II a 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.. Ellery!" ex.
claimed keziah. In amazement. as the
minister put on his hat and coat about
seven that evening. "Sakes alive!
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 a 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 walk.
well. take an umbrella. then" was
the housekeeper's advice. you'll
need 1t before you get back, / caIIate."
1t WAS dark enough and thick
enough. In all conscience. The main
road was 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
lglers who met the minister carried
lanterns. John Ellery stumbled ON
through the mist till he reached tbe
Corners" where the store was located
and the roads forked. There. he
turned to the right. into the way
called locally "Hammond's Turn-ofY."
A short distance down the "Turn.ofY"
stood a small. brown.shingled building.
Its windows alight Opposite its door.
on either side of the road, grew a
spreading hornbeam tree surrounded
by a cluster of swamp blackberry
bushes. In the black shadow of the
hornbeam Mr.. Ellery stood still. He
was debating In his mind q question:
should he or should he not enter that
building?
As he stood there. groups of people
emerged from the fog and darkness
aud passed in at the door. Some of
hem he had seen during his fortnight
IN Trumet. Others were strangers to
aim. A lantern danced and wabbled
UP the Turmoil" from the direction
OF the bay shore and the packet wharf
1t drew near, and he nav that II was
carried by an old man with long, white
hair and chin beard, who walked with
u slight limp. Beside him was a thin
woman wearing a black poke bonnet
and q shawl. In the rear Of the pair
came another woman, young woman.
Judging 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 a
stream Of yellow light poured over
the group.