New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1914-07-29
You saw al. the papers. : interpos-
d. ''and they bear opt every state

seus iauO luey UeaE8s OHS every SIule--
tment.
Eyes. But could they not be forged?
Why should any honest lawyer advise
a client to undertake such q fraud?
It seems to me we are actually crimi-
nails. engaged In criminal plot. Be
cause the plan was concocted BY "a;
lawyer makes no difference. We could
be arrested. Imprisoned. . H
1--WE shall have to play out the game
tonight at least" said. startled by her
earnestness. II will talk with Coombs
and will tell you the result tomorrow.
Your nerves are all unstrung, and the
affair may appear different by day
light
The Texan got noisily to his feet and
staggered across the floor.
IF you all hav' got through yer whis-
perrin" he said roughly. II reckon Sal
ly's got ther grub laid OUT
l bit my lips to keep back hot re-
ply. feeling the restraint of her eyes,
and we followed him into the next
room. The table was set for two, and
I could distinguish the shadow Of q
woman standing motionless in the far
ther corner.
Yer kin talk it out yere,'' announced
Coombs. waving one hand. cause l
won't be present, havin' ct already. !
reckon Sally won't interfere none"
He slammed the door viciously going
out, causing the lamp to sputter Then
the woman came silently forward, a
cofeepot in her hand. She was a mu-
latto perhaps sixty years of age, her
face Scared by smallpox, and with
strangely furtive eyes. Somehow she
fitted into the scene, and l saw nv
companion gazing at her almost with
horror as she fitted about us silently
as specter. endeavored to talk
while eating heartily. for was hungry,
but found it difficult to arouse Mrs.
Bernard to any response, and she mere
~ toyed with her food.
When the colored woman went out
Mrs. Bernard dropped her fork and
pushed back her chair.
"Oh, simply cannot stand this
place" she exclaimed There is some
thing perfectly horrid about it, and
and the people. How shall l ever get
through the night?''
THAT is nothing" soothed. al
though hardly at ease myself '.She is
evidently of the taciturn sort We
don't need to keep these servants, you
know. I'll hunt up some more cheer
ful in town tomorrow. Why, by Jove.
it's 10 O'Clock already. Have you fin
ished"
II couldn't choke down another
mouthful."
well. don't be afraid. They mean
we'll enough, no doubt. Sallie!'
She came gliding in, her back to the
door,
Are you the one who is to show us
to our rooms?"
YES"
She picked up the lamp and went
out, and Mrs. Bernard followed in
stantly. evidently afraid to be left in
the dark. followed with the grips.
trailing up the stairs, having seen
nothing of Coombs in the front room.
In the upper hall our guide threw open
two doors, going into the rooms and
lighting lamps, thus giving glimpses
OF the interiors. The one in the cor
ner was the larger and better FIR
nished.
This will be yours / said, placing
her valise on the floor. "You can feel
safe enough there with the door lock-
ed-yes. there is key-and l will be
right opposite if you need anything
She gave me her hand, but l felt It
tremble
'You are still afraid?"
Yes, am-but-but am not going
to be such fool''
AS her door closed / turned to the
mulatto, who still stood there. lamp in
hand. l was not sleepy, and wanted
most OF all to have an understanding
with Coombs SIS the overseer down.
stairs?''
"Ah reckon he's out in one o. Their
cabins, sah-he done don't sleep in the
house nohow.'
He doesn't sleep here! Why?"
"Ah spect it's cause he's afeerd. too.
sah," she replied, her snaky eyes show
Ing. Abs vood0o, an All don't care
bout 'em tall, but good Lor', dar amt
no white man wants ter stay in des
we're house more'n one night"
She laughed, weird, grating laugh
and started downstairs l stood still
watching her light disappear. Then.
swearing at myself for coward. |
stepped back into my own room and
closed the door.
This revealment of conditions loft
me thoroughly puzzled was not
frightened at the situation, for large
~ attributed the fear shown by both
Pete and Sallie to negro superstition.
But Bill Coombs was very different
proposition. He was Of the hard head.
ed kind. not to be easily alarmed BY
visionary terrors, and yet he was man.
ifestly afraid to sleep in the house. i
was sufficiently acquainted with his
type to comprehend there must be
some real cause driving him to retreat
to the negro cabins for rest, 4