New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1914-08-05
be maaness. what can It mean. Hay,

y F..
absolutely none. am cropping In
the dark without q single clew But
In my judgment there are others than
Coombs. Sallie and the creole involved
about whom we know nothing"
'You mean there is band that we
have stumbled into a rendezvous of
outlaws?"
II suspicion so. This plantation has
been practically abandoned for years.
Even when the Judge was alive he
lived In town and could get no negroes
to work out here because they believed
the place was haunted. A bayou
comes within a hundred yards of the
rear of the house. so concealed by
trees and weeds as to be almost invisi-
BILE until you stand on the banks. We
are only little over twenty miles
from the gulf. Altogether this would
make an ideal hiding place for Mobile
or New Orleans thieves
what do you mean to do?"
The question was asked quietly, end
! glanced at her. noting the color had
| returned to her cheeks.
IL? Why. remain and ferret it out.
l suppose" and | laughed. "Coombs
is going to have a talk with me later
Intends to make sure who l am no
doubt. and l may learn something from
him during the interview"
What about meY"
"You had better return to town. A
travelling man on the train said there
was good hotel. Probably Coombs
has some kind Of rig we can drive
down in. I'll ask him after break
fast"
rs it because you do not wish me
with your
Il shall feel more free alone" | re-
piled. for l shall nave only myself to
guard. am used to taking cage OF
myself. Besides. this is likely to prove
rather unpleasant situation for
lady"
| And you conclude can be of no
help. no assistance
The cracked voice Of Sallie came to
us up the stairs. the unexpected sound
startling both
! Il reckon you all better COM down
an eat
She stood in the light Of the front
door watching us, and we descended
the flight of steps without exchanging
a word. The woman turned and walk
ed in advance into the dini$g room.
Where is Coombs?" I asked. look
ing about curiously.
He done eat already. but l reckon
he'll be found gain after awhile You
all just help yerselves''
We endeavored to talk as we sam
Piled the meal. directing our converse
ton into safe channels. both obsessed
with feeling that whatever we said
would be overheard. The woman bad
vanished into the dark passage lead
ing toward the Kitchen Neither of
use ate heartily and as soon as we
dared pushed back our chairs. 1t was
relief to get out of the room, but as
we stood moment in the front door
! way breathing in the fresh air no.
ticed giant form approaching the
house through the weeds.
"Coambs is coming already for his
interview" l said hastily. las it may
be stormy. perhaps you had better re-
treat upstairs"
! II will CO." she said quickly, but l
shall not leave this house while you
remain
She was gone before l could speak,
before l could even grasp the full
j purport of her decision. followed
the flutter OF her skirt up the stairs,
half tempted to rush after. yet as in
stantly comprehended the uselessness
of any attempt at influencing her.
Even the short space of our acquaint-
ance had served to convince me that
she was woman of resource, of char
acter and determination.
! heard the thud of Coombs' feet
upon the steps Of the veranda. That
he had been drinking realized at a
glance, and it was equally evident that
he planned to overawe me by brutal
domineering.
$50 yer've got through eatin.' hey?''
he began coarsely. "Whar's the fe-
male? Thought l saw her here"
You did," returned coldly. but
Mrs. Henley has returned to her
room.'
Mrs. Henley. huh! Think yer kin
pull thet bluff over meY'
What bluff?"
Jaw. this Henley racket you sprung
last night-'bout yer being young Phil
Henley come back"
did say that?'
Yer shure did, eying me in some
surprise. II reckon my ears heard all
right. Why, what are yer this morn
ing?"
J If l ever made any such claim as
that, Coombs, it was merely to assure
our admittance. It's different this
morning, and am going to be just as
frank with you as you are with me. Is
that square?"
II reckon" uneasily. not yet able to
gauge my purpose and feeling his bluff
failure. Il amt got nothin' ter lie