Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1914-02-12


on the hunt ourselves? We might
hear something further on to help us"
1--WE might; but should rather stay
on the immediate scene at present.
All, here comes a fellow in cart who
should be able to tell us something!
Stand by and I'll accost him. You
needn't show your face"
Mr.. Ransom turned aside. Mr..
Harper waited till the slow-moving
horse. dragging heavily jogging wag-
on, came alongside, and he had caught
the eye of the low-browed, broad
faced farmer boy who sat on bag OF
potatoes and held the reins.
Good morning" said he. Dad
news this way. Any better at the
Ferry, or down east, as you call it,"
"Eh?" was the numbering, half-sus-
picious answer from the startled boy.
GIVE heard naught down yonder, but
that a gal threw herself over the wa
terfall up here last night. Is that
fact, sir? I'm mighty Gurus to know.
My mother knew them Hazens; used
to wash for 'em years ago. She told
me to bring up these taters and larn
all I could about it"
We don't know much more than
that ourselves" was the smooth and
cautious reply. "The lady certainly
is missing, and she is supposed to
have drowned herself" Then, as he
noted the fellows eyes resting with
some curiosity on Mr.. Ransoms we'll
clad, gentlemanly figure, added grave
ly, and with a slight gesture towards
the latter:
'The lady's husband
The lads jaw fell and he looked
very sheepish.
Excuse me, misters, I didn't know"
he managed to mutter, with slash at
his horse which was vainly endeavor-
ing to pull the cart from the rut in
which it had stuck. II guess I'll go
along to the hotel. I've bag Of
%1ters for Mrs. Deo."
But the cart didn't bulge and the
lawyer had time to say:
Guess you didn't hear anything
said about another lady / am inter-
ested in. No talk down your way of
strange young woman seen anywhere
on the highway or about any of the
houses between here and the Land
ing?"
"Jerusha! I did hear a neighbor Of
mine say somethin' about a stranger
gal he saw this very mornin'. Met her
down by Beardsley's. She was goin'
through the mud on foot as lively as
you please. Asked him the way to
the Ferry. He noticed her because
she was pretty and spoke in such a
nice way-just like city GAL" he
said. els it any one from this hotel?"
added the fellow with wondering
look. eff so, she walked mile be-
fore daylight in mud up to her an
kles. A girl of powerful grit that!
with a mighty good reason for catch
ing the train"
ooh. there's an early train then?"
asked the lawyer, ignoring the others
question with unmoved good-humor
"One, 7 mean, before the 1880 ex-
press?"
eyes, sir, or SO I've heard. never
took it. Folks don't from here, ex-
cept they're in an awful hurry. Will
yer say who the young woman is?
eve don't know who she u.s. quiet
" objected the lawyer. "And you
don't know who she is either" he sc"
verely added, holding the yawping
~"untryman with his eye. eff you're
the man l think you, you-n NOT tain
about her unless you're asked by the
constable or some one you are bound
10 answer. And what's more, you'll
earn a five-dollar bill by going back
the road you've come and bringing
here, without any talk or fuss, the
man you were just telling us about.
I want to have a talk with him, but
I don't want any one but you and him
to know this. You can tell him it's
worth money, if he don't want to
come. Do you understand"
"You bet" chuckled the grinning
lad. GA five-dollar bill is mighty clear
ing to the mind, sir. But must I turn
right back before going on to the ho-
tel and hearing the news?"
'We'll help you turn the cart, )"
grim7y suggested Mr.. Harper. "Get
up there, Dobbin, or whatever your
name is. Here. Ransom. lend hand!"
There was nothing for the fellow to
do but to accept the help proffered,
and turn his cart. With Cne longing
look towards the hotel he jerked at
the rein and shouted at the horse,
which, after few feeble efforts,
pulled the cart about and started off
again in the desired direction.
Sooner done, sooner paid" shouted
the lawyer, as lad and cart went jolt