Putnam patriot., 1915-01-22

gloomy.
 shadows won't hurt us, and this place will lool, better by daylight"
 You haven't any nerves.
 "Oh, yes, have; only they are train ed didn't anticipate an easy job when I came down here. l am be- ginning to wonder if those fellows were square. if they gave me the straight story Goombs' words would seem to indicate that he knows I'm fraud. Perhaps he didn't mean that but it sounded so. Why should they tell that rough neck their plans and send him down here? I'll find out what he knows and how he knows it before another ten hours. If he's here to spy on us I'll make him earn his money.
 1T hardly know why I consented 10 come. only was so miserable; any thing seemed better than the life l was leading.
 You saw all the papers" interpes- ed. and they bear out every state ment"
 Yes. But could they not be forgedf Why should any honest lawyer advise q client to undertake such q fraud? Ii seems to me we are actually erimi= nals. engaged in d criminal plot. Be cause the plan was concocted by lawyer makes no difference. We could be arrested, imprisoned
 We shall have to play out the game | tonight at least" said, startled by her earnestness. T 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 swaggered across the floor.
 "If you all hay got through yer whis- perin'.' he said roughly, "I reckon Sal ly's got ther grub laid out"
 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 woman standing motionless in the far ther corner.
 Yer kin talk it out we're, announced Coombs. waving one hand. "'cause 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 coheepot in her hand. She was 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 my companion gazing at her almost with horror as she fitted about us silently as d specter. endeavored to talk while eating heartily. for 1 was hungry. but found il difficult to arouse Mrs. Bernard to any response, and she mere ly toyed with her food.
 When the colored woman went out Mrs. Bernard dropped her fork and pushed back her chair.
 'Oh, l simply cannot stand this place. she exclaimed There is some thing perfectly horrid about it, and and the people. How shall I ever get through the night?'
 That is nothing" 1 soothed, all though haiA1y 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 love. it's 10 o'clock already. Have you fin ished?"
 T couldn't choke down another mouthful"
 'Well. don't be afraid They mean well enough, no doubt Sallien'
 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 fur nished
 This will be yours" 1 said. placing her yalise on the floor. You can feel safe enough there with the door lock ed-yes. there is a key-and 1 will be right opposite if you need anything"
 She gave me her hand. but l felt 1t tremble.
 You are still afraid?'
 "Yes. I am-but-but I am not going to be such fooi''
 As her door closed l turned to the mulatto, who still stood there. lamp in hand 1 was not sleepy. and l wanted most of all to have an understanding with Coombs. "Is the overseer down. stairsT'
 .'Ah reckon he's out in one O ther 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. Ans a voodoo, an Ah don't cage bout 'em tnll, but good LOT, dar ain't no white man wants ter stay in des yere 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 coSsard, l stepped back into my own room and closed the door.
 This revealment of conditions left me thoroughly puzzled. was not frightened at the situation. for I large ly attributed the fear shown by both Pete and Sallie to negro superstition