The Little Minister

said in triumph; "and, begging your pardon, will

did not tu

aid carelessly, "Three of us a

a slipper

their prisoner doubtfully until the door closed. Then the officer whee

he drawled,

et he only saw the gypsy's girlish figure in its red and green, for she had covered her face with her hands. She was looking a

mind about him, for she began to sob bitterly. A

k at me?" asked Ha

dau

so fea

and you would sho

aking her wrists in his

said again, but th

ring into her pocket, and fell bac

d, "is all soj

uld have been self-contempt to doubt her. Yet ha

ng it wise not to look her in the face.

d my mither aye to count twenty afore I spoke, because she thocht I

h the result that his question changed to "Where did y

acquaint the Thrums people with our movements? That you must tell me at

rself. It said several things, among them that the off

e the sojers?" exclai

cows, for he has nane

was the sheriff who told tales? Answer m

of them was that as the sheriff had told nothing, she had a story to ma

e said eagerly, "wi

the sheriff

Egyptian said in distress.

n before him on other occasio

e remembered that the sheriff was near, and she looked desperately at the window as if ready to fling herself from it. She

se of her woe, and great was his des

he said, "and I pro

and making up her story as she told it, "yestreen I met the shir

t me to believe that. W

ty. He was ridi

s on his way back to Tilliedrum from Lord Rintoul's place. But

his fortune. He said he would gaol me for an impostor if I didna tell him true, so I gaed about it ca

oldier. "You promised to tell me not what you said to

o you think fortunes is telled? First we get out o' the man, without his seeing what we'r

thing out of him w

he rode awa' say

d with the delig

will never let him hear the end of this story. He was right; you are

ce, but the fun disappeared, and a

bewitched the sheriff. I must take car

iled, but he also ce

Egyptian agai

she sobbed. "I wish I h

ish that?" Ha

ered, and again covered

at her u

" he said, gently. "You a

re? Her words said so, but had he? The captain could n

yptian's sobs. Halliwell's heart w

oor g

? Was she not laughing at

hat he was of two minds. She let her hands fall from h

e," she said, sadly, "how

oking at

o her wonderful eyes. I am older than the

ain d

o beguile him, but he could not take his eyes off hers. He was in

reached the door, without taking her eyes from his fac

nd the handle of the door. She was turning it when his hand fe

loak. She dared not disobey. Then he leant against the door, his back to her, for just

presently, and called to

ou can find the she

ids

ptain

marvelled at his words, "it is better. D

ed, and again the Egyptian w

mptuously, though her heart sank whe

," he answe

the room, and she sat

out the sheriff was not

ut it a' this time? Captains I could tell you what you're thinking now. You're

e speak until he heard the sheriff coming up the stair. T

ocked?" cried the

ed Halliwell; "the

ble, and the room was at once in darkness. The officer

ness?" asked the she

ried Halliwell. "P

me the woman

er! She capsized the

the d

er hand. It showed an extraordinary scene. The door was shut, and the sheriff was guar

efore either man

. After her!"

en. The Egyptian had fled

n Davidson, who had been gossiping at the corner of the town-house, relea

Riach cried, and hastened

per that he called up Davidson and