“And I tell you she ain’t here! and you know it a great deal better than I do! ’cause you must have taken her away! You kept the door!”
“Not here!” exclaimed the policeman, passing without ceremony into the room, and proceeding to search it.
“Now it is of no use to try to gammon people in this way, by pretending to search the room where you know very well that she cannot be found,” said Tabitha, scornfully.
“Where is she?” thundered the policeman.
“That’s what you’ll have to tell! You kept the door! I suppose you came in while I was asleep and stole her away! Mayhap you’ve murdered her and thrown her into the lake for aught that I know! Oh! you shall pay for it!” cried Tabitha, working herself up into a well-acted passion.
The policeman, without paying further heed to her words, immediately gave the alarm; and the chamber was soon filled with an eager and curious crowd.
“Now, then! what is all this about?” inquired the doctor, who was present.
“Why, sir, this girl declares that the prisoner has escaped!” said the policeman.
“I don’t declare no such thing! I declares that when I woke up this morning she was gone; and it stands to reason, as that perlice guarded the door, he must have stolen her away while I was asleep,” cried Tabitha, in an angry voice.
“Escaped? how? when? where? Look to all the outer doors and windows. Search the house! Search the grounds! Give the alarm in the neighborhood! Fifty pounds to any of you who will bring her back! Disperse! quick! she destroyed all your master’s family!” exclaimed the doctor, vehemently, addressing the assembled servants, who hurried away to obey him.