The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-04-05

tant, however, Miss Betty became more
affectionate, especially toward me. One
day when we were sitting alone in the
parlor, I communicated the news of the
loss of the iewelry and the handkerchief
to her. For moment the color retreat
ed frol her face. She glanced at me,
look of alarm in her large, dark eyes.
81 wouldn't say anything, but, do you
know, [ have missed several articles,
too ?" she said "How could thief pos
sibly get in our rooms without waking us
up?"
You have lost something's" I ex-
claimed. "Was it anything valuable ?"
"Not particularly So" she made reply;
can old-fashioned locket that had my
mothers hair in it, and handkerchief
of fine lace. Oh, don't mind the things
rluch-still it's not very pleasant.
81 should say not, I answered, hotly.
"You must think you are in nest of
thieves. We never missed pin before,
and I should as soon think of stealing
myself as of accusing our servants, the
most honest creatures in the world !''
"You can't always tell, " was her re-
sponse, with a peculiar smile. "But
pray don't worry about it; perhaps the
things will all come back to light. May
be there's a jackdaw about; you know
they are great thieves. I dare say we
shall find all the missing articles [ am
sorry for Miss Berry, though, as she told
me her ring was an heirloom, and very
valuable"
several days. 1t was on Thursday that
we had just left the dinner table, Miss
Betty passing out of the room with me-
We two had been sitting longer than the
rest, she wittily giving her experience of
boarding-houses she had stayed at.
Aunt had been gone some time, but as
we left the threshold we both met her,
pale as a ghost, and strangely scared
look on her face. Miss Betty paused and
caught me by the arm. I said:
"Why, aunt, what is the matter?''
She only shook her head and turned
into room at her right.
''The good woman has seen a ghost, )"
said Miss Betty, with strange laugh !;
but [ noticed that she ran very hastily
up the stairs-in fact, [ might say rushed
and was soon out of sight. When she
had gone, my aunt looked out and beck
oned to me.
MY silver closet has been opened, !"
she said, under her breath, ''with a
/ false key, for I found the lock unin-
jured."
And has anything been taken?''
81 should think so! There were
nearly s., 900 in gold and bank bills
| just as your uncle left it to me-"
"That can't be gone p said, my heart
in my throat.
Every cent of it, and the few orna-
ments [ possessed gold rings, Johns
gold-headed cane, and"
"Oh, aunt !''
I lost my strength, and pale and trem-
bling sank into seat We were sur
rounded by mystery. No one had left
the house for weeks together. We had
kept up vigilant watch. We knew not
who to suspect. This money was the
little all, besides the house and property,
that my aunt had, and in her old age she
| could i'll afford to lose it, What should
we do? I thought and thought until
my brain fairly ached.
Suddenly I remembered the way in
which Miss Betty rushed up the stairs ;
and, though [ had then no suspicion of
her, yet the fact kept recurring to me,
and troubled me. That afternoon Miss
Betty walked out by herself.
II went to the postoffice," she said,
coming in just before supper
"Did you get a letter?" asked Miss
Berry.
"Yes, indeed and she held up a
yellowish missive-" and I am sorry to
say it contains bad news" she added.
| [ sat just outside the hall where I
could hear all that was said
"Bad news? Dear me !'' CALCULATED
Miss Berry, in her quiet way; 81 hope I
shall get no bad news to-day"
"Poor Uncle Russell is in great affiic-
ton, and sends for me- Mrs. Russell is
very i'll; don't believe she can live if
she has one of her spells; they are awful. -
| She did not see me as she came into
the hall, but [ saw her, and her face was
absolutely deformed with the smile and
strange look OF triumph which changed
her countenance It almost said q
have deceived the whole of you" From
that moment [ was afraid OF the woman
GO I am so sorry to be obliged to leave
tomorrow" she said as we fingered at
the supper-table.
Miss Berry's forehead grew dark.
"Im sure I don't know what [ shall
| do" she said. s'I don't think the house
is safe; as soon as I am over my nervous
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