The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1877-02-08

She only shook Der bead and turned
into room 81 hsr right,
The good woman has seen ghost, said
Miss Betty, with a strange laugh; bot !
noticed that she ran very hastily up The
slAIrs 10 fact, might say rushed
and was soon out Of sight, when she
bad gone my aunt looked out aud beck.
oned TO me.
Ny silver closet has been opened, she
said, under her breath, with false key,
for found the lock uniniured.
Aud has anything been taken!
should think sol There were nearly
q thousand dollars 10 gold and bank bills
just as Your uncle left il to me.
That can't be gene | said, my heart
in my throat.
Every cent Of il, and the few ornA-
ments poEsessed-geId rings, Johns
gold-headed cane, and
Oh, aunt
lost my strength, aud pale aud trsnb-
ilrg sauk into seat. We were snr-
rounded by mystery. No one bad left
the house for weeks together. We bad
kept up vigilInt watch. We knew not
whom to suspect. This money was the
little all, besides the house aud property,
that my aunt had, and in her old sge she
could III afford TO lose Il. What should
we der thought aud thought until my
brain fairly sched.
Suddenly remembered the way IN
which Miss Betty rushed up stairs, aud
though had no suspicion of her, yet the
fact kept recurring TO me, aud troubled
me. That afternoon Miss Betty walked
out by herself.
went to the post office, said she, com.
lug IN ust bofore supper.
Did you get any letters? asked Miss
Berry.
Yes, indeed and she held mp yellow.
isb.looking missive- and ! am sorry TO
say II contains bad news, she added.
sat jnst outside the ball where could
hear all that was said.
Bad news? Dear me calculated Miss
Berry, in her quiet way; hope shall
get no bad news to-day.
Poor Uncle Russell is in great affection
and sends for me. Mrs. Russell is very
III; 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 hail, but saw her, and her face was
absolutely deformed with the smile and
strange look of triumph which changed
her countenance. 1t almost said, have
deceived tie whole of you. From that
was afraid of the woman.
am sorry to be obliged TO leave to-
morrow. she said as we fingered at the
supper-table.
Miss Berry's forehead grew dark.
Pm sure don't know what shall do,
she said, don't think tho house is safe
as soon as am over my nervous head
ache shall also get ready to go.
Said to my aunt as soon as we two
were together:
| don't believe that girl belongs TO DR..
Russell's family; and then told her Of
my sudden suspicious, adding, Now !
have formed plan which think will at
least set our minds at rest about her
Give me five dollars, and will bring you
home the news.
She gave me the money, and threw
OIL my hat. Miss Berry and Miss Betty
were sitting ON the veranda.
Going out in the moonlight asked
Miss Betty, and there was curious
light in her eyes-she seemed trying to
resd my face. Suddenly she sprang up.
| have a good mind TO 20 with you, she
said.
Are you afraid of the messlesl | ask-
ed, growing desperate, because ! am
going where they have them.
Yes, ! am, she said, hesitated, aud sat
down. Pray don't come near me on
your return, she added, laughing; but
yet there was constrsint IN her voice.
The telegraph operator was friend Of
ours, and one Of bis children had been
very sick with the measles. | was glad
10 my heart that had that excuse.
II was seven O'clock when reached
the office. knew DR.. RusselPs address
aud Immediately telegraphed:
Your niece, Miss Betty Willis, tells us
that Mrs. Russell is dangerously III. IL
that faetl
waited al the Office for an answer.
Il csme within thirty minutes.
No, IN send a detective down early
In the morning. have no niece Of that
name. Detain the woman.
went home With The message. Miss
Betty had goue to her room; Miss Berry
was hinen,ing to my aun, that she was
10 be left alone. felt strsngely-tren.
Dled from head TO foot bat was cautious
enough TO bold my tongue, not even tell
ag my suut more thAu that part Of the
message.
,hiok ! did not sleep 81 al that night.
felt fear that Miss Betty might even
Iow slip through our fingers. was sure
she suspected danger. Her trunk was
packed the Glst thing in the morning. -
She wanted il sent to the station, but Il |
sas al hour before we could find man
~ take II. stood al the window, almost
crying, as il Nss brought down TO the
lower ball. The next moment saw 3
strange man, who | felt must be de- I
Ieetiye, enter the house.
can hardly tell what happened next.
Miss Berry was 10 Mysteries, aud al the