Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-02-06
AN EAyESDROpPER CAUTIONED.
4 Story Founded on Fact,

Story fOuuueu on Fnct.
Mrs. Crane, very respectable New
York landlady, entertains very decided
ideas on the folly and meanness O
eavesdropping, since 4 night or two
after New Year. The circumstance:
which led to the deposit of this opinion
in her convictions may be briefly told
Mrs. Crane lets lodgings in once
fashionable and still highly respectable
quarter of the city. and was more thar
suspected of keeping much more thar
friendly eye on the affairs of persons
seeking home with her. Miss Critten
ton, young lady of slender figure anG
geuteel appearance who had the from
parlor, was certain that the letters II
her trunk were regularly inspected anc
her toilet bottles were tempered with
Mrs. De Young, on the second floor
back, who was proof.reader for q large
publishing house, found the leaves o
her manuscripts mysteriously dis
ordered on her table. She kept no cat
indeed, che had consulted the landladyl
preference so far MS to give away the
pet maltese, send her dog to the coun
try. and put her boy in boarding-schoo
in obedience to that potentate's ex
pressed injunctions. When Mrs
Crane objected to having thu
windows open in the close, muggy
Winter weather. Mrs. De Younl
obediently sealed hers, and swelteret
in company with an open fire and the
odor from an untrapped wash-basin
When Mrl. Crane turned OFF thu
gas all over the house aat half.pas
8, no remonstrance was made, bu
an investment was made in paraffin,
candles. The water was cut of from
the upper stories, and only turned or
when the landlady went 20 bed, &c tina
additions were reduced to the facilities
of d-basin, but no complaint was
made by the all-enduring feminine
aware of the gross imposition on the
world she had practiced, in being borr
woman, and the consideration ex
tended in allowing her roof over bel
head and rest for the soles of her fee
for only three dollars week more thar
Il man would pay for the same accom-
modations. But mysterious influence,
were ut work in the Crane mansion
The young German on the top flool
missed half dozen pairs of gloves and
II silk handkerchief from his bureau
and as his door was locked and the key
with Mrs. Crane, all day, Injurious sus
PIGEONS formed in his mind. The Les
trade family on the third floor traced
letters addressed to dodgers into the
back parlor, where Mrs. Crane sat ir
company with a turn-up bedsteaC
when not otEerwi employed, and the
same letters went up stairs some hours
afterward rather thickly gummed, anc
with fnger.marks about the far
quite legible to an observer of ordinary
experience. In the dead of night floors
creaked ominously, keyholes were
mysteriously obscured about bedtime
and an ear placed against door-pane
could detect the faint whish of retreat
ing hounces Added to this Mrs. d.
Young found letter Of Mrs. Cranes
dropped at her bedside, in her owr
room, where not servant was allowed
to penetrate, and which she swept and
busted with her own hands. As the
doors were locked when she went out
the conclusion was evident that the
letter did not blow there by chance, ano
the discovery that Mrs. Cranes keys
fitted every door in the house settled
any doubts on the matter. Mrs. d.
Yourg's subsequent action III putting
spring locks and bolts on her door, anc
i'll asking leave to have a private letter
box in the hall, was denounced by Mrs
Crane as highly unlady like and in
snuating, not to say suspicious. Tnt
letter.box was Indignantly forbidden
but as Mrs. De Young had the sprinl
lock put on without asking or demand
ing leave, no action could be taken or
that count.
Soon after this marked increas,
was apparent in the letters which came
for Mrs. De Young. These were most
ly directed in a bold masculine hand
scented with cigar smoke, and rather
lightly scaled. Bymeaps not specified
Mrs Crane possessed herself OF thu
facts that q well.to-do gentleman wa,
violently in love with Mrs. De Young
was making appointments With per foi
lunches and drives, and conducting
himself in most loverlike fasnion
Large bouquets and baskets oil lower
We're anonymously sent to the house II
Inc dur < IF the evening, on receipt 2
which Mrs. De Young was observed Il
blush deeply, and on scrutiny applied
70 The proper point, viz. the key-hole
was seen to press the flowers conyul
sively to her lips. Corded boxes viii
delicate articles OF ladies' wear, lace
and jewelry came directed in the sam,
hand AZ the letters, with references Il
blissfu hours spent in the society o
his charmer, and allusions, not alto