Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-11-26

friend, and your corn is looking nicely for
this time of year"
The old man Strengthened himself up with
difficulty and glanced curiously at the
speaker
Eyes, it's promisin' crop; but the land
is good about here, sir, and good land brings
good crops most generally" answered the
simple old fellow.
"Ah, that explains it," laughed the de-
tective could you tell us ifthe house over
yonder belongs to the widow Reed?"
The old man pushed back his worn straw
hat, resting the blade of the hoe on his heavy
boot and replied, with great deliberation:
"Yes, that's the widder's; may be you are
looking for boards"
"Not exactly; but we have friends stop
ping with her--strangers; though presume
you have seen them occasionally at M
swell, yes, I've seen q couple Of strangers
thereby-city felers," said the honest old
toiler thoughtfully; "but never seen 'em
to speak to- They don't be social like to
country folks, and keep pretty much to
themselves. That is my house you see over
there" pointing to tumble down old build
ing, perched on hillside at some distance
across the field "I've lived there nigh on tc
twenty years, and I've often seen the wild
der's boarders around of a morning long
afore most people are up. My wife thinks
they must be queer sort of folks, for they
burn light all night. | hear they may be
inventors, maxim new kind of machine
to keep steam boilers from Dustin, and dom
want their secret out"
The detectives face beaned with great
satisfaction.
"Here is a triae for you" he said wei
pleased, and passed on.
The laboring man pocketed his 'trihc, anC
bent again to his toll, pilng up the ricl
earth around the roots of the corn with re
newed energy
The widow Reed was a small delicat,
featured woman of perhaps forty, with limo
cent blue eyes and soft brown hair whicl
was just beginning to show slight traces o
silver thread
And it was the little widow herself VIII,
opened the door TO Graham's respectful
knock To her look of inquiry, he said
~ called to see Mr.. Williams. b Is he n
home"
81 will see" she replied politely and trip
ped away to ascertain.
She soon returned and announced tina
neither Mr.. Williams nor his friend MI
Day were in their rooms, adding:
"They usually take walk about this tim
but are seldom gone more than an hour
Would you like to wait or leave cards p
The callers decided that they would wait
whereupon the widow Hospitality remarked
"Perhaps you would prefer waiting il
their room, as it is cooler there than here,
glancing at the dancing sunlight which wa
just commencing to flood the windows o
the little parlor
Both visitors assented to the ady's propo
sition, and were shown into the room of th,
absent counterleiters. There the uEsuspi
cious widw left them and returned to he
household duties.
AS may be supposed, they were not scru
puous about examining the apartments ant
it's belongings in most thorough and bust
ness-like manner, but nothing was found
not sign Of anything calculated TO impl
cate the inmates with the crime of making
counterfeit money
For den Of counterfeitcrs it was all Ger
tainly very natural and homeli1e The de-
tectives looked puzzled, but were still con.
lident that they were on the right track
Minute after minute passed away, and nc
sound broke the stiffness save the splashing
and rubbing Of stout servant girl, who was
washing in the little summer kitchen adj
joining the room in which they sat. 1'oand
fro she walked from tub 10 boiler and starch
bowl, her sleeves rolled up, an old sun bon
net drawn over her heated face, and girted
around the waist by wet apron.
An hour went by. Mr. Williams and his
companion had not returned; and the de-
tectves were about to summon Mrs. Reed
for the purpose Of making further inquiries,
when the good lady presented herself at the
door, and said, in a tone Of gentle apology
~ am afraid you find il rather tiresome
waiting. 1t is quite unusual for them to re-
main away so long
"Did they leave any messageg asked Dem
ming,
"Not that know she answered, simply
enough.
"IIave you any objections to asking your
seryantY
"None ut all. | should have thought Of it
before
She instantly withdrew, and in mo
ment after the listening detectives heard her
interrogating the servant, who appeared in
no amiabIe mood
"Did Mr.. Day leave any message with
you, Amanda, when he went out walking
this morningT
"Leaye Il message with me, snapped
Amanda giving the sheet she was wringng
vicious twist around her arm. "Why
SHOULD he leave message with meY But
come 10 think, Mr. Williams left note as
he was goin' out and told me 10 give ID 10
you if you asked about him..
"rhen why did you not do 80, without
keeping me waiting all this timeY Give me
the note.
because you did not ask me. And with
washing and hundred other thing 10 do
besides, il went clean ont Of my mind. The
notes around somewhere; |. forgot just
where put II. Oh, its there on the window
SILL
And with this waspish information, Aman-
da snatched up her basket Of clothes and
went out N hang them upon tho limo, while
her mistress, glad 10 be rid Of her ungraei-
Gus servant, took the note and returned b
her anxious visitors, who overheard every
word Of the above conversation.
"You are right in your conjecture she
said, "Mr Williams did leave a message or
a note which amounts "a tho same thing, and
ma dpuIf tuitl axf.iafu What ,osu aoo,aa ~,