The Ripley advertiser. [volume] (Ripley, Miss.) 1843-1897, 1881-04-23

a
dough pills, as an infallIble remedy
for hysterics--especially when that
dangerous disease is cansed by the
death OF poodle dogs. AS soon as |
had succeeded in silencing Miss
Tadpoddle, | turned my attention to
Miss Clattermouth and the lmpor.
tant letter, on which l noticed she
ever now and then cast an enquir
ing look. | was waiting for her to
prOpound the question, which | in.
terred from her restlessness, she
was on the eve OF doing. imag-
ined that nay best plan was to keep
silent until she should begin. Al
terieyeing the letter for some time,
she picked it up; and, after scruti-
nizipg it carefully, when she mag
.inedN was not observing her move
'mentss,s flor was watching her
through the mirror by side glance)
she turned her back towards me,
and began to slip the letter out Of
the envelope. knew that it would
not do to allow her to see the con-
tents ofthe letter; therefore, as soon
as OWNED her object, | went to
the bureau, pretending to be col
lecting my scattered medicines,
where she could see that | was in
position to observe her actions.
"Did you drop this letter here,
Ooctor?" she carelessly observed as
l came round so as to confront her.
"Yes, believe | did," replied
indiiferently. 81 must have drop
ped it when took out my pocket
case a while ago."
81 should like TO know what you
are doing with that letter, Doctor
Demar? l see that it was rot ad-
dressed to you"
| was considerably puzzled by
this question, because | did not
know what sort of an answer |
ought to make; but it occurred to
my mind that it would be advisable
to rouse her curiosity still! higher if
l could. Having made up my mind
TO act on that idea, l carelessly OBJ
served that, "There was great Sc.
cret connected with that letter,
which | did not consider myself at
liberty to reveal"
"Now, | should like very much to
know what great secret Ben Bowles
cou!d have 10 communicate 10 that
woman" exclaimed Miss Clatter-
mouth as her little round eyes-b be-
gan to sparkle With increasing ex-
citement.
was overjoyed at the success Of
my maneuver, and it required all
ray courage and strength to con
ceal the eXultation that crowded
into my breast; but with a deter
mined effort, was enabled to con-
tinue the conversation with show
of Indifference.
"Why do you mention Mr.,
BOwIes's name in connection with
that letter, Miss ClattermOuth?" |
carelesSly inquired,
"Oh, that is great secret, which
do not consider myself at liberty
to reveal" she said in tantallzing
tone, which convinced me that she
was piqued because had mention.
ed secret, "It is a mystery to
me-" she continued, "why Mr..
BowleS should constitute you as his
messenger, to carry his letters to
that woman!"
"What has Ben Bowles got to do
with iI?" said l, as continued to
tremble with anxiety.
II hope, DR.. Demar, that you do
not consider me an idlotg"
"Indee1, madam, | do not; but on
the contrary have set you down IN
my mind as one of the cleverest la
dies in Memphis; but what has that
to do with the question | PROFOUND
ed to you9"
"Do you imagine that l do not
know who wrote that letterW
"Why should l take the trouble
to imagine any thing about its"
"You are real yankee, Doctor;
you answer my questions, by pro-
pounding others. We will let the
subject drop unless you can make a
candid answer to a simple ques-
| tion.'
II crave your pardon, madam,
and promise to furnish a direct an
swer to all your questions, provided
you will agree to do the same with
my interrogatories."
avery good! | consent to the
agreement. Where did you get
that letter."
Now, was completely nonpluss.