Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-03-19

uy OuIoau Will d b1uAuR uelHts IL was
as feared-my casket, which had only
contained the money, was gonel
Someunaccountable impulse prompted
me to conceal my loss from the rest,
when I Joined them again, and hardly
noticed that pretty Mrs. Graham
stopped crying and looked queerly at me,
when I reported that my things were all
right.
And then she fell to sobbing again,
saying hers were all right, too, but she
never doubted that it would be her turn
next. and she dared not stay there an
other night.
Mrs. Wootton reported that every ar.
ticle of jewelry, and all the money she
had in her purse were gone, and Bessie
said the same.
This was serious case. and we were
| at loss what to do. said I should in
form the village inspector, and then go
up to town and consult Mr. Fraser and
lawyer, and I begged them to donoth-
ING till came back.
They all promised, but pretty Mrs.
Graham said I must be sure to come
back before night, for she knew she was
dreadful little coward, but she must
60 over to the village, and stay at the
hotel for few nights. She would only
take Jeanette and little satchel, and
when we got all quiet again she would
come back.
was not willing she should go, but
thought she would get over her fright
before evening and stay, so only asked
her if could do any GRAND in the city
for her.
She said no-then yes; if I would be
SO kind I might stop at Welling's and
match a piece of lace for her-she
wanted five yards more-ie was five
shillings a yard-and she gave me
twenty five shillings to pay for it.
1t seemed to me that train went at
snail's PAGES that morning, but at last I
was in Dicks Office.
Gum um-yes, to be Fsure!' said
Dick, stroking his mustache with q
thong htful air. every bad, Maryl
Very bad! And your pretty little widow
is the only one who wants to leave, you
say2n
"Yes. And I don't want any one to
leave with such q stain on our house,
Dick"
"By all means keep your pretty widow
till I come down with an officer and
search her trunk"
Isprang to my feet.
'Why, Dick, are you mad?" cried.
''Neather mad nor deluded, my dear
little woman" said Dick, coelly. "But
have little theory about this thing,
Mary; and if you will let me work it
out, I may help you. must have my
own way, through. Got errands to do
this morning?'
was too worried to attend to any
shopping for myself, but l remembered
pretty Mrs. Graham's lace and an:
swered:
eyes, one."
swell. go and do it, aud then come
back here, will you? / think I'll have q
plan perfected by that time.
went to Welling'e, stopped at the
lace counter, and held out the scrap
pretty Mrs. Graham had given me.
t'Can you match this?" I asked of the
polite shopman who stepped up. 81
wish to purchase some more of it."
He took the bit of lace, and I noticed
q queer look come over his face. I also
saw two or three of the young men draw
near, and eye me curiously, and bega1
to feel embarrassed.
! II don't KNOW" said the shopman
slowly, ''Mr. Jones ask Mr.. yelling
to step this way
The young man addressed hurried
away and in moment the gentleman
named came up, which was relief t.
me, for I saw something was wrong, ant
l knew him well, as he was an old frieni
of my fathers.
''This is a bad business, and requires
explanation, Miss Mary" he said. "a
week ago a lady exactly answering tn
description you give Of Mrs. Graham
came here and bought twenty yards O
this lace. After she was gone it wa
discovered that the money she paid wa
bad. We have been trying to trace thi
lady ever since. but had not the leas
r clew till now. What do you think ?"
II think" trembling said, ''that :
must tell you the bad business at GU
house last night, which brought me II
town to-day"
So / told him my story, and then h.
went with me to Dicks Office. An,
when I went home, knew all I had t
=, do.
I told Mrs Graham that I could no
find any more of the lace, aud returne,
her money.
As had planned, Dick came by tn,
six o'clock train, and we were all at te
when Emma came in with the quie
announcement.
"Mr. Fraser is in the parlor, ma'am.
/ excused myself moment, ant
Fastening to the parlor found Dick an
, a detective. - f." ,.-.<4..-..-r
We hurried quietly upstairs wa
! SO glad Jeanette was out of tn
- way into pretty Mrs. Graham's room
y One of her trunks was gone, but he
hat and shawl lay upon the bed, and un
der the pillow we found her handsom
Russia leather handbag. ~.
. Mr.. Detective made short work {
= opening that bag, and 10! he had II
need to look farther! There we foun
all Miss Buttons jewelry, all that be
. longed to Bessie and Mr.: Wootton, ap
. my lost money, besides bunch {
, skeleton keys. And then his cours
= was plain, and before I hardly kne'
what happened. we had astonished th
:: group at the supper table, and prett
. Mrs. Graham was prisoner.
!: Afterward we found proof enough ths
! her work was done onSunday afternoon
while I lay asleep in the parlor, and th
window opened at night by he
= lively maid Jeanette, to throw SUI
picion aside.
But we never heard. any more eithe
of pretty Mrs. Graham or Of Jea1
= nette.
Both no doubt, got their deserts, Il
MI. yelling prosecuted, though + II
= fused to do 60.
. "WHAr is the big corner IN pork he'
. sbout?', asked Laura across The cher
\ table. 'tThe big corner in pork repli.
Tom, sis the ham. :"