Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-04-02

No. 49," said Miss Twitterbit CRATE
fully.
';Mrs. Hartley's?" said the gentle
man.
''Yes, that is the NAME" returned
at the address on the letter. Can you
tell me which is the house, please?"
Certainly, returned the gentleman,
promptly. "It is the Last but one on
this side. No. ID, did you say? Allow
me to look,
AS he spoke, the stranger dextrously
snatched the envelope from Miss Twit-
terbit's unresisting hand, and, to her
dismay and amazement, proceeded to
open it.
"What are you doing, Mr.?" she cried
Indignantly.
at is all right" said the stranger,
running his eye quickly, and with evil
dent satisfaction, over the mysterious
contents of the letter. ST recognized
the handwriting. I am Mr.. Hartley"
"Oh!" exclaimed Miss Twitterbit with
feeling of momentary relief. 'But the
letter was for your wife, she added I'M
easily.
ST is all the same" said Mr.. Hartley
lightly: 81 will give it to her. How is
your frIend?"
But Miss Twitterbit paid no heed to
the question, being startled and fright
ened at learning that she had delivered a
letter intended for Mrs. Hartley's pri-
vate eye to her husband. If Mr.. Hunt
er was making love to another mans
wife, his conduct was inexcusable, but it
was frightful to reflect that she might be
the innocent cause of domestic explos-
ion. Miss Twitterbit trembled at her
lmprudence, and could not conceal her
dismay.
'Itis Ell right ma am, said Mr.. Hart
ley, cycling her keenly; "I'm not q bit
jealous. I'm q model husband that way.
Mrs. Hartley shall have the letter, but
at present she is away IL the country"
Mr.. Hartley put the letter in his pock-
ct as he spoke, and walked on, taking
offhis hat to her as he passed. Under the
circumstances, Miss Twitterbit perceived
there was no occasion for her to cali at
No. 13, and she therefore retraced her
steps, full of vague misgivings, but
striving to assure herself that every
thing had gone well.
She did not succeed, however, in re.
covering her equanimity; but, on the
contrary, the more she dreaded facing
her lodger. 1t might be relief to his
mind, certainly, to learn that Mr.. Hart
ley was not jealous or angry, but she
thought he was more likely to be furi-
GUS with her for having failed to carry
out his express instructions. Miss
TwitterbIt returned home leisurely, in
an economical omnibus, and was con-
scious of desire to Iinger on the Jour
ney. The thought of the reception she
would meet with when she got back
banished all other speculations from her
mind, and, being timid and nervous
old lady, she shrank from the impend-
ing interview.
No sooner had she entered the hall of
her home than Mr.. Hunter hailed her
from the top of the staircase.
"Come up, Miss Twitterbit. Is it all
right ?" he inquired anxiously. "Did
you deliver the letter."
eyes, sir, it is all right" said poor
Miss Twitterbit, screwing up her cour-
age and following her lodger into his
sitting room.
"What did she say?" he inquired,
cautiously closing the door behind her.
"The lady was away, but her husband
opened the letter -" began Miss
Twitterbit, desperately.
"What?" interrupted Mr.. Hunter, ex-
citedIy.
"Mr. Hartley opened it, sir, and he
laughed quite pleasantly, and said he
would give it to his wife when she came
back from the country" said Miss Twit-
terbit eagerly.
''Of all the internal" but Mr..
Hunters words died away on his lips
and he seemed incapable of utterance.
He glared at poor Miss Twitterbit, while
every atom of color left his face and he
was compelled to cling to the back Of
the chair for support. Miss Twitterbit
was to terrified even to scream, and
stood transfixed by his furious glance
until the sound of mems voices in the
hall below reused her energies.
cit is all over, F." murmured Mr.. Hunt
or, staggering across the room like q
drunken man, and dropping heavily
into chair. ''Here they GOMEZ
At the same moment the door opened,
and the gentleman who had called him
self Mr.. Hartley walked briskly into the
room followed by a policeman. The
last mentioned apparition revealed to
Miss Twitterbit the true state of the case
and she sank down on the sofa in half
fainting condition, overcome with horror
and dismay. She was too agitated to
pay attention to the hurried words that
passed between the new arrivals and her
ledger, but she gathered enough to IN
derstand that the latter was ''wanted"
on charge of embezzlement, but that
his hiding place had never been suspect
ed until that day.
81 suppose that cursed valentine was
trick of the policew she at length
heard Mr.. Hunter say. 81 was a'fool to
be deceived by it. When it was too late
I suspected the truth. On second
thought felt convinced that my wife
hadn't sent it. ;"
"Valentine! What valentine?" in
CURED the detective, with genuine sur
prise.
Mr.. Hunter only shrugged his
shoulders scornfully, and rose to &C
company his captors; but Miss Twit-
terbit hung her head and shed silent
tear.