The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-04-17
AN UNCONSCIOUS DETECTIVE.

curiosity about her new lodger. For
nearly six weeks he had hardly stirred
ont OF the house, but had remained shut
mp in his room from morning till night,
doing nothing, so far as she could OBJ
serve, though he sometimes had book
in his hand. He received no visitors
and no letters, and could not be induced
todivulge anything whatever about him.
self except that his name was Hunter
He appeared to be gentleman, was
we'll dressed and rather good looking,
and showed no outward traces Of ill.,
health to which he attributed his seclu-
sion. As he gave no trouble and paid
his way with 1;nfailing regularity, Miss
Twitterbit had nothing to complain OF,
but her kind heart was touched bv his
loneliness, and she felt sympathetic
interest in him, which induced her to
try the experiment of sending him a
valentine.
She did this because she had arrived
at the conclusion that the poor young
man was pining away from the effects of
an unrequitted attachment, Having her
self been cruelty Tilted IS years ago,
Miss Twitterbit imagined she knew the
symptoms of a bruised and broken
heart This romantic theory commend.
ed itEelf to the worthy lady's sentiment
q mind, and seemed to explain Mr.
Hunters habitual detection, his reti-
cence, and his strange shrinking from
contact with his fellow-men. The ap-
proach of ST. Valentines day therefore
suggested to her the idea of sending
him tender missive in disguised hand
partly with the charitable object of en-
livening his solitude, but chiefly, it is
to be feared, in the hope that it might
lead to his taking her into his confidence
regarding his 5lighted affections.
Accordingly, Miss Twitterbit pur-
chased highly ornate aud sentimental
lucubrlation, and sent it up in an envel-
ope on Mr.. Hunters breakfast tray.
The dodgers name had been inscribed
by the young lady at the shop where
the valentine was purchased, and in or
der to enhance the mystery of the pro-
Ceeding, Miss Twitterbit instructed the
servant girl to inform Mr.. Hunter. in
case he asked any questions, that the
letter had been left at the house by an
unknown lady. Miss Twitterbit did not
doubt that she herself in turn would he
sent for and cross examined, and she
would then be able to form her own
conclusions from the young mans man.
ner whether she had rightly diagnosed
llls disorder, even If, in the fulness of
his heart, he did not make a full confess
sion.
Miss Twitterbit was as mild and GEN
tie an elderly lady as ever existed, and
nothing would have induced her to do
anything knowingly to vex her lodger,
quite apart from prudential considera-
tlons. She never dreamed that any
harm could arise out of her little expert
me9t, and consequently she was quite
upset when she learned the extraordin-
ary effect her valentine had had upon
Mr.. Hunter.
He turned as white. Miss, as sheet
as soon as ever he saw the envelope, p"
said the servant girl, when she returned
from the dodgers apartment in great
state of excitement. "He took it up as
though he expected it to bite him, and
when he saw the valentine he swore
dreadful and ordered me out of the
roop double quick"
Dear, dear mer murmured Miss
Twitterbit, deeply concerned did he
say anything or ask any questions?"
HE asked how the letter came
here, md mentioned what you told
me-" said the girl,
Il hope you did not bring in my name,
Bridget" said Miss Twitterbit, with
sudden trepidation.
II didn't let out anything, Miss, if
you mean that, answered the girl. SIN
fact, he quite frightened me, and
hardly dared to open my mouth.
At that moment violent ring at tho
bell reverberated through the house,
and Mr.. Hunters voice was heard on
the landing above. angerily summon
ing Miss Twitterbit.
II suppose I must go up to him,
Bridget" said the poor lady, feeling
unaccountablv nervous.
HE seems gettin' angrier every
minute said the girl referring to the
dodgers repeated vociferations.
Miss Twitterbit took the hint, and
lost no time in fastening up stairs. Mr.
Hunters aspect plainly showed that he
was agitated and out of temper. He
was striding impatiently about the
room, kicking the chairs and footstools
viciously aside when they impeded his
path, and biting his nails furiously.
His face was distorted with rage, and
the fierce expression of his eyes was
sufficient to startle nervous person
breathless from a hurried ascent of a
staircase. Miss Twitterbit presented
herself with face as pale as her lodg-
er's and felt as guilty as though she
had committed crime.
II wanted to ask about this, said Mr..
Hunter, picking up the unlucky valen-
tine from the floor, where it lay in a
crushed and mangled condition.
"When did it Gomez"
Miss Twitterbit was on q point OF
making clean breast of her iniquitv,
and confessing that she alone was res
ponsible for the offending missive, but
while she was heStating, from awkward
ness and diffidence, Mr.. Hunter shat
tered her nerves by exclaiming;
For heavens sake, woman, don't
stand staring there! Answer my ques-
ton. When did this come?'
Yesterday" gasped Miss Twitterbit,
in desperation.
"Who brought it? continued Mr..
Hunter, getting more and more excited.
"A young lady," answered the
1andlady, falling back on the story she
had riginally intended to tell.
"What was she like?"
Tim sure cannot say. The fact is,
I hardly-I only"
WAS she young and fair, rather tall,
and fashionably dressed?" interrupted
Mr.. Hunter.
well, yes; I think she was," an
swered Miss Twitterbit, vaguely con-
cious of awakening curiosity in the
midst of her uneasiness.
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