Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1885-11-26

| = |~~"rhH W hOi uo"i, NSP"As
'Yes." sobbed Mrs. Fairfield; some
that his Uncle Jacob, the well known
'And," the chief speaker went on,
taking advantage of break in the
voice of the late departed's widow,
"Mrs.. Crooks yesterday lost her valu-
able lace parasol covering, and this
morning these numerous accidents
have eliminated in the disappearance
OF my diamond brooch. And now, "
gazing at Mrs. Vanderslice sternly,
1--WE thought it about time to inform
you that us we have all made this our
home for three success We sea ons, and
as you have retained the same help,
we consider it your business to invcs-
tigate into the only apparent source of
these-accidents."
''Ycs, yes-of counsel" gasped tho
astonished landlady. "But 1 think /
hardly understand what--what source
you refer to"
"Why don't you speak plainly, Mrs.
Timps0n," Miss Sharply asked, land
give Mrs. Vandersl ce TO understand
that all this has happened nee the
entrance OF that decetful mink, Mrs.
Rh0ades, who has done nothing but
make eyes at every man in the house
since she camep'
Little Mrs Vanderslice suddenly
became equal to the occasion.
You're speaking of lady have
known all my life, Nj SIS Sharply, and
.f"-looking at the rest of the group,
1.-THE opln ons of the other lad es are
the same. L can assure YOU that you
are all very badly mistaken! DO yeu
suppose"-drawing up her plump,
round figure TO its tull height-"that
| would board any one for whom
could not vouch? | am very sorry,
indeed, about your mlslaid articles
for feel sure that they must be mis-
la id-and tonight Mr.. VanderslIce
and myself will consider what s best
to be done, and l trust that you will
not have to regret the manner in
which you have been berating Mrs.
Rhoades. And now, if You'll excu
me, will see about luncheon.
And, with a dgn fled bow, tho little
lady left them IN state of astonish-
ment, that she should dare to intimate
to them, her best paying boarders,
that they were in the wrong.
When they met ut the luncheon
table, Mrs. Vanderslice was made
fully aware OF their Indignation by
their monosyllabic answers to herself,
and their entire silence to Mrs.
Rhoades.
IL wonder if / have unntentonally
slice9' Mrs. Rhoades asked, as they
were leaving the table together.
'Oh, not Mrs. Vanderslce answer
ed. "rhey had some slight misunder-
standing among themselves.
That's it, is itP" pleasantly an.
swered the widow, and then the ladies
retired for their customary maps.
In about five minutes Mrs. Wander
slice, answering n knock on her door.
opened it, to find Mrs. Rhoades, pale
and agitated.
"You must, excuse my intrusion,
Mrs. Vanderslice, said the widow,
quietly, but / have just made very
unpleasant discovery, and decided il
was bettor to let you know ut once
When l'went down To- luncheon i care
lessly left check for $3.50 on my
table. and | am most sorry to have to
say that on my return It was gone"
Mrs. Vanderslice looked as though
about to fa mt at this second piece oi
information. but u shril cry, ringing
through the house, served us u restor.
alive.
THAT was from Miss Sharply's
ROOM" she exclaimed, and with dying.
feet both hurried down TO the end of
the hall.
Kneeling before the open fireplace
in her room was Miss Sharply; beside
her lay her devoted pet.
What is the matter, Miss Sharply"
Mrs. Vanderslice asked.
oh" sobbed NJ SIS Sharply. as she
tried 10 fan some life into Polly with
the fellows, "when came up stairs L
heard a moaning, and as It seemed to
come from the fireplace. i went over
and looked up and--and-oh, there
was Polly caught in the nue. and she
was fastened so tightly that 1 nearly
nearly killed her"
"What under the heavens was she
doing up the chimneyP" Mrs. Timpson
questioned.
Nj So Sharply's answer was lost in q
scream from Mrs Vanderslce, who
had poked her hand up the ilue and
caused the tumble of small variety
shop ON The CRATE.
''There's the guard that mysdear
husbands Uncle Jacob, the well
known"
"And my broochP" screamed AIRS.
Timpson. "And there's your lace,
Mrs. Cook" she continued-''and
what--what is thisP" as she picked up
piece of paper.
THAT is the check belonging to Mrs.
Rho ides," Mrs. Vanderslice said. look
ing at it and giving it to her friend.
"She," rebukingly, adopted d iler-
ent course from you, lad es. and quiet
ly informed me of her loss this after
noon. l hope you will not be so hasty
again In your Judgments and turn
ing 10 Miss Sharply, This is the first
season you have brought that bird.
and think it will be the best for it to
be the last"
lit will be the last, anyhow"
cried Miss Sharply, bending over the
parrot.
Get out. you fool!' suddenly ex-
claimed Polly, getting up and walking
out of the room.
"Well, Inever experienced such a
day of confusion" Mrs. Vandersllce
said to Mrs. Rhoades, as they lett the
slightly discounted owner of Polly
alone.
Eyes; but still 1t seems to have rem
edied the misunderstanding among the
ladies," Mrs. Rhoades answered.
Whats lucky providence that we
did not say anything to Mrs. Rhoades!"
Mrs. Timpson told her daughter and
Mrs. Fairfield, as they returned to