Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-06-17
A DREADFUL CASE.


A DREADFUL CASE.
"Gcmsr' he exclaimed, the express
ion of his countenance changing from
that of the reflective sage, was going
to say, to one that was almost misery.
"Ah, now you talking of something l un-
stand. They are not watching US, are
they?' he broke off, looking uneasily in
the direction of the house.
mo, no. said I, with subdued ex-
element, wondering what was to hap
pen next.
He deliberately unbuttoned his long
ulster coat, shivering in the cold winter
air as he did so, then he began to fun
BILE at a belt which he wore. Several
diamonds of great value, as l judged,
in a moment more sparkled before my
astonished eyes. He had apparently
drawn them from little leather peck
ct, curiously concealed beneath his
belt.
"Ah! these are gems, if you like,
SIR" he exclaimed, with an exulting
chucklc, which brought in my mind the
impression created at our first inter-
view, that he was not quite right in bis
head.
"They are splendid,' I said; "but
why do you carry them about with you?
Suppose any one dishonesty inclined
were to learn that an elderly man had
property of such value upon him? The
thought of it makes me tremble, SIR
IL am not in the habit Of exhibiting
the treasures which it has taken my
lifetime to amass. dare not. But 1
trust you, sir
As man of business l thought there
was here another proof of mental weak
ness, in the fact that he should confde
in one of whose antcccdents he knew
nothing, and of whose honesty he had
might suggest.
But CHANGED at this moment to look
up at the first floor window of our
neighbours house, and there, watching
with strange, and, as | thought,
scornful smile, stood the tall, sallow
man of whom both my wife's and my
own impression was so distinctly unfa-
vOrable.
lmotioned to the old man to put
away his jewels, for the German SER
want was approaching again; most like
ly sent by her master.
My strange acquaintance did not ap-
pear in the garden any more.
I have an innate horror of caves
dropping, and, as l have repeatedly
said to my dear wife, whose feminine
curiosity tempts her to attach far too
little attention to this evil, "Conver-
sation not intended for her ears ought
to be regarded with the same feelings
as letter not written for her perusal.
She would feel deeply insulted did any
one suggest that she would be capable
of reading another persons letter sim
ply because the seal happened to be
broken, and could, therefore, do SO
women, alas! are never logical; and she
will not see, or perhaps, can not, that
her conduct is no less culpable when
she grcedily listens to the private con-
versation of others just because acct
dent or carelessness on their part has
placed her within earshot.
Well, a few days after that we sat in
our cheerful, coy front parlor; my wife,
with her knitting in her hands, on an
ottoman, which was drawn closely in
to recess by the tireplace; /, in my
good old armchair, by the table in the
middle of the room, and reading the
last number of the Gardeners Magazine.
The entrance of Ann with our custom
ary .'night-cap' of weak >toddy and
thin bread and butter interrupted my
study of IN article on ''Trenching' and
caused me to look up at my wife.
"Eavesdropping!"I was about to
exclaim when my speech was arrested
by observing the strange look of hor-
ror on Polly's face. She had dropped
her knitting, and sat with hands clasped
across her breast and head pressed
closely against the wall.
my dear girl, whatever is the mat
ter with you?' l said.
ooh! it is dreadful she whispered,
holding up her finger to check me.
"Pray, come and hear what they are
SAYING
Exalted though my principles were
about listening, could not resist the
impulse OF. the moment, but hastily arose
from my seat and placed my ear against
the wall likewise. Ann Ii ghtbody, too
forgetting our relative positions. drop
ped the tray of toddy on the table as il
it were a hot coal, rushed to the oppo
site side of the mantelpiece to initiate
our example. To any one entering the
room at that moment the scene pre-
sented must have been absurd beyond
description. But we were earnes
enough, for what we heard seemed K
freeze our very blood.
as he dead yet?" we heard Mrs
Maiden ask her husband, with q low
musical laugh that seemed to us lik'
the mirth of a fiend.
Thoroughly" responded he in :
deep voice. which betrayed no sign 0
remorse or agitation; ''your hint, tina
l should dispose of him in his sleep
j, like Hamlet's uncle did his troublesome
brother, was capital
There was silence for several min
Y utes. Then we heard Mrs. Maiden asl
, gravely: 'What shall we do with tn
body?'
"Oh, that is just the difficulty. A
the neighbors must not have their sus