Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-01-01
garet's womanhood had bloomed into vivid

oOO ahsS VhIo lAs AIys
"Wait!" The artist dragged rich stufrs
from n chest, and stripped a cloak from q
lay figure in the corner. Maggy's every.
day raiment was concealed by a sheen of
velvet and .damask; her tresses were
twined strands Of artificial "l pearls so1 abo MT
her neck, and placed a great fan of feath-
ers in her hand.
"She looks like a qysen," sighed Rosy.
Was This their plain Maggy' When
Richard Woutner's face was on a level
with that Of his model they gazed into
each others eyes, and his lips trembled.
He seized his painting materials with q
sort of rage.
"How can 1 hope to reproduce the shad.
ow OF such q creature?" he said, fiercely.
Brother Harry was d~umfounded. Mar
garet, the queen, stood calm and stately in
her rich mantle.
"Why did you knock off my hat?" she
81 did not touch you," he said. 81
caught q glimpse of you, though, and have
tried to find you ever SINCE"
"Ah, yes, I understood when YOU said
that you would know me again, in very
good French" she replied, archly.
~ don't know what you mean. l never
spoke a word of decent French in my life,"
helsaid, now working rapidly.
'Strange," said the model, thought.
An hour later, Margaret approached
Rosy and Harry in the window.
II am ready, children,' she said, with
her most maternal manner.
Suddenly she started. The window over
Looked the rear of a house with which she
wFs familiar. This mansion was the
hSme Of Mrs. Perkins, and in the yard
Eleloise Michant was playing with two
Children; her crimped cap and white apron
formed a pretty contrast toNtlheir crimson
to Baltimore. What did that mean?
Returning home after the eventful day
alone, for Harry had paused at the corner
grocery for a package of sugar, Margaret
was astonished to see q man emerge from
her door, of which the key was in her
pocket. Before she could speak he sprung
toward her, and pinned her arms to the
wall.
"What have you done with it?" he
missed, in her ear. "Give it up or 1 shall
The assault was so sudden that she was
glimmered before her eyes. All passed
with the swiftness of a lightning flash. At
a whistle signal the man plunged down the
staircase and disappeared, just, as Harry
came up, Maggyy staggered to the door Of
their modest abode. The room presented a
scene of disorder. Bureau drawers had
been opened, articles were scattered on the
floor, the lid Of a trunk was forced.
"Thievesw commented Harry. ~ did
not imagine we wero rich enough to tempt
the most beggarly burglar. Stay! Noth-
ing has been stolen, though"
Margaret uttered a cry. "Can it be the
bandbox?"
On the same day Mr.. Merridew had oc-
casion to take the elevated railroad. He
was seated beside q stout gentleman of
affable Appearance, with a watch chain of
red gold. The stout gentleman remarked
to an acquaintance opposite: THE thieves
might have taken anything else, and well
come; but | do not believe there was an
other medal of the battle of Marengo in the
United States. I bought it of the great
collector at Paris"
Mr.. Merridew's eyes grew round behind
his spectacles as he listened. The stranger
had not returned to claim the medal.
"Sir, was it a gold piece?" he whispered,
eagerly.
berry in the newspapers" said the stout
gentleman, in surprise.
I'M" replied Mr.: Merridew.
"Ah! My name is James Perkins," said
the othr.
"Bless my soul" calculated Mr.. Merri.
dew, and wiped his brow with his hand
kerchief. SIS your name James Perkinsy'
For the first time in his life he trembled tc
feel himself almost in the clutches Of the
law.
Explanations ensued, and Mr.. Perkins
left the car in company with this unex.
pected ally and an individual of quiet as.
pect, MIR. Smith by name. The trio wentto
the home of Mr.. Perkins, where q robbery
of unusual boldness had taken place. Mrs.
Perkins had conc out in the morning, after
the departure of her husband to his bust
ness, and, returning in an hour, had seen a
poor-looking woman descend the steps of
the mansion and turn away in an opposite
direction. Thu woman had not carried
1 L,.-11- D-,.--I:-- A. ---~--- =.
errand of the servant who opened the
door, Mrs. Perkins learned that ne such
person had previously rung the bell or been
admitted. All the available iewelry Of q
fashionable lady had vanished with this
mysterious visitor, and several articles OF
plate, together with some money. The
medal of Marengo had been taken from q
Mr. Perkins took his companions into
When MI. Merridew described finding
the medal under the table, after writing 9
letter for a stranger, Mr.. Smith produced
an envelope. T Is the letter" he an
nounced, coolly.
Mr.. Merridew recognized his own -four
ishes. THAT is only the postscript" he
stammered.
"Probably the postscript was the kernel
of the nut,o quoth Mr.. Smith. at was
sent to Mr.. Perkins to prevent his pushing
AAAulAy SASA vi w 60AAA AAAo W oAAON
ing suspicion IN a formergoverness, a Miss
lewiston"
"Margaretw gasped Mr.. Merridew, in
stupefaction.
"The birds can not fly far now" said
Mr.. Smith, who was q private detective.
In turn Mr.. Merridew was ~escorted
home, and Mr.. Perkins recognized the
medal.
Later, Maggy rushed into the store, fol-
lowed by her brother. She did not per-
ceive a quiet-looking man reading a news.
paper in the corner.
''Mr. Merridew, where is the old band
box given me by Heloise Michanty" she
painted. II nave an idea there is some
thing strange about it."
Rosy produced the bandbox. Whose
penknife but that of Nj. Smith cut the
cords. whipped off the cover, and revealed
to the group of astonished spectators a dia:
mond necklet, an emerald cross, a pearl
bracelet, and several rings, cunningly
wrapped in the faded inery of q poor
maid-servant?
"The medal dropped from this bandbox
and not from the mans pocket" said the
detective, lifting the flap of torn cover a.
Rosy had DONE.
Margaret pushed back her coronet of hail
with a tragic gesture. II have been a re-
ceiver of stolen goods!" she cried.
Mr.. Smith smiled reassuringly. "There't
9 difference, though, you see, miss" he re-
joined.