Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1888-01-14

able period before ! knocked again It was
. tremendous while to wait with Q fellow
drenched to tho akin all hetime. by George,
I was nevor out in SUCH a rain. I shall catch
q nice cold, I I'M afraid. You have Q bad
cold, young ladyr"
II caught cold last night"
'Not-not at that windowr
Eyes. at that window"
"Oh, come, I am awfully sorry for that"
M. Bird cried; II didn't think Of that. I
thought soms gentleman, or servant, or por-
ter might be up, for there was . light burn
ing over the hall door, and it wouldn't be a
great deal Of trouble and save my getting
wet through. Why, I would much rather
have lost my umbrella ~altogether than have
given you cold, although it's an umbrella
which I would not take ECO for-no, nor ESQ
either"
"Is It . very valuable umbrellaf"
"Oh, no. not at all; but, as you know now,
its my best umbrella in every sense Of tho
word" he said laughing, my very best UNI
brella, don't you see"
But did not SEQ; neither the application
nor tho umbrella was apparent to me, and
my heart quito sank at the news which I had
to impaat to him. The man was so snwrapped
In his Misunderstanding ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I felt it was necessary to break the news
gently.
I'm sorry to say I don't Sec,"I replied,
"for the fact Isl
Yes, he was impulsive, and dashed to cou-
illusions; and tho smile did leave his face as
suddenly and completely as il somebody had
pulled it away by q string. z q settled look
OF horror, and for an instant open mouthed
idiocy, took its place
s.Tho Pnot :, y IN ,o,,ox>A ,.-y--A
I Last; $50 on, please"
THAT there was no umbrella down our
area at ALL"
'Oh! that won't dor he exclaimed, 20
abruptly and rudely that I felt tho color
coming up oil over mo-; that won't do al
any price"
II don't know what you mean by any
price, sir" l said, drawing myself up to my
full height, Us tho novolists say-and that
height was exactly five feet three inches and
q half when fully drawn up and q little bit
on tiptoe-"but you must take my word, sir,
that l haven't set eyes on your umbrella"
mo, Miss Neild, / don't suppose you
have" he said, very quickly; 'don't think
that l thins that you think-that-that-
why, OF course, l DON'T" no said, tumbling
into another sentence as tho first one became
hope!essly involved, and it's not at all likely
but 1t went down your area-I was perfectly
sobcr-and the servants must havo soon it in
the morning. May ask tho %servantsl'
Il have asked them"
! "lsn't thcro o page boy or somebody who
omc curly to clean something's
"No."
"Who is tao first to so into that area in the
morning, Miss NeildF' he inquired; "sone
body for Goals, l suppose"
bridget or Sarah, certainly"
II should very much like to see Bridget
and Sarah, he suggested, 'if you would not
object"
"You must DO content with my word. sir,
that your umbrella is not on tho premises, +"
said, still loftily; II cannot have my ser.
wants subjected to q cross-cxamination on
this question. / have already made ovcry
inquiry"
"Thcy toll you they bavo not seen my UNI
brcllaf'
"And you belicve themF'
Certainly"
"Wcll, I dont-and that's plain speak
ing" he said f%rantically.
"I'm aware Of that"
unless there's anybody else in the house who
gets up earlier than tao servants. Is there
anybody clseT' he asked.
"Yes, there's a gel:.leman who lodges in
my front parlors, who leaves very early,
butt
! "Thats the q Where Is hes" cried
Mr.. Bird, with O frantic dash in O new d.
rection Of suspicion. II should like to 500
him.
Hes a gentleman holding a high position
on tho railway, and is NOT at all likely to con.
6scate property that does not belong to him.
I said.
/ II don't say he has conlscated it," IN.
swered Dir. Bird, less %brusquely, "but he
may have seen it this morning, and put il
aside for further inquiries"
"Nr. Goode is not in tho habit Of going
into my area" I said; II don't believe le has
been in the area In the whole course Of bis
| lite.n
Not before thi3 morning, Miss Neild-
very likely not. having nothing to 60 for, o.
! it were. But when b caught sight of an
umbrslla-and . very peculiar umbrella
lying on the vet stones, I haven't the slight
est doubt"-
, "He could not ct into tho area, SIR" I
; every night, and, besides, l told him shout
~ SAN &AVA A4I4o
"Vhat did he say to thatr'
HE said it was like your impertinence-
COMPOUNDED impertinence,'I may say, were
the actual words used" I answered, ito
make such . noise Ia the middle Of the night,
and he should like to give you . piece of bis
mind"
"Oh! be said that, did her he remarked,
biting his finger nails almost savagely.
Eyes"
Then he's the man who's got my umbrel-
Ia" be cried; II see it al now. He's keeping
it back out Of spite!"
"1r. Bird, this is absolutely uncomfortable"
II suppose be was the fellow believing
about the house like q bull last night, trying
to mako somebody understand that I was
knocking. heard him"
mo, he was not tho fellow" I replied,
severely; that was Capt. Choppers" .
Docs Capt. Choppers get up earlyf'
mo. he doesn't; he's . very late riser, in
deed; I believe he's in bed now"
That's his artfulness, y said the suspicious
individual, Just to make you fancy
But ! would not allow him to proceed any
further. was fairly reused by this
strangers disparaging reflections. rose,
looked steadily and gravely at him, and said:
This interview is at an end, Mr.. Bird.
These gentlemen are my lodgers-I might
say almost my friends-and l cannot listen
to your cruel n uncallsd for remarks
against their common honesty"
Common honesty it may be, Miss Neild,"
DO replied; ''but you mus allow there is
very ncommo dishonesty somewhars in
your establishment"
II will allow nothing
don't mean I want you to allow me any
thing for the loss of my umbrella he said.
hurriedly. pray don't understand that to