Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-05-18

T.. nave you no friend among the DO
nee that you can trust?"
Inc boy whistled softly.
nof, Miss Nettie, we uns an the
ponce amt too friendly; but there's old
rat Mahoney, he's a prime chan. r
guess he'll do"
Very we'll; if you discover ANYTHING
you can go to him at once and ask his
help. Now I'll tell you what Won ara
to do yourself"
Whatever the purport of their con-
Versatlon was, in short time there
called upon the servants OF the
Countess household the queerest old
peddler imaginable, with a basket of
the loveliest odds and ends, and dirt
cheap, too.
NY purse is up stairs" said the
COOK Ill go and get it," and she
ran away, followed by the two
housemaids. leaving the old peddler
quite alone in the kitchen.
l "CAo tuey gone IMAM lie
quickly slipped the key of the back
door in his pocket and gazed around
him, keenly sizing the room and noting
its doors. A further peep in the hall
and he seemed to be satisfied.
He soon left the delighted servants,
who never missed the key until night
fall, then they resolved to not tell my
lady, but to put chair against the
door. thieves were not plenty in their
avenue.
Thus it was, about o'clock the back
door softly opened and the dirty face
of Tom peered in.
tits all right" he whispered to o
companion. coast clear; my lady's at a
party and her rooms be all empty J
dare say"
He was followed by a policeman
whose Jolly, Irish face was just now
serious and anxious. as he stepped
softly across the kitchen floor after the
light, noisless feet of the boy.
They reached my lady's chamber,
and then such search as began. My
lady's tinery was tunbled here and
there. At last Tom gave low whistle
and held up to view beautiful dirk
with cleaning jeweled handle.
"The very instrument as killed the
old chap, 1 bet Nickel" he whispered.
The policeman shook his head: chat
amt no proof-Ah what is this?"
It proved to be letter, a portion of
a letter, rather, evidently written by
my lady herself. It ran as follows:
Haveeyerything Ill readiness, there must be
| no hitch. l understand from C. that the
old gentleman drew from the bank large sum
to-day To-night's the time.
That was all, but Pats Irish eyes
glowed.
"a clue at last. Hurrah. me boy
we're on the right track sure enough.
Hist! who's that?"
They only had time to secrete them
selves in my lady's big closet when the
door opened and my lady and her
uncle entered the room.
"Close the door, Aleck; how stupid
you are, and I'm so tired. Bah! what
a wretch of party that was"
you're not in the best of spirits,
ma chere," laughed the man sneer-
ingly; mo wonder, with your lover in
jail"
Hush! Bah! How I hate him, the
idiot! He told me lies about the money
hidden. Ugh!"
ut was bad go all around. Yet if
the fellow gets off clear he'll he rich
enough to suit even you, ma chere."
flush! How can you? Bah! I
want none of him."
"We're about out of funds; we'd bet
ter look around for some haul.
"But no more, no MORE" whispered
the Countess; "it is too, too dangerous. {"
Then, greatly to the relief of Tom
and Pat, they went down to the parlor,
and the two half-smothered prisoners
crept out and escaped.
The next morning the whole town
was more than astonished to hear that
the beautiful Countess and her uncle
had been arrested for the murder of
old Frederick Franklin, and no one was
more surprised than poor George, a
prisoner himself.
| 1t was q great case, and splendid
talent took hold OF it and brought out
the fact that the Countess was only q
wicked adventures, and that her pre-
tended uncle was her husband, an es-
capped criminal himself. They received
lifetime sentence, for their guilt was
clearly proven. and Tom stood on his
head full minute when he heard the
verdict.
OF course George turned gratefully
to his old love, who had saved him, and
she, woman-like, forgave him and be-
came his wife.
BlSMAXt KS ELDER BROTHER.
Some of the French newspapers pro-
TESS surprise that Price Bismarck should