The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-01-03

about tho spiders web. Presently tho
spider made spring. and at tho Same
moment Mr.. Peck brought down his
hand smartly upon tho desk before
him. with an exultant chuckle.
Capital! Helix! That will settle
the whole matter and make all smooth.
by George, Ill do 1t ut once. There's
no time to DO lost, since the old woman
may 60 OF ut any moment He! he!
what a pleasant little surprise it will
be Tor Melissa Judd!''
Thercupon Mr.. Peck reached his hat,
ana. crossing the street to a druggist,
presently returned with several tiny
parcels OF powders which he proceeded
~ carefully pour into a small ink bottle.
As II for the purpose Of an easier identi-
fcation. or. perhaps. to screen the con-
tents. he pasted over this bottle pa
per wrapper OF peculiar mottled null
berry hue. Then. seating himself at
the open window for the sake Of the
failing light. he dipped a pen into the
bottle and commenced making expert
mental fourishes and inscriptions on q
sheet Of paper In q large and bold hand:
Miss Melissa Judd. Irescnk Dear
ct Melissa. Your deCotcd loUcr. HRS.
Melissa PcE."
Having arrived at this lattor finale,
Mr. Peck held the paper OF at arms
length and surveyed Ii with look Of
great disgust His back was at the
window, and he did not perceive that
q thin and wiry female had paused on
the sidewalk without, and with a pair
OF keen black eyes was taking in
every thing at glance-Mr. Peck,
mulberry bottle and writing included.
She started at sight Of this last, and
uttered an involuntary gasp, which she
Instantly converted into tremulous
''ahem!" Mr.. Peck started, and hasti-
~ thrust the paper and bottle into an
obscure little pigeon-hole above his
desk.
"Ahem!' said Miss Judd. pickering
her lips into . constrained smile,
while IN unwonted color sutfused her
sallow face. In the Office 50 long
after business hours. Mr.. Pcckp
should think you would be glad to get
away rs soon rs possible.
MIR. Peck sighed. and believed he
was getting fond OF solitude-or, rath-
err. getting tired OF it He began to
find his room at the clearinghouse
rather lonesome, and without any Of
the comforts and pleasures of home;
and he wns never anxious to return
to Il.
"Ahem! I was on my way there
I mean to Miss Spicer's to leave you q
message from Mrs Jollifer. She wish
es to SEQ you ut once"
s.Ah?'
Ambrose knew from long experience
what such message portended. For
some time he had been out of his aunt 3
good graces, and now she had had q
falling out" with Melissa, and in con-
sequence was about to reinstate him In
her favor and make q new will.
As the two walked together down a
retired side street toward the Jollifer
House. Mr.. Peck took occasion 10 in
form his fair companion that he ex-
pected to leave In few days on a brief
business trip. There was something
which he had long wished to say to her,
and before he went he would leave q
letter. which he hoped she would an
swer at once. directing to the address
he would give. And all that evening
Miss Judd found herself SO agitated
and bewildered by this new and totally
unexpected experience in her life, that
she actually forgot to air Mrs. Jolll-
fer's sheets before the irc, and to
warn over the cold clicken-pie for
Fido's supper. No wonder that the ill
used old lady accused hor Of Intentional
neglect and Of wishing to soc herself
and Fido in their graves in order that
she might enjoy her expected legacy.
And no wonder that she that very
night wrote new will, constituting
Mr.. Peck and Fido her sole heirs aud
legatees-
After this some weeks passed in
which things went on as usual, the
excellent Mrs. Jollifer making and un-
making her will just rs the humor
took her. Ambrose Peck bore il
philosophically. Armed with a couple
OF letters from his now afiianced bride.
he felt that he could defy the worst
fate that his affcctionate aunt might
have In store for him. As for his
own letter. hs had exactcd from Melissa
. promise to do with them as he should
with her's-seal them up immediately
upon receipt, not to be opened until
latter their marriage" when some
evening ut their own fireside they
might look them over together and
compare notes" It was. he con-
iessed. mere fancy Of his; but as 1t
cost her nothing. Melissa had hu-
mored It.
So the autumn came. and on q GER
tain evening Miss Melissa Judd had
occasion to open a leather trunk,
wherein she kept stored away her
most valued and secret possessions.
This trunk, to be secure Tom Mrs.
Jollifer's pryiug. was kept in the attic,
out Of reach; and thither Miss Judd
now proceeded. leaving the old lady
INDUCING in her usual afternoon nap.
From this she never woke until four
o'clock. in time for her port wine
Cruel. and the prudent companion
would take care to be back in good
time.
On opening the trunk Miss Judd was
dismayed to lind that the -, a-:--
ping from leak in tie root, had
found its way through crack in the
lid and moistencd a portion Of the con-
tents. Among thesa was the little bov
containing Mr.. Peck's letters, which
she Immediately fastened to examine.
They were dry and uninjurcd. But &c
she turned tnem over something
strange in their appearance arrested
her attention. There were the port,
marks. but what had become Of the
addressp Hastily opening them he,
astOnishment increased Reside tho