Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-17

"The cook had fits yesterday; that was why
the dinnLr was spoiled. She has fits again to-
day, and there will be no dinner at all. She
has turned the servants out of the kitchen;
they are sitting on the kitchen stairs, and IS sne
the fits are occasioned by brandy. l sent her
some yesterday when was told she was in con-
vulsions, and that was adding fuel to fire. IL is
case of D. T., fear. There is a black cat IN
the ktchen-or she thinks so, and is hunting 1t,
throwing kettles and pots and pans at it-has
smashed the windows and most OF the CROCK
cry. The maids are frightened. have sent
for the police; come with me. We must break
open the kitchen door, and seize and bind the
mad creature"
ut will put us in somewhat ridiculous posi-
tion," said Philip. "Had we not better wait
till the constable arrives, and hand her over
formally to him."
'And in the meantime allow her to smash
everything the kitchen contains Come OF"
The old man led the way, and Philip, 1rst
plucking at his shirt collars to make sure they
were right, followed. They found, as Jeremiah
had said. the servants on the steps that de-
scended to the kitchen. The nurse was also
there.
"Row came you here?" asked Philip-"and
baby, toOl-is this place for him? Go back to
the nursery"
There was indeed, an uproar in the kitchen.
The cook was as one mad, bowling curslng,
dashing about and destroying everything she
could lay hand on-like the German Potter
geist.
jeremiah burst the door open, and the two
men entered.
Fortunately for Philips dignity, the con-
stable arrived at the same time, and the crazy
woman was without difficulty and disarrange-
ment of Philips collars, controlled and con-
veyed to her bedroom.
AS the party of men with their redfaced cap
tive assembled the steps from the kitchen.
Philip caught sight of the nurse and baby
again. The former had disobeyed his orders;
1t was perhaps too much to expect of her to re-
tire beyond sight of the drama enacted in the
kitchen. Philip gave her notice to leave.
''This would never have happened had Sa-
lone been here" SAID jeremiah. 'And this is
not all: that woman has found means of getting
to my cellar, and she has drunk herself into
this condition on my best whisky and brandy.
l have only just discovered the rsVages she has
made"
Il gave you up the cellar key"
'Yes: but she had another that fitted the
lock. l have had Mrs. Haigh here, she has
opened my eyes to a thing or two Are you
aware that the parlor maid and my traveller
Tomkns have been carrying on pretty fast
She asked leave to go to a funeral on Sunday,
and went instead with Tomkins to Hollingworth
Lake. They were seen there together in a
boat"
"There is something wrong" said Philip.
something l do not understand, about the
washing. 1 do not know whether any account
is kept of what goes to the wash, but am
it restores. / am reduced this week to one
pocket handkerchief. l cannot understand 1t.
If / had had an influenza cold during the last
fortnight could see some reason for my being
short this week, but conceive the awkwardness
of having only one. And then my socks. They
come back full of holes. / used not to wear
them into great chasms-at least not since
have been here; now they return as of old when
I was in furnished lodgings-only tlt to be en-
ployed as floor cloths"
s.f,lI tell Won what Philin SaIome must re-
turn. have been told by Mrs. Haigh that she
saw your nursemaid take the baby only yester-
day to Brownies Buildings, and there is scarlet
fever in several of the cottages there"
Il have dismissed her,"
"Who? SalomeP
mo, the nurse"
But the mischief is done. She was there
yesterday 1 do not know how many days it
takes for scarlet fever to incubate, but that
the child Will have it have very little doubt.
Why she went into Rhodes cottage where
they have had five down IN it, and two of them
died. The rest are just in that condition Of
healing when infection is most TO be feaTed.
heard this from Mrs Haigh."
GOOD heavens?' Philip was frightened,
''Then," continued jeremiah, II do not sup
pose you are aware that EssIe, the nursemaid,
has been wearing your wife's jewelry. She
had the audacity to appear in church on Sum-
day with pretty Florentine mosaic brooch
that l gave Salome many years ago. Mrs.
Haigh saw it and recognized it.
Philip hdgeted in his chair. 81 See," said he,
Il was wrong in not speaking or coughing the
other night, or l might have sneezed, but
lacked the moral courage. / felt unwell and
had sick headache and without saying any,
thing to anyone l went to bed Immediately aft
er dinner. l may have been in bed half an
hour and had dozed off when was reused by
seeing light. Iopened my eyes and observed
Essie at the dressing table. She had come into
the room, not dreaming 1 was there, and she
was trying on Salomes bonnets, suppose the
best, putting her head on this side, then on
that, and studying the effect at the glass. did
not cough or sneeze, as 1 ought. l allowed her
to leave the room in ignorance that she had