Mower County transcript., 1890-01-22

Mr.. Burke; ! regret deeply that you are
forced to earn your living, and will
not add to your humiliation by any act,
or behavior, or word Of mine.'' 81 Il
The next day Mr.. Eustaoe Burke
brought round his wife---a most lady
like person, Mrs. Truccle could not but
confess to herself-and introduced her
to Mrs. Truccle, and then the three of
them settled the terms on which Mr..
Burke and his wife were to become care
takers A week or so later Mrs.
Truccle; after sending all her super
fluous jewels to her banker for safe
keeping, left for Hastings. and the
Burkes were duly installed in charge of
her town house.
Mrs. Truccle had been absent about q
fortnight or so in Hastings when she
received q telegram from her solicitor
that startled her. It said: ''Come to
town at once! Want to see you on most
important business"
what can it mean?" Mrs. Truccle
asked herself. "Can any of my invest
ments have gone wrong? I hope not
Mr.. Guiles is such careful man that
that isn't at all likely. But what can it
be, wonder? At any rate, I. must 60.
Soker, when is the next train to Lon
don? want to run up there for an hour
or two."
The moment Mrs. Truccle reached
town she drove over to her solicitor.
Mr.. Guiles was engaged in court, but
he had left orders that he was to be
sent for when Mrs. Truccle arrived. But
she was so eager to know at once why
she had been telegraphed for that she
asked the managing clerk what was the
matter.
"Well, madam, don't know that any
thing is wrong, " replied that gentleman,
with legal caution. 'But may ask
who the caretakers are that you have
in your house?"
''Mr. and Mrs. Eustace Burke, replied
Mrs. Truccle, with start. ''rhey are
cousins of Lord Grabmore's. Why do
you want to know?"
"Oh, cousins of Lord Grabmore, are
they" said the clerk, reflectively. "Per-
haps there is nothing wrong, then, after
all. 1t only seemed to us that they were
behaving very queerly for caretakers." {"
"What are they doing?" asked Mrs.
Truccle.
well, in a few words, happening to
pass your house yesterday, I observed
with surprise that it seemed to be oc-
cupied as usual. All the blinds and
curtains were up and the windows
cleaned. knocked at the door, and it
was opened by a footman."
"A footman!" exclaimed Mrs. Truccle
in amazement. "What was he ike?"
"A tall, rather distinguished-look
man, with handsome features and dark
eyes,
''Burke, as I'm a woman!" exclaimed
Mrs. Truccle.
"Well, his answers-let him be what
he may-were so unsatisfactory that
when reported them to Mr.. Guiles he
sent one of our clerks to keep look out
on the place. He reported that a lady,
dressed in great style, drove up to the
house and went in, an the servant next
door told him that tradespeople were
continually calling. So, thinking the
whole thing looked suspicious, Mr..
Guiles this morning, without waiting
for instructions, asked the police to look
into the affair"
'He was quite right" cried Mrs.
Truccle, much excited. ''And I'll 20 off
this minute and have the Burkes ar
rested; they are evidently couple of
rascally swindlers!''
'But, madam, Mr.. Guiles told me to
ask you to wait until he returned" said
the managing clerk.
I'm quite able to take care of my
self, thanks" cried Mrs. Truccle, there
by doing herself little more than justice.
Accordingly away the good lady drove
to her house to bring the Burkes to book.
When she reached it she found it as the
managing clerk had described. Foam
irg with rage, Mrs. Truccle jumped out
of the cab and rushed up the steps.
DShe rangthe bell violently; there was
no response. She rang it again; still
there was no answer. She was about to
pull it third time, when hand was
placed on her shoulder. She turned
round Indignantly.
"What do you mean, sir?" she said to
the person who had taken the liberty.
II mean, ma'am," replied the fellow
with mock Difference, "that the old man
has bolted. He got wind that we were
on his track, and cut his stick. It was
mean of him to save his own skin and
leave you."
'Leave me!' exclaimed Mrs. Truccle.
II don't understand you."
II mean, ma'am," said the man. "that
the cove you call your husband has
bolted, but that you won't get the
chance of doing the same. I arrest you
for obtaining from Messrs. Clinker &
Co., bankers, possession of Mrs. True
cle's jewels by means of forged letter.
Mrs. Truccle stood dumfounded for a
moment or two.
"Do you know, sir, "she then said, ''that
myself am Mrs. Truccle?'
"No, DON'T" said the detective, ''but