The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1890-10-02
The STOLEN IDOL.
Searching for q Midnight Prowle1
In Ohio.

Its shame, Mr.. Deerins, a blessed
shame that my aunt should accuse Jessie
Darling of theft. How could she do
such = thing7'
The young man who stood before me
WIS hot witt" indignation. and from his
WORDS and. actions at once OWNED the
truth that he. was very far from indif,
1erent to Miss Darling.
smiled little at the young mans
enthusiastic defense Of his aunt's maid.
"Was the jewelry lost by Mrs. Goodale
OF much valued" questioned, after the
young naa had told his story.
~ don't believe it was;: but you see,
ats an heirloom in tho family, and
thAceto priced very highly" returned
walter GoOdale. ats hideous Indian
idol, made of gold and precious stones.
and has adorned my aunt's dresser for
years innumerable. Jessie has been
with her q year. and now. when the
hideous old idol disappears, my aunt flies
into rage and at once. accuses poor lit
tie Jessie of the theft Aunt Selma is
error whsnshes enraged and, WE'LL
Wpuldl1 permit myselfi to stay and
hear 3essio traduced, so fled and came
to you, Mr. Deering. You must find the
thiefout and thus vindicate the poor
girl. I'll reward you handsomely tor it,
if you succeed"
ltswas In one Of Ohio's smaller cities
that L was 'sojourning now, and for
some months I had been in the detective
work. l knew the Goodales, and had
seen JessiesDarling;s whose: sweet face
anu blue eyes were very attractive. I
understoodrvell Cenough that Walter
was dead in love. withhis aunt's maid,
and also that The aunt was displeased
at the outlook.
The first thought that dawned upon
my. brain was that the ldslady had con.
cocted little plot ,teNdisgrace the girl,
and thus break up. the match that was:
but forming. 1T pleased me to see the
young man 50 confident of Jessie's in
nocence, and r was rather pleased than
otherwise to enter upon the unraveling
OF the mYstofy. Z.ti+ =
I repaired at once to the house OF
Mrs. Goodale.e - It was a large, square
stone building. of ancient construction.
Mrs. Goodale was wealthy widow
with no. children of her own, and her,
orphan nephew, Walter, found an abode
with her. =.
When reached the house found the
maid in the hall, with hat and shawl on,
about IL leaYe the place. The girl was
palevsnd i could see that she had been
weeping: 49," . >,: =
II ought to.put you in the hands of
an officer lat once,", declared Mrs.
Goodale.
''You can find me at my mothers any
time returned the girl, in a shaking
voice, snd then She turned and hurried
froM the house, not looking toward ID ME Is
as she passed. confronted the widow,
AID She uttered my name insglad SUR
Prise Prise, e,~., v,...,..,e.. ~
declared. ~ have been robbed, Mr..
Deering, and there goes the thief now"
ppiu ting. ovard the retreating form of
Jessie Darling. >.+si.;.:r all :: !. y r5
Are you sure she. j. the thief?''
asked. 80
:.'Ot course I am" ..,,,..-~. ......., a.. -.
,.Then you will have her arrested at
onee?"2'@" .h1tit.ts e.: ''3a, ,' =: ,. .-'7
sssMell, fought to and shall, unless
she returns the stolen property" ~
Which is very valuable?'. :" a. .~ t' !. =
ysTes. Did Walter see you? I am
glad Of it, although am sure the girl is
the thaefs Gomedn. Mr.. Dsering, and I
will tell you all about it, g. a.. .:sa.,g
j entered. the parlor, and the widow
was soon explaining the situation. It
was shout as thesnephew had stated it,
only Mrs Go6dale assured me that she
had ,foundsa ring, that she had lost at
the same time as the idol, in her maids
trunk. ~ AE
s''She got red enough when told her
where found the ring" proceeded Mrs.
Goodale, and tried to screen herself
bytsaying that Twas q meddlesome
woman. to 60 shopping into Ter frank.
L squelchel her, though, and If you
think it. best I. will have a warrant is
sued at,once., The girl may leave the |
city You know. "is,l2SgEae * .5s:sssaz.~sfl
>'I have little fear of that,"I said.
1T any rate, permit me to investigate
this affair first, Mrs Goodale. 1t may
be that you wrong Miss Darling by your
'uspieions.' r !