Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1890-10-02
You will undertake to lind tho GRIN.
tnal, Mr.. Deering.t'

80. pIeGeuQS 60 thl0k that
jessie Darlin' is innocent, but how he
can M IS more han understand
Ahe woo ~ then led the way to her
:, sno Hed me the dresser on which
'ue ino an idol had rested for these
many ears, until the previous night,
WY ..,m 1t had mysteriously disappeared.
mas ring lost three days ago, said
.ue' holding up a diamond circlet for nv
ms pection, "and found it in the bot
IN of Jessie's trunk
But you found nothing of the Indian
godg'
mo"
.'You are, of course, sure 1t IS not In
the trunk?"
II am. went through it in thor
ough manner"
Then we must look elsewhere for the
lost idol. Were you absent from home
ut any time yesterday"
eyes; but the idol was in its accus-
toned place when returned at night"
Are you sure?"
II am sure,''
How about this Window"
1t is always securely fastened"
And the door,"
VI always secure that the last thing
before retiring"
regarded her keenly.
Then, how do you account for the
maids entering the room without even
interrupting your slumbers, Mrs. Good
ale?"
II can't account for that, unless she
has duplicate key"
THAT is not likely, unless the girl is
a professional thief" / said.
'Oh, she's not that I know Miss
Darling has good mother. and-but,
you see, found my lost ring in her
trunk, and that seems conclusive evi.
dence.'
what did she say when you told her
about the ring? How did she explain its
presence in her trunk?"
''Oh, she did not attempt to do II, only
burst out crying. suppose she thought
that would soften me, but it didn't, nor
make he think her an innocent Great
ure. think she's the thief fast
! enough, but I hate to lose the idol, and
| 1t you can scare her into a confession,
and a return of the stolen property, I
shall be very lenient''
II will see." was my only reply.
was now quite positive that Miss
Darling was not the thief I was, how
ever, undecided as to whether Mrs.
Goodale had. "put up job on the girl,
or had really been robbed.
spoke to Walter, and suggested the
former theory, at which he secuted,
having full confidence in his aunt, no
matter how much she may have disliked
the thought of his, Walters, advances
toward the maid.
"Well,' said I, permit me to carry
out little plan of my own, to do which,
l must have free access to the house day
and night"
''Of course that is granted" said the
young man.
"And, mind you, say nothino Of TIL !,
to your aunt"
''As you please"
Thus it was settled. Jessie had gone
| to her home, making no attempt to fee,
and her trunk was sent after her.
was given room in an unused quar-
ter of the house, which occupied only
at night, quite unknown to Mrs. Good
ale. Walter gave me keys to all the
, rooms, SO that could roam about at
will during the slum bers OF the inmates.
1 could not get over the idea that Mrs.
Goodale had plotted to disgrace her
maid for purpose, and meant to trap
her if possible.
l had not long to wait
just a week after my arrangement
with Walter slipped from my couch,
fully clothed, and haunted the corridors
of the old house, as had done every
night of my sojourn under it's roof.
Tonight my vigils were to meet with
reward.
A white-robed figure stole from Mrs.
Goodale's room, and, hurrying down the
hall, pushed open the door to the room
lately occupied by Jessie Darling, and
entered. Moonlight streamed into the
hall. and I recognized the face of the
| widow. Doubtless she was bent on more
mischief.
Quickly and noiselessly I stole to the
door and locked it, thus making Mrs
Goodale a prisoner.
I turned about, then, and camo near
uttering a cry.
Passing along the hallway was a
white-robed figure, and the sight of a
| second nocturnal wanderer quite startled
| me.
While stood dumb, almost petrified,
the figure disappeared.
bre athed more freely now, and soon
crept softly in the steps of the last
night-prowler.
The door of the widows room stood
! OPEN looked in to see my ghostly
walker run maging in a drawer Of the
old dresser.
"Confound It'll" said voice, ppm sure
It's in here"
l started at the sound of that voice
Presently the figure stole out through
the door, and went swiftly down the
! hall, till another open door was reached
OF course I followed, quite puzzled
and interested.
The night-prowler entered the room,
and knelt beside Walter Goodale's bed.
What was he about to do? Commit a
murder? l was on the point of spring
ing forward, when the ghostly form lay
fiat on the carpet, and seemed to be
reaching for something.
''Ah! Ihave it now.''
When the form would have risen, I
sprang forward, and landed astride its
back.
Hello! What the deucew
l scratched a match and held it close
to the face of my prisoner. It was Wal
ter Goodale! After moment got up
and lit the gas.
The young man looked sheepish