The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1890-10-02
y. - ". n 81 fKsi - ~ 80 . ~
s. .fes Will Ahdertake tosnndsthe Grim.
iAAA Mi. Deerinr?'

our nephew has employed me-
Indeed! He pretends to ,think that
Jessie Darling is innocent, but how he
can Is more than I understand"
The widow then led the way TO her
room, showed me the dresser ON which
the Indian idol had rested for these
many years. until the previous night,
when 1t had mysteriously disappeared.
This ring lost three days ago, said
she. holding up diamond circlet. for my
inspection, land 1 found it in the bot
tom of Jessie's trunk" a. ..... nrxs
but you found nothing ~ the Indian
goas'' 5I5,
;Na" %a2:gr: -
''Yoa are, OF course, sure 1t Is not IN
the trunkY 48Gx ant Tss2 ToIss 4 Il e;
II am. I went through it.ina thor.
ough manner" axir - ..sassaesys y.,f ,ssr
Then we must look elsewhere for the
lost idol. We're you absent from home
at any time yesterday"
"Yes; but the idol was in its accus-
toned place when I returned 1t night"
"Are you sure?"tl iy~-E = .{"F<s .<sng
II am sure" ~ =.
'How about this window3"', IS ,,..
lit is always securely fastened.
"And the door?" - Ia. I" .'''~.
II always secure that the last thing
before retiring"
l regarded her keenly.
Then, how do you acGca6unt for the
maids entering the room without even
ale?'' 17>s
II can't account tor that, unless she
has duplicate key" :h.f s;Ej!H&it. -
''That is not likely, unless the girl -is
. professional thief" I said.
&"Oh, she's not that L know Miss
Darling has good mother. ,and-but,
you see. found my lost ring ins shsr
trunk, and that seems CONCLUSIVE cyl
dence."
What did she say when you told her
about the ring? How did she explain it's
presence in her trunk?" ~ J
''Oh, she did not attempt to do 1t, only
burst out crying. I suppose she thought
that would soften me, but it didn't, nor
make me think her an innocent Great
ure. I think she's the thief fast
enough, but hate to lose the idol, and
II you can scare her into a confession,
and return Of the stolen property, I
shall be very lenient." .,..ue.
Twill see." was my only reply.
lawas 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 aisiiked
the thought of his, Walters, advances
toward thesnaid: .sas ~ -,
Well" saidaI, 'spermit me to carry
out a 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 nothind' Of thu,
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. ~,
Twas given q room in an unused quar-
ter OF the house, which l occupied onlv
at night quite unknown to Mrs. Good
ale. Walter gave me keys to all the
rooms. SO that l could roam about at
will during the slumbers of the inmates
l could not get over the idea that Mrs
Goodale had plotted to disgrace her
maid for purp and I meant to trap
her II possible. -
I had not long to wait. ! II
Just week after my arrangement
with Walter 1 slipped from my couch,
fully clothed, and haunted the corridors
OF the old house, as / had done eyerv
night of my sojourn Under its roof.
Tonight nay Vigils were to meet with
reward.
A white-robed figure stole. from Mrs.
Goodale's room, and, .hnrrying down. the
hall, pushed open the door to the room
lately occupied by Jessie Darling, and
entered. Moonlight streamed' into the
hall. and ! recognized the face of the
widow. Doubtless she was bent on more
mischief. .,..1.
Quickly and noiselessly stole to the
door and locked it, thus making Mrssa
Goodale prisoner. ~ q
I turned about, then. and;caTho: near.
uttering 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 petrifed,
the figure Disappeared: '.';...-; 9 ).
l bre athed more. freely now, and soon
clept softly Ia THE steps Of the last
nifht-prowler. ~"~:s""~:'"'''<':a-'-'..s
The door Of the Widows room stood
open. looked. il to see my. ghostIy
walker run maRfng Il / a drawer Of The
old dresser;
...'Confoand it!o' said. a voice, Pm sure
It's tn-here.s = .-,z.,,,. $.
Il started at the sound OF That voice.
Presently the figure stole ont through
the door, and went swiftly down. the
hall; till another open door was reached.
-s0f sparse | followed, quite puzzled
and Interested =
The night-prowIer:. entered the room,
and knelt beside Walter Goodale's Bed.
What was he about to do3 Commitsa
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! have it now.'' j;
= When the, form would have risen, I
sprang forward, and landed astride its
back. "& ~. - ~ ~ t~'"i l'.''
- ,
. T scratched match and held It close
to the face of my prisoner. It was Wal
ter Goodale! After moment got I'D
and lit the gas. -,-~~-~---- .--..>s .-,,.
The young man, looked sheepish
enough as he stared At me, then at his
single garment ! = E = -
"What the deuce does IT. mean, Deer
ing?"f ssid he. Am ] dreaming, or did
I fall out Of sbed ~ NJ y
Neither" said I. "What have v1nnn