The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-10-04

lOu Will uuucE bHhS W uuu bu6 CElul-
inal, Mr.. Deering?"
"Your nephew has employed me-"
Indeed! He pretends to think that
Jessie Darling is innocent, but how he
can is more than 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 it had mysteriously disappeared.
This ring lost three days ago." said
she, holding up diamond circlet for my
inspection, "and found it in the bot
tom of Jessie's trunk"
But you found nothing of the Indian
god?'
mo"
"You are, Of course, sure it is not in
the trunkp"
81 am. I went through it in thor
ough manner"
"Then we must look elsewhere for the
lost idol. We're you absent from home
at any time yesterday"
eyes; but the idol was in its accus-
toned place when returned at night" +"
'Are you sure?"
81 am sure"
''How about this Window"
''It is always securely fastened"
Sand the door?"
81 always secure that the last thing
before retiring"
1 regarded her keenly.
"Then, how do you account for the
maids entering the room without even
interrupting your slumbers, Mrs. Good
ale?" q.
81 can't account for that, unless she
has duplicate key"
THAT is not likely, unless the girl is
professional thief" said.
"Oh, she's not that 1 know Miss
Darling has good mother. and-but,
you see, 1 found my lost ring in her
trunk, and that seems conclusive evil
dence."
what did she say when you told her
about the ring? How did she explain its
presence in her trunkP"
''Oh, she did not attempt to do it, only
burst out crying. 1 suppose she thought
that would soften me, but it didn't, nor
make me think her an innocent Great
ure. 1 think she's the thief fast
OhOuHht puo L haoC w AooO buO luOt, anu
If you can scare her into o confession,
and return Of the stolen property, /
shall be very lenient."
81 will see," was my only reply.
I was now quite positive that Miss
Darling was not the thief / 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 /, ''permit me to carry
out little plan of my own, to do which,
must have free access to the house day
and night"
''of course that is granted" said the
young man.
Sand, mind you, say nothing of this
to your aunt"
''As you please"
Thus it was settled. Jessie mad gone
to her home, making no attempt to flee,
and her trunk was sent after her.
l 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 l could roam about at
will during the slumbers of the inmates.
could not get over the idea that Mrs.
Goodale had plotted to disgrace her
maid for purpose, and l meant to trap
her if possible.
had not long to wait
Just week after my arrangement
with Walter I slipped from my couch,
fully clothed, and haunted the corridors
Of the old house, as had done every
night of my sojourn under its 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
ately occupied by Jessie Darling, and
Moonlight streamed into the
hall, and / recognized the face of the
widow. Doubtless she was bent on more
mischief.
Quickly and noiselessly stole to the
loor and locked it, thus making Mrs.
Ioodale prisoner.
/ turned about, then. and came near
a cry.
Passing along the hallway was a
figure, and the sight of |
econd nocturnal wanderer quite startled |
ne.
While stood dumb, almost petrified,
he figure disappeared.
breathed more freely row, and soon
rept softly in the steps of the last
The door Of the widows room stood
pea. / looked in to see my ghostly |
walker rummaging in drawer of the
Id dresser
"confound It'll" said voice, Pm sure
t's in here"
/ started at the sound of that voice.
PRESENTLY the figure stole out through
he door, and went swiftly down the
all, till another open door was reached.
OF course / followed, quite puzzled
nd interested.
The night-prowler entered the room,
nd knelt beside Walter Goodale's bed.
What was he about to do? Commit a
lurderP i was on the point of spring
ng forward when the ghostly form lay
lat on the carpet, and seemed to be
eacbing for something
"Ahi / have it now"
When the form would have risen,
prang forward, and landed astride its
ack.
AT II