Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-11-07
PERLEYS PRETTY SISTER.


1t was dull, rainy day towards the
end of September-one of those days
when earth and sky are grey aud
dreary, and the rain drops patteriug
against the window sounded like
human sobs. The clock that hung
against the wall pointed to the hour of
3 in the afternoon. and | was sitting in
our little inner office. looking out at
the expanse of dull grey wall that
formed my only prospect from the not
over clean window. and thinking. |
had read every square inch of type in
the newspapers.
| was musing about Kitty Elton and
wondering how long it would be be-
fore / should be able to marry her.
Dear little Kittie! she was as sweet
and as patient rs it was in the nature
of woman to be; but / knew it was
a hard life for her in that over-crowd-
ed mlliner's work-room. and longed
to set her free from the monotonous
captivity. She was pretty blue-eyed
girl of 80, with dimplc in her chin,
and the sweetest roses on her cheek.
| was no poet. yet think understood
and appreciated all her womanly beau
ty MS fully rs if my hearts thoughts
could shape themselves into verse.
And it was of them | was thinking
when the door opened and Mr.. Clcnner
came in.
Mr.. Clenner was our ''chef''-a
dark, silent. little man, with square
stern mouth and clouded grey ewes,
which appeared almost cxpressionless
| l n IN fpll
and yet which seemed to see every
thing at a glance. He sat down be-
side me.
Meredith" he said in a quiet sub
dued tone that was natural to him,
didn't you say that you were tired of
doing nothingP"
Eyes, sir"
We'll, l have something for you to
do"
What is it. sir?"
Something that will bring Won both
credit and friends. if YOU manage it
skillfully. l had intended to 90 my
self, but circumstances happened UNI
towardly, and l shall send you in
stead"
Bending his head toward me and
speaking scarcely above n whisper, he
told me the special business on which
| was to be sent
There had been, it seems, series
of very skilful forgerics lately COM
mitted, with Doldness and audacitv that
fairly seemed to set the authorities at
defiance. For some time lie had been
in doubt as to the exact perpctrator Of
the crime; but after much quiet in
vestigation and casting hither and
thither. he had detected the hidden
spring-one Perley Mattison, who had
skilfully eluded all pursuit. and was
now somewhere in hiding in the north
! of England. His whereabouts had
been ascertained as nearly us possible
and it was for me to 90 quietly up and
apprehend him before he should be-
come aware of our knowledge of all
his movements.
| sat and listened to all the various
details of our plan. as they were
sketched out by Mr.. Cleuner The re-
ward that had been privately offered
was high; my heart leaped as reflect
ed how much nearer il would bring
me to Kitty Elton, nor did the enter
prise seem particular difficult to ac-
complish.
DO you think you can do FTP" Mr..
Clenner asked, after the whole thing
had been laid out before me.
Yes, sir When shall startpn
Now, within half an hour"
80 soon?"
Yes; why notP"
| could think of no sufficient reason,
except one, which | did not care to
communicate to my superior - the
! ngng to see Kitty once more before
] started.
Just as you decide, Mr. Clenner of
course" | said rising IF | take the
night express shall be there early in
the morning"
"Yes, and that is altogether the best
plan. He will not remain long in any
one place just at present, depend up
on it, and what you have to do must
be done at once"
All through that long night journey
unused upon the task that lay before
me. The house to which | was direct
ed was quite in the country. about half
n mile beyond the village of Berwood,
and was the residence of Mrs. Matti-
son. the mother of the audacious
forger. If hel p was needed | was full
~ authorized to call upon the con-
stabulary authorities at K; but 1
expected to need no assistance.
The rosy dawn was just ushering tho
eastern sky when l alighted, stiff,
weary and jaded from the train.
Can you direct me to Mrs. Matti-
sons placer | asked of the sleepy
stationmastcr.
'Mattison-Mrs. Mattison; | don't
know her, but can tell You where she
lives. Just YOU follow the main street
of the village TO a wood. with foot
path running through il. Get over the
stile, follow the footpath. and in n lit
tie while you'll see yellow lsouse-thc
last place in the world where you'd
expect to see dwelling. There's
where Mrs. Mattison lives"
thanked my informant and set out
at a brisk walk, carryingmy travelling
bag in my hand. 1t was half an hour
ere | divergcd from the main road. or
rather lane. The stile ut the end of
the footpath through the wood was
quickly reached. and the little yellow
house-a cream colorcd cottage literal
ly overgrown with honeysuckle5
presently rewarded my search, aud, as