St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-01-05

nouriSiling circumstances than they had
given him credit for, but the Misses
Briggs fiattered themselves that they
were too shrewd to be taken in by APP
pearances, and they came to the com
! PORTING conclusion that either Bob'S do
nestle effects were not paid for or else
that there must be bill of sale over
! everything.
| 1 he old ladies settled down very COM
fortably in their temporary quarters,
and abandoned themselves with morbid
Zest to medical dissipation. They con-
suited several physicians of eminence
about their nerves, and at length dis
covered one who either believed that
they were both in very bad way. or at
least said so. At all events this dis
tnguiShed authority succeeded in
thoroughly frightening his pat ents,
who, being in chemically dyspeptic
state from good living and idleness.
I speedily developed symptoms of real
illness. The elder sister had an attack
which looked suspiciously like fore
warning of apoplexy, while Miss Pris-
ella became impressed with the con-
viction that passing twinge of lum-
bago was malignant type Of spinal
paralysis.
1t was while the Misses Briggs were
| in this critical condition of mind and
body that they made discovery which
threatened the most serious conse-
quences. Naturally, they were both
pretty much preoccupied with them
selves and their respective ailments,
but they still found leisure for specula-
tons about their nephew and his affairs,
and were never weary of prosecuting
! inquiries and researches concerning
him. They were considerably myStified
at learning that Bob had the reputation
II &c Il Iii L. y,
praiSeWorthy regularity, and that no
body had ever heard of his having had
bailiffS in the house. This was so dia-
metrically opposed to the old ladies'
preconceived notions that they con-
tinued to be incredulous and full of sus-
picion. They amused themselves by
ranSackIng every drawer and cupboard
in the place, with the confident eXpec
tation of coming across the griSly skele
ton which they believed to exist; but
their ardent expectations resulted in
nothing but irritating failure. until. on
one memorable afternoon, Miss Priscilla
found that one of the keys on her key
ring happened to fit the lock of quaint
old oak chest which, covered with
plush cushion, served as window seat
in BOb'S study. and the discovery they
then made was totally unexpected.
But for Miss Priscilla's enterpriSing
curiosity this chest might very well
have escaped observation, for it fitted
exactly into the embrasure of the win
dow, and the plush cover made it look
like what it purported to be, namely,
comfortable little lounge, half chair,
half sofa. Indeed, it was such an unob-
! truSive and innocent object that the old
ladies paid no attention to it for some
time. until, their researches becoming
keener, Miss Priscilla felt impelled to
raise the plush cover. when it TRANSFERRED
that the chest had a lid which lifted up,
and that this lid was securely locked.
Being the only receptacle in the house
which Bob had not left freely open to
their inspection, the old ladies' were in
stantly seized with devouring curiosi-
ty to know what it contained, and Miss
Priscilla never rested until by dint of
patient experiments she unlockep it.
The result at first sight was diSap-
pointing, for the chest seemed to reveal
nothing but small articles of lumber of
no Importance whatever. but from a
snug corner Miss Priscilla presently I'M
eaIthed somewhat bulky and awk-
ward shaped brown paper parcel, clum-
silly tied round with string. While be-
ing lifted the parcel came unfastened,
and then suddenly, without as it were a
moments warning, the whole of Bob'S
collection OF silver plate, jeWelrY and
vauables were exposed to the old Iady'S
startled gaze.
''Good graciousr' exclaimed Miss
Priscilla, breathlessly, Robert has de-
ceived us. He led US to believe that he
had removed everything of value"
81 know it, PRISCILLA said the elder
sister. g! mentioned my suspicious at
the time"
"You did, Maria, but l could not be-
lieve that Robert would be so cuIpably
thought!ess and careless as to leave val
liable property in our charge" SAID Miss
Priscilla, conveniently forgetting her
former theory. ''Why, the house will
be broken into and we shall be muir
dered in our BEDS" she added with a
shudder
II can't allow the things to remain
here" said Miss Briggs with nervous
energy. Robert must take them away
at once. l will telegraph to him to come
by the next tram to fetch them"
But, Mariaw exclaimed Miss Pris-
ella, as her sister seated herself at
Bob's desk and seized pen in an agi-
tated manner, "what can we say to
Robert? How can we account for hay
, ing discovered the thingsu'
, what do you meanr' inquired Miss
, Briggs, sharply.
, at is really very awkward, but the
IdCU 10 Iiletl-llldG Tic Cl6Sl WAS CeElalnly
locked. | suppose RObert-and eSpec-
tally his wife-would say we had nc
, business to open it. 1t would be ex-
: tremelY unpleasant to be accused Of
of prying." SAID Miss Priscilla with in.
creasing confusion,
, ''Don't be fool, Priscilla" exclaimed
her sister. GLOW could any one accuse
us of such thing?"
, Monstrous as the notion appeared,
! however, moments reflection con-
+ WINGED Miss Briggs that there was some
: ground for Miss Priscilla's apprehen.
SiOns, and the two ladies stared at one
, another in dismay. If there was one
a virtue more than another on which they
prided themselves it was their punctil-
T | ious sense of honor, and nothing but
: detection would have convinced them
of fallibility in this respect. They sud
y | denly became conscious of the disagree
I able fact that they had been guilty OF
, an act of meanness; or, at least, they
realized that, if found out, their con
j., duct would be open to this construction
y The were too self-righteous 10 condemn
!, themselves, but they instinctively
q shrank from confessing what they hac
: done, and the project of communicating
with their nephew was abandoned by
+ tacit consent.
y II suppose | had better put the things
> away again." said Miss Priscilla, invol
! unfairly lowering her voice.
The elder sister hurrIedly acquIesced
t and Bob's valuables were huddled bach
d into their hiding place and carefully
:, locked up. But the old ladies were
dreadfully upset by the incident, fol-
e the knowledge of there being such {
: bait for thieves in the house filled then
with morbid apprehenslons. To thell
s excited imagIrations burglary seemed
inevitable, and they were so terrified
" at the prospect that they had not ever
:. the energy ITO to take steps to avert thu
v which occurred to them was to yacatt
! the premises instantly: but this the,
S considered impracticable, owing to thei
state of health.
4 Beyond, tn erefore, indulging in indig
!, nant denunciations of their nephew.
/. culpable thougntlessness, the old lady
4 klx,1y u