The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-04-11

on my return, iass HI tho aftetnoon,
nesting Mrs q - In the passs9e, 4 said
to her. sWEo d the third servant that
Mrs K and myself have seen once or
twice 10 our bedfoomsV
Miss c. looked, i thought, rather
scared, and murmuring something that
could not catch turned and went hur-
riedly down the stairs into the kitchen.
An hour afterward, as we were sitting
waiting for our dinner, Jane brought
note from Miss c. inclosing her ac-
count, and saying that she had just had q
telegram summoning her to the sick bed
Of relation, that in all probability she
would not be back till after our departure
but that she had left directions with the
servants, and hoped they would make us
quite comfortable, and that we would ex-
cuse her hurried departure.
A lew minutes after cab drove up to
the door, into which, from our window,
we saw Miss c. get. and drive rapidly
away.
Later on in the evening, while Jane was
clearing away the dinner things, ! said to
her, "By the by, Jane, who Is the third
maidS'' She was just going to leave the
room as spoke. Instead of replying she
turned round with such q scared look on
her face that felt quite alarmed; then,
hurriedly catching up her tray, she left the
room. Thinking that further inquiry
would be very disagreeable to her forbore
again mentioning the subject. Next day,
our week being up, we departed for fresh
woods and pastures new.
Our tour led us considerable further
north, but month later saw us hofneward
bound. The nearest route by rail led us
by X. As we drew up at the station we
noticed on the platform parson, in whom
we recognized one of the clergy of x
whose church we had been to. Presently
the door OF our compartment was opened
and he put in q lady, wished her good.by,
the guards whistle blew and we were off.
After a short time we fell into conversa-
tion with the lady, and found her to be the
clergyman's wife. Among other things,
we asked after Miss c..
s.Oh, Miss c." she replied; "she Is
very well, but hear, poor thing, she has
not had very good season." -.-..
II am sorry to hear that" replied;
"why is its" She was silent for minute,
and then related to us the following facts:
At the beginning of the season rather
untoward event occurred at Miss G--'s
lodgings. An elderly lady took one of the
flats for month. She had with her an at
tendant of about thirty. Before long Miss
c. observed that they were not on very
good terms, and one morning the old lady
was found dead in her bed.
A doctor was ut once called in, who, on
viewing the body, found there were very
suspicious marks round the neck and
throat, as il PERSONS fingers had been
tightly pressed upon them. The maid ON
hearing this at once became very restless,
and going to her bedroom, which was at
the top Of the house, packed small bag
and, having put on her things, was about
to descend the stairs when, from hurry or
agitation, she missed her footing, and fall
ing to the bottom broke her neck.
But not the least extraordinary part of
the business was that not the slightest
elew could be obtained as to who the lady
was, the linen of herself and her maid hav-
ing only initials marked on it. Tho police
did their best by advertising and inquiry,
but all they could find out was that they
had come straight to X-f from Liverpool,
where they had arrived from America.
There they were traced to the Fifth Ave-
nue. hotel, In New York, where they had
been only known by the number of their
room, and to which they had come from
no one knew whittier. Enough money
was found in the lady's box to pay the OK
penses of their funerals An open verdict
was returned at the inquests which were
held. The police took possession of their
belongings, and have them, no doubt, at
the present moment
At this point the train stopped, the lady
wished us "Good morningp and left the
carriage; and we, as we steamed south,
were left to mediate on this strange but
perfectly true story, and to solve US we
best could the still unanswered question
of, "Who was tho third maidsn-Argosy.