The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-10-12
4 SUSPICIOUS LETTER.

"She's a powerful good girl-good as
gold" remarked Miss Rebecca Bellflower
with an air of satisfaction. 81 never had
girl before that kept the pantry as clean
and the dresser a-lookipg so neat, the
shelves all secured and kivered with papers
cut in notcbes and holes. as nice as you
please And tie pots and kettles, the milk
pans and STEAMERS, allus clean and bright,
aud the brass dOgirons and candlesticks
kept rubbed and scrubbed till they looked
bright as gold. Yes Lurs's the best girl
ever had. and l don't care a pin if Brother
Basil has took a notion to her. He couldn't
find ANY other girl Ia sooner he'd hey than
her,"
Isura was pretty, too; so it was no won
der that handsome, stalwart Basil Bell
flower had taken a fancy TO her, with her
sloe.black ewes and hair TO match: her
dark, oliye-hned cheeks and her mouth soft
and scarlet go Sun-I1peIed Indian peach.
Isis Basil going to marry her then ?.
asked Miss Zerelda Mugwort, who had
been making all afternoon call on Miss
Rebeeca,
81 dunno as he is, and l dunno as he
amt" was the seutentiouS answer; but;
as / said before, If he wants her and she II
have him, l shan't have nothing TO say
But / shaH." thought Miss Zerelda. ma
lignantly, though she kept her thoughts TO
herself "a poor hired girl like her to get
the best looking and the best-to-dO young
man in the neighb0rho0d. It's outrageous!
But-we'l Seer
In truth Miss Zereda evidently considered
herself q better match for Mr.. Basil Bell
flower, though possibly he may not have
viewed the subject in exactly the same light
himself.
"A-shem! I thought 'twarant nothing
more'n right. Miss Rebecca, to let YOU
know something I've found out about that
girl Of y0urn."
A triumphant look sparkled In Zerelda
MugwOrts sharp gray eyes as She carefully
drew a letter from the pocket of her dress.
Something about Lury! What on airth
IS IL? What do You mean?" asked Miss
Rebecca, with an expression of mild wonder
depicted on her countenance.
Its this ere letter. Read that: it'll tell
you what | mean" returned Zerelda, hold
ing out tho mlSsive, which Miss Rebecca
very reluctantly received
but what is IT, and where did you get
Is9' she asked, turning the letter over and
over. without Offering 10 read 1t.
Its letter she wTOte-LuTy. found II
where she dropped il. in the path by the
pasture bars" explained ZeTelda, lmpa-
tiently. Read lido, Miss Rebecca, and
see what Am impostnre you've been a-har-
bOrin' under your ruff.
And thus adjuTed, Miss Rebecca opened
IA note snd read. in the handwriting she
e Lura's the mysterious words:
iERRY: Yen said you would come to
yer | wrote for you. Come now, as
Ssfble for everything Is arranged aud
- fesdy FOR you. Be sure and bring the
Indian ladder. Come The O'clock train
wliEcut fan aud l viii go back with you.
Your -"
There It stopped without any signature
but on the ether side of the paper was
Lura's maine, plainly written.
Mfcc Rahaaao CrDE Daln and linn n
the friendly arms of a cTetOnne-cOVered
rNcking chair which stood ready to receive
5ss.
"W hat-what will Basil say? And what
kin she want Of the Indian ladder, do you
s'pose ?"
"Tner's no tellin'l Maybe she's a-goin'
10 elOpe out Of the winder; or else she's
a-gOin' TO let some one in TO rob the house,
aud. like as not. kill you and Basil" de-
elared Z-relda, impresSively.
An / Trusted her an liked her so much"
said Mss Rebecea, helplessly.
Appearances is mighty deceitful," sighed
EeTelda, hvpOertically. For my part 1
alus thought there was something susDi-
eiOus looking about her. and"
And whnL Miss Zarelda, what have yOu
cot 10 ca against Lura Gaines?" demanded
Basil Beiliower, striding angrily into the
Tonm.
Zerelda gave a little scream, but she
quickly recovered, and put the letter into
bis hands.
Read that. and see what you will think
thenW she TetOrted eXultsntly.
With an incredulOus smile on his hand
some face, basil read the damaging words
'Oh. Basil, do you think she means 10
rob Us ?" asked Rebecca, family.
Rob Us. Pshawl what nOnsen SCI" cried
her brother, his handsome face covered with
seornful incredulIty.
but what does she want of the Indian
ladder ?" asked Zereda. And what"
- Ior lr,1f safi Rae Ioff
Then turning TO his sister, he added You
stay here Rebeeca. / will find out what
this means But remember, will have per-
feet faith and confidence 10 LuTa." And be
strobe away.
The waning yellow rays of the pale No
vember sun were peering into the wide,
rOomy kitchen, where Lura Gaines stood
contemplating the fruit Of her afternoon
baking.
Lure -
The black eyes flashed, and rich crimson
dyed her olive Oh eek as Basil made his way
10 her side.
Have you lost anything. Lurs-a let
ter?" BE asked, with assumed carelessness.
"a letter. No. L think not. Why?"
asked LuTa, inaOcently.
He handed her the letter.
rs this yours, Lura@
HIS voice was calm, though his heart beat
Ike siedge hammer.
Lura glanced at the missive, and looked
~ with a smile into BasiPs eager face.
"Oh, yes, dropped il, suppose, but il
IS not important. Amos Skinner stopp ed In
yesterday on his way to the mill aud got me
10 write II ter him to his brother in the city.
GU know Amos lives in the little cabin up
on Hemock Hill. and lie says his brother
always declares be will bring an Indian
ladder to climb up TO il. This is the draft
of the letter l wrote and then copied it 10
ink"
"Hamphl l don't believe word of itp'
muttered Zerelda, listening from behind the
kitchen door. Anybody could make up
such an excuse as thatl But il he's fool
enough to believe 1t. let himp And with
quick, angry steps and scowling brow she
Nended her way home.
And she utterly failed in her determine
ton to git the best looking man in the
qeighbOrh0od," for BasiPs faith and conf
aence in his wife. Lura. has never dimin-
Ebed