The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-05-17
MYAUNT'S EARRINGS.

Detective stories have always been my
favorite form of literature. | have read
many and have gained from them a
thorough contempt for probability and
the police. The first thing you should
do when a crime has been committed, as
/ often said to Uncle Potfkins, is to sus-
pect the most unlikely man as being the
criminal.
That was the course | adopted when
Aunt Poffkins' earrings were stolen. 1t
was in the morning when the theft was
discovered. Aunt came down late and
ran into the room where Uncle Poffkins,
Dora and Iwere breakfasting. My aunt
bore traces of strong agitation, and she
had forgotten her cap.
my earrings" she cried. They are
~gone-they are ~stolen!'
"God bless my soul!" exclaimed Uncle
Poffkins, dropping his teacup as if he had
been shot and leaping up with a yell of
pain. He said the yell was attributed to
the heat of the tea, which was trickling
down his legs.
My aunt explained. The earrings were
kept wrapped in cotton wool in a jewel
box on her dressing table. The box was
never locked, and the house1naid had &C.
cess to the room. The girl had only
been in the house a week and was known
to have a beau. My aunt and cousin at
nee concluded she was the thief and sent
for a policeman, who searched her trunk
and found nothing, of course. | could
have told them that.
Meanwhile | kept my eye on Uncle
Poffkins. He was the one person who
could have no motive whatever in steal
ing the earrings. He was very rich,
most respectable and extremely slow
and noisy in his movements. Moreover,
my aunt would have given him the ear
rings at any moment if he had asked for
them. Evidently he was the last man to
attract suspicion. Accordingly | watched
Uncle Poffkins closely.
We passed a week Of excitement. The
police were running out and in. Dora
cross examined the housemaid incessant-
ly. Aunt Poffkins went abroad weeping
and reminding every one she met that
the earrings were a present from Uncle
Poffkins Oh the occasion of their engage
ment.
NV uncle himself affected to make
light of the matter and went so far as
loudly and ostentatiously to curse the
earrings. He was wrong if he thought
he could put me off the scent by that
clumsy maneuver. / never left him
alone. / tracked him to the city, hung
about all the morning, Swallowed him
when he went to lunch, when he re-
turned, when he crossed over to the ex-
change.
Unknown to him I was on his bus
inside if he rode on the top, and on top
when it rained and he slowed himself
away inside. He eve escaped me ex-
cept when he was in his Office. At last,
after 10 days weary chasing, I was re-
warded. need not say that the police
had discovered nothing. The house was
still topsy turvy and my aunt subject to
intermittent Mysteries.
That wronged creature, the house.
maid, did her work with a mop in one
hand and in the other a handkerchief,
wet with innocent tears. But to return
toUncle Poffkins. The tenth day after
the earrings had disappeared, as he was
brushing his hat before leaving the
house and looking at my aunt's tear
believed visage, his conscience smote
him, and he SO far forgot himself as to
exclaim audibly:
I'm blamed if / can stand this am
longerr. The folly of the man was in.
credible. | had him now! In an instant
Twas after him. He took "a bus. / tool
a cab, and we started for the city. Now
came the odd thing-Uncle Poffkin.
disappeared.
How it happened do not know, but
when the bus pulled up to the banl
Uncle Poffkins was not to be seen.
questioned the conductor, but he hac
evidently been bribed and told me very
rudely that he had something better tx
do than answer my riddles. He drove
on, and / was left for the first time al
fault.
1t was evening before / saw Uncle
Poffkins. | was going home in a very
disconsolafe state, when, about 200 yard
from our gate, / espied him ahead of me
Quickening my pace, / s~tealthily ap
preached him. He opened the gate ans
passed in; noiselessly I followed him.
A little farther on, sheltered by TIN
skrubbery, ae stopped, and after
stealthy glance toward the house tool
from his coat pocket a small morocco
$ Istood on tiptoe just behind, an,
with mingled horror and satisfaction a
/ looked over his shoulder / saw th
earrings. | vas right. Uncle Poffkin
sighed.
Shall | give EN- to her or notg' h
said to himself. Its rank waste. Still
it win keep her quiet" / watched til
struggle between his good and his ev,
angel Clearly the good angel had tr
umphed SO far as to bring the earring
within 90 yards of Aunt Poffkins, bI
now came the tug of war. 1t was sever,
and it ended in the victory of evi
Uncle Poffkins, shutting the case with
Enap, exclaimed:
HIts all blamed nonsense. I'll tai
EN- back To Abraham tomorrow. Abr,
ham no doubt was the receiver, for m
uncle went on in a satisfied tone:
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