Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-09-04

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 The woman did as she was bid. Edith then placed piece of paper on the table where Gilbert said he had laid the con fession, the door leading into the bed room and the entrance door having first been opened. There was a considerable draft, and the paper trembled on the ta- ble.
 Perhaps there was more air on that day" said Edith. Il will substitute a lighter piece of paper"
 This she did and almost immediately it was caught by a current. and it foated across the room. As it fell on the floor they were both startled to see a little kitten spring from the open doorway and bounce upon the paper, rolling over and over with it in her teeth.
 That explains it all-' exclaimed Edith, catching up the little animal in her arms. Oh, Kittyi Oh. Kitty? How little you know the terrible mischief you have done!
 Her eyes were full of tears, and she was pale and trembling with apprehen- sion. The kitten must have carried of the confession in this way to play with, and its recovery was hopeless.
 "Lor, miss," suddenly broke in Mrs. Morton. now I remember! When the gent shot 'isself, was working in the 'ouse opposite, and came back to see what was the matter. That little kitten belongs to the party in the next set, and when come up to the landing she was a-playing just like that with bit O pa per, which she runs away with and leaves on the stairs.'
 "Yes, said Edith, in breathless eager ness.
 Well, paper about the stairs looks so untidy, miss, so picked it up and"-
 What did you do with it:"
 II threw it i'll the pail with the other rubbish"
 For the second time the contents of the pail were emptied by the laundress and carefully examined. It was absolutely certain that the paper was not there.
 Are you positive that you put the pa per in the pail:" asked Edith.
 "Td take my davy on it. miss. And it was just such a scrap of writing as you say
 Edith sent the laundress home, shut herself in the solitary chambers and be gan the hunt afresh.
 It was late in the evening when she ceased her fruitless search.
 Next morning she returned to her hopeless task Mrs. Morton she had re- lievcd from further attendanse, and was walking up and down the chambers in thought when there came a knock at the door. IL was the laundress herself.
 Il know where that bit Q paper is miss! remembers that, when the police was here that morning, steps into tL'. haI +r l,r .l1 One of 'em says to me. impudentlike Well. what do you want. old lady:' and I says wanted the bedroom candle stick"
 Yes" interrupted Edith, but where IS the paper
 I'm just coming to that, miss l stays bit in the kitchen-just to see if I might be any use. you understands-andw while l was waiting, l puts a new candle in the candlcstick. Them mines is rather small for the candlestick, so takes a hii O paper out e the pail to make it fit. Come into the bedroom, miss-why, it's gone!'
 Good heavens" cried Edith. Do you mean to say that the paper rouLd that candle was the missing document:"
 That's my belief, miss. Where is il goue:"
 Il was here late last night. and hurrcd the candle very low-and the paper took fire"
 And you burned it, miss"
 'Only slightly. l remember. I blew it out, threw the paper away. and put in new candle that l removed from the piano. What did l do with tho paper; Oh, l remember. l threw il under the gratc. You'll find it there Thank heaven. we have found it at last Gil bert iS savCd.'
 There is nothing here, miss. said the woman m her knees. The grato i> quite empty"
 It was true and tho shock was ter rible one tc Edith She falnted ID the old laundress arms. Mrs Morton how i aH-ar 5->- -estt5-@3 Ter tc cc-s c:cus-,esS. E-- ~2r tcLe r2v v-c-5 fo- Y she said, that paper s bewitched. II don't care whether it is bewitched or not" said Edith. Il mean to find it. Fetch me that magnifying glass from | the table in the next room Edith removed the fender and care fully examined the dust that Mrs. Nor tons not overscrupulous cleanliness had allowed to accumulate. Il thought as much" she said. Mice! They have been attracted by the candle
 grease and have dragged the paper to
 their hole. Every moment now k valu- able, or it will be all destroyed" | They searched round about everywhere but no mouse hole could be found. Edith | then directed the woman to mix quanti- | ty of whiting which she placed in a large | flat dish on the floor in the middle of the room. In the dish was laid a small saucer,
 and ill that piece of toasted cheese. They | then left the chamber for several hours. When they returned, there was d track | of little white footprints across the room that led to little hole above the
 narrow skirting board, hidden by a loost | piece of the wall paper. A man Was
 called in, and after breaking down some
 of the plaster and taking up a corner ot | the flooring the coveted scrap of paper | was at last secured. The confession was of course in part [ destroyed and required very delicate \ haO1liDp bTYt TybaD inc TrarinIIS rnlir