The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-04-18

ayes, miss Mr.. Stanton always used
TO ave is winders open"
"Well, Just open them as they would be
if he were here"
The woman did as she was bid.
Edith then placed piece of paper on
the table where Gilbert said he had laid
the confession, the door leading into the
bed room and the entrance door having
first been opened. There was a consid-
erable draft, and the paper trembled on
the table.
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 fioated
across the room.
As it fell on the floor they were both
startled to see little kitten spring from
the open doorway and Pounee upon the
paper, rolling over and over with if in
her teeth.
That explains it all exclaimed Edith
catching up the little animal in her arms.
''Oh, Kitty On, Kitty! How little you
know the terrible mischief you have
done ~
Her eyes were full oftears, and she was
pale and trembling with apprehension.
The kitten must have carried of the con-
fession in this way to play with, and its
recovery was hopeless.
"Lor miss suddenly broke in Mns.
Morton, snow remembe When the
gsntshot 'isself, was working in the
'ouse opposite, and came back to see what
was the matter. That little kitten be-
longs to the party in the next set, and
when I came up to the landing she WAS
a playing Just like that with a bit o
paper, which she runs away and leaves
on the stairs
Yes said E lith, in breathles5 eager
ness.
Well, paper about the stairs looks so
untidy, miss, so I picked it up and"
What did you do with it?"
Il threw it in the pail with the other
rubbish"
For the second time the contents ofthe
pail were emptied by the lsundress and
carefully examined. It was absolutely
certain that the paper was not there.
Are you positive that you put the
paper in the pail ?' asked Edith.
~Pd take my 'davy on il, miss. And
it was just such scrap of writing as you
say"
Edith sent the laundress home, shut
herself in the solitary chambers and be-
gan the hunt afresh.
1t was late in the evening when she
ceased her fruitless search.
Next morning she returned TO her hope
less task.
She had relieved Mrs. Morton from
further attendance, and was walking up
and down the chambers deep in thought
when there came a knock at the door.
Il was the laundress herself.
81 know where that bit o. paper is,
miss remembers that, when the po-
lice was here that morning, | steps into
the bedroom to hear what they has to
say. One of EN- says to me, impudently,
Well, what do you want, old lady ?" and
said wanted the bedroom candle
stick"
Yes interrupted E iith, but where
is the paper?'
@Pm just coming to that, miss stays
bit in the kitchen-just to see if
might be Of any use you understand
and while I was waiting, 1 put a new
candle in the candlestiek. Them mines
is rather small for the eIndlestick, so l
takes bit o paper out o the pail to make
it fit. Come into the bedroom, miss
why, its gonel"
"Good heavens :" cried Edith. @DO
you mean to say that the paper round
that candle was the missing document ,"
That's my belief, miss. Where is it
gomez"
Il was here late last night, aud I burn
ed the candle very low-snd the paper
took fire |"
"And you burned it miss :"
"0nly slightly, remember. l blew it
out, threw the paper away, and put in a
new candle that / removed from the
piano. What did 1 do with the paper
Oh, l remember, l threw it under the
crate. You will find t there. Thank
h aven, We have found it at last Gil
bert is saved :"
There Is nothing here, miss said the
woman on her knees. The crate is
quite empty"
1t vss true, and the shock was terri
BILE one to Filth She tainted in the old
laundress's arms Mrs Morton, how
ever, soon restored her to consciousness.
"You can take my word for it" she
said, ''thst paper IS bewitched-"
q don't care whether it is bewitched
or not" said Edith. 81 mean to find it.
Bring the magnifying glass from the
table"
Edith removed the fender and careful