The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-27

''Ahi I've been expectin' of you
The boy is off your hands now. I
knowed you'd come"
Wonderful" said Miss Ash.
Then the seeress reclined IN rock
+ ing chair. and was supposed to go into
/ a trance
81 am a spirit from the realms
above" said the seeress. in few mo-
ments. 4 ant come for to stay long,
only for to give this friend a promise
and a warnin',"
''Oh. dealr' said Miss Ash.
1.-The youth will become a very
/ great man. said madame. '.He will
climb the pinnacles of fame, and when
he has clumb EN-, the voice of the ma
ton will select him for the future
president But there's a dreadful
danger before you, although it may
be avoided You have took into your
heart and home a foreign person Be
warel''
Now. there. said Miss Ash, who
some times argued with her spiritual
guide there you are mistaken. Mad
anne Smith"
1T ant me-" said madame suddenly
coming to herself Its higher and
mightier power than what 1 am.
''Wen, it's mistaken, anyhow" said
Miss Ash. She'll turn out we'll"
mo. she WON'T responded the
spirit in possession of Madaise Smith.
Look in your secret drawer when
you get home and sec if your fathers
gold watch is safe. She opened it
last night after you were asleep and
took it out And she's pawned it or
sold it. It's gone"
Miss Ash looked horror stricken
She went home trembling and cold
with apprehension and rushed
straight to the secret drawer of her
escritOir. The watch she valued SO
was gone-her fathers watch which
she had treasured long And
Este1le and her nephew Dick alone
knew how to open it. Even good
Betsy Baker she had never trusted.
Estelle was the thief
The girl sat sewing, and looked mp
at her with a smile when she called
her
MY watch. Estelle-my watch
fathers great watch, that I showed
you. Where is it? It is gomez
''Ah, mon Dieui" cried Estelle.
''Gone? Impossiblel'
Her face was not that of guilty
person, but Miss Ash never doubted
her guilt for one moment.
''Estel1e," she said, 1.-The spirits
have told me all about IL You took
it Give it back and Pu not punish
you"
Madame" cried poor Estelle. 81
have it not am no thief, II take
madame's watchi Impossibles"
And there were tears and prayers
and vows, but no confession.
Miss Ash would have believed no
living tongue that had told the tale.
but an angel from heaven had re-
vealed the truth and she could not
doubt it. After long hours, in which
she strove TO force the girl to confess,
she took the course she had threat
ened from the frst-called a police
man and sent the girl to prise
4 must have the watch back" she
said, as she tossed upon the pillow.
"A night IN Jail will do it. I shall
never have faith in any one again"
Betsy Baker lay awake also. giddy
with triumph, yet half terrified.
There was no fair-fac rival IN the
house now But she was white-faced
and miserable.
At dawn. or very little after.
came rapping at the door of Miss
ASKS house. A policeman stood there
About the young gal that took the
watch, num-" he said.
Has she confessed9" asked Miss
Ash.
Not exactly" replied the man
"But it points that way
Il don't wish to prosecute" said
Miss Ash, ''Only to get the watch
back"
All" said the man. .swen. there'n
be no need. She's dead"
''Deadr' screamed Betsy Baker on
the stairs ''DeadI Deadl''
Hung herself" said the man
Put her hair up in puffs, first, and
made herself neat as picture.
s'm-dead-"
Betsy Baker gave another cry and
threw herself screaming on the floor.
She tore her hair, CRASHED her teeth
and howled and had Commissions; then
she averred that she saw satan stand
ing at her elbow and went of again.
Finally coming to herself, she put her
hand into her pocket and gave Miss
Ash a note, greasy at the edge and
smelling of smoke
Il went to Madame Smith nd told
her what to say" she said. Il paid
her s. to say it As for your watch,
read that"
And Miss Ash, tearing the envelope.
read these lines in Dick hand
DEAR AUNTY-Please forgive me.
I've got your watch. I wanted one
so bad. I'll take good care of it. and
bring it back when pa gives me a
new one. Your affectionate DICK
Miss Ash read the words and fain ted
away She came to again, however,
and went to poor EsteIle7 S funera
and planted flowers over her grave
And Betsy Baker did not die at once
as she would in play though she left
the house that day But fortune