The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1894-01-11
A MYSTERY.
ooh, AUNTIE, isn't this too pro-
" voking?"

whats the matter, Phyllisl"
Phyllis rosy lips pouted good deal
as she said "Roger has just come to
tell me that trip Is lame and can't
move out of his stable, and it's so far
to walk to the Gables and back"
'It's six miles. Perhaps you had
better put off going to Gables, Phyllis"
Phyllis face fell.
"But promised Rose. And she has
invited the Eldred girls, and they have
two visitors from London, and-and"--
"Charley Dorth, Phyllis9"
"Well, yes, auntie," admitted Phyllis,
coloring deeply. She added that she
believed Mr.. Dorth was coming over
from Hazeldean to the Bartletts' that
particular afternoon.
Phyllis Hartford was not exactly an or
phan, but at least neither he nor she
nor any one else knew anything about
her parents All that was known is
soon told
One day, Is years ago or Whereabouts,
a traveller arrived st the Rose & Crown
Inn at Hazeldean with a pretty little
girl In his keeping, but almost entirely
free from luggage of any description
The visitor was noticed from the first
to act strangely, but as he paid for
three days entertainment in advance
his eccentricities were tolerated.
Dawkins, the landlord of the Rose
and Crown, had told the old story a
thousand times If he had told 1t once.
The next day, after securely locking
the little girl-who, by the way, called
him "papa"-in the chamber, he went
out, saying he was going to purchase
her some picture books. But just out
side of the Rose and Crown and in full
view of the landlady he was set upon
by three men, Who had that moment
arrived in the village, bound firmly and
led away.
During this process one of the three
remarked to Mrs. Diwkins-Dawklns
had just stepped out for awhile:
Wits a wonder, mum, you amt all
been a-murdered in your beds It's a
precious lunatic what has just escaped
from the asylum
This startling information drove all
thoughts of the little girl up stairs com
pleteiy out of the worthy landlady's
head.
But when her better half returned he
instantly saddled the mare and rode
pell-mell all the way to Hazeldean
station with the child In his arms. He
reached there just in time to see the
train moving out.
gentleman's daughter with you. Here's
the gentleman's daughterm
keep her safe" responded one of
the three. 81 will return for her."
But he never kept his word. Days
passed into months, and months ripened
into years, but nobody ever came to
reclaim Phyllis Hartford or to explain
the mystery-the biggest mystery the
Crown and Rose could boast.
The vicar took the case up. 1t was
placed In the hands of the police, and
Phyllis case was advertised far and
wide, but with no satisfactory result
AT length Phyllis was adopted by an
amiable gentlewoman who lived at
some distance from Hazeldean and
whom she grew up to call aunt. Ger
t1inly she never could have loved a
real aunt more than she loved Miss
Rachel Deptford.
"Auntie,' said Phyllis, suddenly, 81
think shall walk to Gables, after all.
May II"
"You win tire yourself, my child"
sob, no. shall not walk back-at
least, not alone. Mrs. Bartlett is sure
to give me the loan of trap"
"very well, dear But shall expect
you home very early. If You are not
back at dark, l shall make Roger walk
all the way to the gables after you.n
In 30 minutes more Phyllis, bending
forward her dainty figure to the breeze,
was speeding through the wood on her
way to the Bartletts,'
Phyllis enjoyed herself immensely
that day. The party even tried their
hand at skating on the mere, and Mr.
Dorth was the kindest and most in
dulgent of partners. She did not like
the look of one of the Bartletts' guests,
nor could she understand why he
started so violently when he heard her
name mentioned by Rsse Bartlett, nor
why he eyed her so keenly and so per-
sistently the whole afternoon. The
time came for to explain the accident
which had befallen trip and to beg
Rose for the loan of her horse and
trap.
Dear me, Phyllis Why, papa has