Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1894-08-10

WELL poor old woman, Ia have
been his death if | had been near, JEFF
fries said. she wasn't half bad She
never made will and left things away
from me, as she might, after told her
I'd never cringe to her for her favor
Hang it. | wish ! wasn't her heir! Peo-
pie will suspect me secretly perhaps. l
can prove / wasn't inside the house
that night but you know how the pa
pers talked. Poor Bitzner, the roofer,
came to me and cried over what they
said about him Kill Aunt Jessyl Why,
good Lord!--
" You used to call her Aunt Jeze-
bel, said the widow. Mrs. Null is her
name.
Yes, I'm sorry did, but she had
temper said Mr.. Jeffries. I've a
mind not to take the money.
" Then | shan't take you, said Mrs.
Null Such an idiot l should be
ashamed of you.
"See herel" Kitty handed me an adj
dress ON piece of paper. 1t was Mrs.
Preston Null, at IA certain number,
Chestnut street. ut is her mother-in
law. Can you send our Mrs. Mull-Eli-
"a Mull-a telegram saying, Come at
once to this address, she asked
81 cam " said |.
"Do it," said she. "No, don't ask
me. am helping you. l have my
thoughts. Now take me home.
| took her home and telegraphed to a
brother detective to telegraph to the
widow, and | waited and watched. |
saw her get into carriage and go
away | followed and saw her take the
train. If Kitty wanted her out of the
way she was safe.
A few hours afterward l received
note:
4 Disguise yourself as an old woman
and come here at once. Come in a cab.
Wear a thick black veil Send up word
that you are my Aunt Agnes. Lose no
time -
l lost none. AS l went slowly up the
stairs, with my black veil down. could
hear my heart beat. Kitty opened the
door, called out, "Why, aunty, dear"
,I.d Shut it
Il have opened the door between my
room and Mrs. Mull's," she said. Il
have found something | can t appear
in this matter. You must see for your
self "
She led me into the handsome room
and went to a wardrobe. There, from
beneath other dresses, she drew a plainly
cut coat, or redingote, Of thin black
cloth, with many buttons down the
front, and spread it on a chair About
the height Of the knees piece was torn
away and button gone.
"Hushr' she said. 1--WE don't know
who may be listening Make no sound. 3"
Then she took the bit of cloth from
her pocket, fitted it to the rent and laid
the button on it.
"The piece of cloth found in dead
Mrs. Jetfries' hand came from this gar
ment, " was her remark.
Yes, | said, "she must have dis
guised him i'll it, But-why
''Gooseyr said Kitty. Mr. Jeffries
could not get into this. Mrs. Null wore
it herself. Mrs. Null killed old Mrs.
Jeffries. The nephew knows nothing
about it-guesses nothing. This wicked
woman wanted to marry him when he
had inherited the estate. She has done
it. l watched her through the peephole
had made. | saw her writhe III agony,
and, without speaking a word, wiring
her hands and tear her hair 1t was an
awful sight, but knew it was guilty
conscience that moved her. There-you
have it all in your own hands now. I'll
90 and tell Mrs C. that | have news
which must take me away, pay her my
board and 20 with you III the cab.
| left her at her own door. Mrs.
Null was arrested at the station on her
return, and II was all as Kitty said.
She made full confession. She had con-
ceived the idea Of numbering the old
woman that her nephew might get the
money, and she had hoped the poor roof
member would be charged with the
crime
She was a ficnd in female form, but
the thought that | had driven a woman
to the gallows haunted me and sickened
me of the detective business, which
left very soon.
Kitty and are keeping little hotel
now and prospecting very well. London
/ Tit Bits.