The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1894-11-08

| "Ao '"i"' III opcuuluS I'LL
my falary and wearing my best clothes,
but I've found something out already.
Mrs. Jeffries's nephew calls here some
times. He calls on young widow
who has the upper front room. He
has been engaged to her for some
! me-"
She paused long time and then
said: "He was here the night of the
murder"
"Well," I said "has she let him
out upon the roof"
II wish you wouldn't ask me any
questions" said Kitty, 81 shall know
before long. When L send for you
come at once. Will you let me have
that bit of cloth?"
cts more precious than diamonds"
I said.
Her answer was:
eyes, I know it," She put it
into her pocketbook. 'I have
changed my room," she remarked.
'I'm next to her. There is locked
door between us. That is all. And 1
have made peephole. "
"You are born detective, but as
this widow is respectable you can't
watch young Jeffries that way"
yesterday" she said without an
swering me, "Jeffries called. I saw
him coming up the street and hid be-
hind screen in the parlor. should
have pretended to be asleep in chair
there had 1 been seen, but no one
found me out. She came to him, and
he talked like an innocent man.
The poor old woman has done
me great injury by getting herself
murdered, he said. 81 believe I'm
suspected, because I shall profit by
her death. Why, what do they take
me for? i wonder who killed her?
They say nothing was gone.
Whoever it was, you ought to be
thankful that the Grabbed creature is
dead, she said. Some common
burglar of course. She'd scream and
shrek if she saw one at her jewel-case
and get herself killed.
We'll, poor old woman, I'd have
been his death if L had been near,
Jeffries said. She wasn't half bad.
She never made a will and left things
away from me, as she might, after /
told her I'd never cringe to her for
her favor. Hang it, l wish l wasn't
her heir! People will suspect me
secretly perhaps. can prove L wasn't
inside the house that night, but you
know how the papers talked. Poor
Bitzner, the roofer, came to me and
cried over what they said about him.
Kill Aunt Jessy! Why, good
Lord -
"'You used to call her Aunt Jeze-
bel" said the widow. Mrs. Null is
her name.
I" Yes I'm sorry 1 did, but she had
a temper, said Mr.. Jeffries. I've II
mind not to take the money.
/" Then 1 shan't take you, said
Mrs. Null. Such an idiot! l should
be ashamed of you.
"See here!" Kitty handed me an
address on a piece of paper. 1t was
Mrs. Preston Null, at certain num-
Der, Chestnut street. 1t is her
mother-in-law. Can you send our
Mrs. Mull-Eliza Mull-a telegram
saying, Come at once to this ad-
dress?'" " she asked.
''I can," said l.
'Do it," said she. "No, don't ask
me. am helping you. 1 have my
thoughts. Now take me home"
took her home and telegraphed to
the widow, and waited and watched.
I 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 a
note:
"Disguise yourself as an old woman
and come here at once. Come IN
cab. Wear thick black veil. SEND
up word that you are my Aunt Agnes
Lose no time.
lost none. AS went slowly up
the stairs with my black veil down
could hear my heart beat. Kitty open
ed the door, called out "Why, aunty'
dear |" and shut it.
81 have opened the door between