Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1895-12-31
A DOUBLE CAPTURE.
BY A. NJ. A CUFF.

BY A. NJ. CUFF.
II think will 60 to the county fair
this fall" said Miss Angelina Cantwell
TO her sister Kate. II have knitted
counterpart that beats any in the coun-
ty, and If that should fail in taking q
premium my last case of zephyr flowers
is sure to secure one. I have some
growing plants that might take q prize,
too, for of all the chrysanthemums
ever saw my Kiota, Cullingfordii, Lii
liam Russell and Louis Boehmer take
the lead" .:
Kate laughed.
Cant you mention few more while
you are about it, Angie?"
well, I could. but / won't. They are
oil beautiful"
"You must attend two fairs If you ex-
hibit such q variety of articles. They
will not admit your natural flowers at
the county fair; you should take them
to the floral exhibition at Caliopsis."
II thought they showed everything at
Newton. remember now that saw
no report Of natural flowers on the list
last year. Well, it will be too much
trouble to 60 to two fairs, so I must con-
tent myself with the one at Newton.
We will stop at Aunt Benton's."
Poor auntie! half determined last
July not to go there again during any
public occasion, for her house is always
crowded, and she Seems 80 tired that I
wish myself ut home as soon as I get
there"
"But you know we pay our way, and
she is always glad to see US. She would
be MORALLY offended If we did not visit
her whenever we go to town"
Miss Cantwell was her fathers house
keeper, and an excellent one she made.
The farm was rich and well stocked.
Her duties were many, but she dis
charged them all with credit. People
wondered why she had never married,
for she had not lacked lovers. She de-
clared that she had always been too
busy to waste valuable time on any of
them. Thus it happened that she was o
pronounced old maid, with no inten-
ton of ever changing her state. Men
were q shiftless lot, she said. She'd tie
herself to none Of them.
Kate was just go and the prettiest
girl in the whole country side. Nat
urally, she cared more for fun and
society than did Angeline. The latter
adored her charming young sister, and
took many extra cares upon herself in
order that Kate should escape anything
like drudgery.
1t was late in the evening when the
sisters arrived at their nunt's house in
Newton. The journey had been tise.
some, and they retired early to the roohl
assigned thenl-a large one on the first
| floor.
II thought you usually let this pur.
lor, aunt?" said Miss Cnntwell, looking
approvingly about her.
so do" answered Mrs. Denton, q
faded woman of fifty odd years. "BW
1t happens to be vacant just now. Ali
the other rooms are occupied by the
fair people. You won't mind sleeping
together for once?"
Not at all. We are glad to have
such comfortable quarters"
After the aunt had gone, Miss Cant
we'll began a tour of investigation.
Don't you fancy these curtainsha
smoky smell, Kate?" she asked
shifting ut them s7lspiciously. 'sPipe
smoke, too-ugh!"
Kate went to the window and buried
her saucy nose in the crimson drape1des
"You are right. Angie-pipe smok,
it is, sure enough. Do you suppos.
auntie or the girls have taken to the
Weed?"
Don't be silly, Kate. A man has beer
i'll this room, and lately, too. How ode
that auntie did not mention him.
thought she looked confused when
spoke of it being empty
II did not notice it; you are ulway.
fancying something, Angie. For m,
part, don't object to the odor-i
brings such pleasant suggestions will
| it."
!. Suggestions Of what, should lik
to know? Kate, really believe yol
like the men,"
"Of course I do-every normal cir
ought to- said Kate, laughing at Mis-
CantwelPs look of horror. "There
don't lecture me. I'm awful sleepy
let's go to bed"
They were very tired and soon fel
fast asleep. 1t was midnight whel
Kate awoke vita the impression tina
some one had en- tered the room. Start
ing up she saw a man walking softly tc
ward the fireIlac where some rudd
emhers still eiowed in the CRATE. Sh
had turned Ytf the light before reti,
ing, but glf1umer from street lam
dimly lighted the apartment. He
heart almost stopped beating as sh
watched HIM. Quietly, stealthily,
seemed to h,.r--he seated himself !
an easy chair and began to fumb]
about ia HIS pockets-seeking a r,
yolver, no doubt. She put her lips I
AngeGne's ear.
"Apgie," she whispered, wake w
Thep. is a burglar in the room. NAL
no, sound or he will hear US. VIII,
sh2l we do?"
Miss Cantwell was an energetic won
an. No sooner had the meaning
Hates words pei setrated her inner CO
seriousness than she leaped from t