Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1895-10-28

The duties were not unpleasant. the
guests quiet people; and the satisfac
ton of having escaped the conse-
quences of the robbery, sweetened
the labor.
A week or so passed pleasantly,
! than a new influx of boarders arrived
amongst them one who caused little
f1utter. since she dated her letter from
Fifth Avenue in New York. Moreover
she demanded three of the best rooms
in the house.
The housekeeper was in fiutter.
The finest curtains, the best rugs were
produced; the china for the wash
stand was superior to the ordinary
sort Had not the lady written:
"Expense is no object to my hus-
band, who will return from France in
the course of a few weeks. He wants
me to have every comfort possible in
SO rural spot"
ssI wanted Mr.. FlaXman to get them
old fashioned Smithsons to change,
for their rooms look out on the lake."
said the housekeeper; "but he refus-
ed. 'They have been here three
years, and are old customers, would
rather refuse this newcomer alto
gether than disoblige old friends is
what he said. But that is not bust
ness.'
"Mr. Flaxman seems to be a SEN
sible man, said Marguerite.
'tHe is a real nice gentleman" re-
sponded the housekeeper with some
reproof in her voice. A waitress who
spoke of the landlord as "a man" start
led her.
At this mountain hotel dinner was
at two; an old-fashioned high tea
closed the day.
1t was nearly tea time when the
great lady and her maid arrived, and
went straight to her apartments.
AS they entered Marguerite caught
a glimpse of them, and her cheeks
flushed crimson, for in the lady who
was sailing toward the stairs she re-
cognized Mrs. Delaney Pottingham.
little later she sought an interview
with the landlord.
s'Mr. Flaxman," she said, IT feel it
my duty to have few moments con-
versation with you. 1t is rather an
unpleasant task. But I must begin by
telling story.
IT do not usually earn my living as
a waitress. I am cashier at the VS.
establishment, and during the winter
[ save enough to pay my summer ex-
penses. This summer, however, as
vacation approached, | was robbed.
The boarding house where 1 made my
home was victimized by woman who
called herself Mrs. Delaney Potting
ham, who was waiting for her hus-
bands arrival from Europe. She rob-
bed the house, swindled the landlady,
and carried off all my years savings.
I recognized her in the lady who ar
rived to night with her maid, and for
whom three rooms were reserved. L
also recognize my black dress, which
she wore at tea time, pearl brooch
and earrings belonging to another wo-
man boarder, and bracelets, which a
third lost. I am sure Of her."
'Thank you for telling me-" said
Mr.. Flaxman. "She registered here
as Mrs. Abingdon Bradford. She will
probably rob the house in a night or
two. I will set detectives on the
watch at once. You will be willing to
identify her, Miss Martial?'
Marguerite said that she would, and
that very evening a watch was set on
Mrs. Bradford, and in less than three
nights she was seen to leave her room
followed by the other woman, both
disguised in boys clothing, wearing
felt slippers and black masks and car
rying dark lanterns and false keys.
The detectives had already ascer-
tanned that the trunks Mrs. Bradford
had brought were for the most part !
empty.
Their first visit was to the landlords |
private quarter, where they helped |
themselves literally to silver. After |
this they visited each boarder in turn,
awakening no one. Jewelry, garments
and purses were conveyed to the |
trunks and locked up. Then the as
sistant opened window in the kitch-
en-, threw the mask and felt shoes
upon the ground outside, and before
placing the lantern beside them wav-
ed signal to some one.
Still, not sign did the watchers
give. They waited the last act of the
play. This came in few moments
in the shape of a message for Mrs.
to the effect that Mr.. Alb
ingdon Bradford was very ill, at the
point of death, in fact, and desired the