The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-13

victims in whose fate we are interest
ed
"Ah, ah!' I cried out, somewhat
amazed, 1 own. And number 2S?'
THAT was carrot, and 1t held a
really valuable ring-a ruby surrounded
by diamonds. If you remember, 1 once
! spoke to you of this ring. 1t was the
property of young Mr.. Chittenden and
worn by him while he was in this viii
lage. He disappeared on his way to
the railway station, having taken, as
many can vouch for, the short detour
by Lost Mans lane, which would lead
him directly by Mother James cot
tage."
"You thrill me-" said I, keeping down
with admirable self possession my own
thoughts in regard to this matter.
And what of No. 10, beyond which
she said she could not count?"
I'm ten was your twenty-five cent
piece, and in various other vegetable
small coins whose whole value was of
pitiful smallness. The only numbers
which seemed to make any impression
on her mind were those connected with
these crimes. Very good evidence,
Miss Butterworth, that Mother Jane
holds the clew to this matter, even if
she is not responsible for the actual
killing and putting away Of the indi
Viduals represented by this property"
had thought to examine her after her
| return from the Knollys mansion last
night you would probably have found
| upon her some similar evidence of her
completely in the last crime Of this ter
| rible series. 1t would need have been
small, as silly Rufus, as 1 take it,
| neither INDUCED in the brass trinkets
sold by the old pedler nor the real jew
| elry of a well to do man like the young
| Westerner."
"Silly Rufus?"
HE was the last to disappear from
these parts, was he not?'
Yes, madam
and as such should have left some
| clew to his fate in the hands Of this
old crone if her motive in removing him
| was, as you seem to think, entirely
| that of gain
II did not say it was entirely so. Sill
ly Rufus would be the last person any
one, even such non compos mentis
as Mother Jane, would destroy for hope
Of GAIN
But what other motive could she
have, and, Mr.. Gryce, where could she
bestow the bodies of so many unfortu-
nate victims, even if by her great
strength she could succeed in killing
them?"
There you have u.s." said he. 1--WE
have not been able as yet to unearth
any bodies. Have your"
mo" said 1, with some little show
Of triumph showing through my dis
dain, but I can show you where to
urearth one"
He should have been startled, pro-
foundry startled. Why wasn't he? I
the one instant he weighed his words
| before answering.
You know something then, definite
ly,' he declared. You have come
across grave or a mound which you
! have taken for a grave"
l shook my head.
mo mound" said I. Why should
rot play for an instant or more with
his curiosity? He had with mine.
'Ah then, why do you talk Of I'M
| earthing? No one has told you where
you can lay your hand on Silly Rufus
body, 1 take it,"
NO" said l. 1.-The Knollys' house is
not inclined to give up its secrets
He started, glancing almost remorse-
| fully first at the tip, then at the head
Of the cane he was balancing in his
| hand.
It's too bad" he muttered, "but
you've been led astray, Miss Butter
worth, excusably, 1 acknowledge, quite
excusably, but yet in way to give you
the Knollys house But wait mo-
ment. Then you were not locked up in
your room last night?"
Scarcely 1 returned, wavering be-
tween the doubts he had awakened by
his first sentence and the surprise
which his last could not fail to give me-
II might have known they would not
be likely to catch you in a trap he re-
marked. 80 you were up and in the
hails?"
81 was up" said I, land in the halls
May l ask where you were?"
He paid no heed to the last sentence
This complexities Matters said he,
land yet perhaps it is as well. under
stand you now, and in a few minutes
you will understand me. You thought
it was silly Rufus who was buried last
night. That was rather an awful
thought, Miss Butterwerth. wonder