Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-07-27

adage, that none of your sex can keep
a secret. 1 know better. have had
many chances to try the ladies, and
many time 1 have placed my life it
self in the hands of a woman, and did
not regret it, God bless them
Miss Harper's eyes glistened with
this praise, while her sister leaned for
ward and listened with rapt attention.
$50, am going to trust you with my
secret I am Mr.. Hunt" and he drew
out a card case, and presented each
with a piece of paste board, bearing
the simple words, "Mr. Hunt, Detec
tive"
81 have been sent here to work up
this robbery business. l have come to
you, knowing that you IRE sensible,
trustworthy ladies' and 1 hope that you
can give me lodgings for few days,
or weeks, as the work requires"
Then he went on to explain how i'm
possible it would be for him to stop at
a hotel, or ordinary boarding house, be-
cause no one was to know of his pres
ence in the town, not even the town
officers who had hired him. His sue
cess depended upon the secrecy main
tanned, and who was better at being
discreet than these ladies whom ne
had chosen? He wanted the privilege
of coming in and going out at all hours
of the day and night; he wanted keys
to both the front and back entrances
in case of emergency or pursuit. For
all this he was willing to pay hand
somely.
The ladies considered the matter,
and finally agreed to accommodate
him. They had occasionally taken
boarders, their income being none too
lavish. And besides being both hand
some and fascinating, Mr.. Hunt paid
weeks board in advance. An hour
later he returned with a large trunk,
which was brought in the back way,
and no one the wiser.
He took the ladies into his entire con-
fidence at once, and having sworn the
maidens to secrecy also, he made him
self very much at home.
The evening passed delightfully."-, spent
in the sitting room, with the blinds
closely drawn. Mr.. Hunt was very en-
tertaining, and had many exciting in4i-
dents to relate about himself. WhNn
they were about to retire, he remarked:
you must not let my coming in or
going out disturb you in any way. l
shall have to prowl around at all sorts
of unearthly hours, you know"
ooh, we understand" said Miss Har
per- as though she had been raised in
detective headquarters.
you are often in sreat danger"
asked Nell TREMENDOUSLY.
Yes, often" he answered, "and if at
any time | do not return say for four
or five days, or even a week, and you
hear nothing of me, you can break
open my trunk and find full details
there, as to whom to notify. But don't
be in a hurry to give me up. I'm
lucky, and generally come out all
right"
''Oh, do be careful of yourself?' said
Nell impulsively, and she would have
said more, but she saw her sister
frowning.
But, when a little later, that same
night. as Nell came down to be sure
the front door was latched, and met
Mr.. Hunt in the hail. dressed in great
coat and SLOUGH hat the idea of his
danger, made an anxious look come
into her eyes.
Il will be careful tonight" he said,
offering her his hand, Il will think of
your uneasiness, and not be RASH
Nell did not tell this to Martha. 1t
was her first secret from her sister.
Ten days, full of a new interest to
the Harper sisters, passed.
Two more robberies had been COM
mitted, and the whole town was ex
cited. The papers announced that de-
tectives were on the trace of the
thieves. Mr.. Hunt smiled as he read
this aloud to the sisters.
Yes" he said, Il think I will have
them located by tomorrow night. I'm
on the scent. But this stuff in the
paper is all Surmise. | have not given
them a single clew yet. They have to
say something 1t would ruin my sue
cess if I told anything to anybody out
side"
When the matter was discussed at
the Missionary tea that afternoon, the
task Of keeping silent was almost too
much for the Miss Harpers, and they
only restrained themselves by thinking
of their triumph when the affair was
over. and they could tell their share in
it. They would pose as celebrities in
connection with the famous Mr.. Hunt,
detective.
Nell had quite given her heart to this
interesting man, and some rather tend
err passages had taken place between
them, so it was with a pitifully sad
face. she heard him say one morning:
eff all goes as l expect, [ shall leave
tomorrow morning"
Then he glanced at Nell, and sighed,
and Nell began to wish that the thieves
might not be found for some months,
at least, Or never at all.
That evening Mr.. Hunt went out
completely disguised in a red wig and
whiskerS and walked with a decided
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