Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-25

| ly each awiting for the other to get away
| 50 he could have a private consultation
| with the president or cashier or some one
| I'm authority.
| ''TH tell you what I'll do" said Mrs.
Tankerman to her husband, something Is
wrong just as sure as little apples and Wen
% round to Cousin Jimmie's and see what
| Il Is. Maybe he's sick; the goodness knows
| everything seems to be sick or wrong or
something this morning, and I'm going to
| find out what 1t is
1t was just around the corner on the sec
ond block beyond, and when the callers
| rang the bell it was answered by Cousin
Jimmie himself.
| Our servant seems to have disappeared
this morning" he explained land as my
| wife isn't very well, I'm doing the house
| work myself But come right in; Kate isn't
| SO sick that she can't see you, even If 1t Is
| rather early for call
He laughed and was extremely CHEEKY for
| man in like circumstances, but said moth
| Ing about his being at home at that hour
| instead Of at the bank. Mrs. rankerman
| couldn't wait for Mrs. Kate to appear, but
| at once plunged into the object of her visit.
| Have you been out this morning?" she
| inquired. abruptly.
| "Well. no. Cousin Jane, I haven't" he
] hesitated.
Something Is wrong; terribly wrong. and
! want to know what 1t is. I came to the
| bank to ask you. and she added. In a
| whisper. Ito see you about a business mat
| ter"
He coughed and seemed to be con-
| strained.
| DO you know anything?" she asked,
| taking quick suspicion from his manner.
| know what?" he replied.
| With a woman's intuition Mrs. Tankerman
| knew that her Cousin James had secret
| also, though she could not imagine what 1t
was. so she approached him on an equal
| footing
DO you know anything about what John
and received this morning from somebody,
| goodness knows where?" she asked. with
| studied calm. I'm sure you do, for you
| lcok guilty"
II assure you I know nothing whatever
| OF what you and your husband have re-
ceived.' he said. seriously, but he looked
| none the less guilty In her eyes.
| She had not sat down until now but now
| she sat down firmly.
| Il might well tell you now as any
time, she said. for that's what came to
while slip out into the hall a moment l
will explain everything to you" She step
ped into the hall and very shortly returned
with mysterious package. still warm. In
her hands. Here it is in this package -
she continued. as she handed it to him,
100000 In money. which was mysteriously
left at our door last night, 1 suppose. and
post 1t. or whatever you call 1t when money
Is put In there to be taken care Of.
| wouldn't sleep In the house with 1t for a
million dollars" she concluded. In an ex-
|
| among women
Mrs. Tankerman's cousin held the money
| In his hands and simply stared at her.
| Whats the matter now?" she asked ner-
vousiy. Are you getting like the rest of
everything? Has everybody taken a day of
| just because my husband and l have had
the best luck we ever had in our Hves?''
and Mrs Tankerman laughed Historically,
as If she had at last discovered the key to
the puzzle.
mo. no. no." he exclaimed: "but my wife
and hox hn6 4 hac I,,~Ix
| found the same amount at our door as you
did. and while 1t quite unnerved me- 1t has
! sent Kate clean to bed, where she now is
! trying to compose herself and comprehend
the meaning Of it. and to realize that she is
that we are-rich beyond our widest
dreams
Us. too" put in Mr.. Tankerman. almost
with hurrah, and suddenly caught him
SELF Is that why you didn't go to the
bank" he asked.
OF course. Why should 1 go to the
bank? When a man has 100000. do you
suppose he cares for 81. 500 clerkship?
guess not. / go to the bank hereafter as
one Of the directors and depostors"
Mr.. Tankerman looked at his wife with
| a significance that Mrs Tank erman's cou-
| SIN did not understand.
Jane" he said with great earnestness
have l been down to my office today?''
mo. John, you haven't. But have been
| too worried to notice 1t before"
DO you know why?'
II hadn't thought about 1t. was think
|
ESQ was I, Jane. And so was Cousin
Jimmie thinking of his. Why should I go
to an office to earn So. 600 salary when We
have 100000 to earn three times that for
us and not work a lick? Haven't you q
messenger call here?'' he asked OF Mrs,
Tankermans cousin. Give me some paper
and III write note to the office explain
| ing why I'm not there. and rendering my
! resignation to take effect immediately
While Mr.. Tankerman wrote the note Cou.
sin Jimmie rang for the messenger None
came after repeated calls and long waiting
Then Mr.. Tankerman tried the Telephone
but there was no response to his ring
"Confound them. he began. but stopped
on the instant by George. I wonder. .
he said. and said no more Have you had
any mail this n,orning?' he inquired of the
cousin.
ut hadn't occurred to me before" ad.
Matted Cousin Jimmie. 'but 1 guess we
haven't"
The plot was thickening.
At this moment the front door bell rang
! and Mrs. Kate. who had come down stairs
admitted georgously dressed lady. She
was the cook In her Sunday nnery, come to
call on her late mistress and inform her
that owing to the fact OF her having fallen