The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-01-05

. gentleman a chairp" And until ne
heard me sit down. the old man re-
mained standing. you wish to see me
about my book on the Spanish Inquisi-
ton. Are you publisher"
mo, no, papa dear. It's about the
umbrella that Mr." and again she
paused.
Seymour" 1 said-"James Sey-
mour."
that Mr.. Seymour wishes to see
you. On the way home we happened
to see something that suggested our
patent to me, and Mr.. Seymour knows
an umbrella manufacturer who might
be interested in the matter, even if
nothing more came of it,"
While her father pondered she said to
me: 1--WE speak of it as our patent, al
though, as | told you, we have no pat
ent.''
ST could take my friend one of your
umbrellas this evening" | said. What
awful lies we detectives have to tell!
Miss Robertson looked at her father.
"You are very kind" said the father.
"The trouble is, Mr.-Mr.-"
Seymour" the girl prompted.
"Ah, yes. thank you, dear-Mr. Sey-
mour-you are very kind. but we have
not one umbrella fit to show. My
daughter has not succeeded in sewing
the eye-glass piece in so that it holds
its place when the umbrella is opened
and closed"
ST can easily finish the one | began
last" said Miss Robertson, "if Mr.. Sey-
mour could wait for few moments"
"Most certainly can" said |, perfect
ly happy. and willing to wait all night
if necessary, "and-"
Here I stopped to listen to queer
noise or succession of noises coming
through the half-closed door of the
next room. 1t was the sort of sound
that is made by pump when sucking
air instead of water. or by person in
great distress from asthma.
"That's Mrs. Virgins" said Miss Rob-
ertson, jumping up "Please excuse me
for, moment" She left the room
closing the door after her. had hard.
ly begun to talk with Mr.. Robertson be-
fore she came back.
"Mrs. Virgins says that supper will
be spoiled unless it is eaten at once
this minute. And, as it will take me
good many minutes to make that um-
brella presentable to a real umbrella
manufacturer, may l ask Mr.. Seymour
to take supper with us?"
Before the father could add his re-
quest had assented, without attempt
to hide my pleasure.
sIt is ready now, and on the table"
she went on, ushering me into the next
room, which proved to be tiny room
even for three persons-so small, IN
fact, that every time Mrs. Wiggins ap-
peared from the kitchen Miss Ellen had
to rise and move her chair to let her in.
"This room often reminds me-" said
Miss Robertson, "of the lady who closed
her first visit to New York fiat with
the remark: We'll, now that have
seen all the closets, where are the
rooms? She must have come from Vir-
ginia, our old home: we have big houses
there, But if it is closet or no better,
ITS our own. With Mrs. Wiggins"-
here the same curious sound of pump
in distress made itself heard-"that's
Mrs. Virgins now;" and Miss Ellen
Jumped up to allow that singular old
woman to come in with dish OF roasted
rabbit
When the door closed after her, Mrs.
Virgins has her peculiarities, as you
may Observe" said Miss Robertson,
laughing. 'That peculiar snort of hers
is something | can't understand, ex-
cept as signal to open the door. You
see, have to get up every time the door
is opened; and, as Mrs. Wiggins usually
has her hands full of plates or carraes
a tray, she cannot knock"
Sand to kick she is ashamed; or per-
haps she feels that it would be undig-
nified," added Mr.. Robertson, with
smile.
$50 she snorts,' said Miss Ellen.
"And she can also cook" said l, for
the rabbit was excellent and cooked TO
perfection. Roast rabbit was some
thing l had not tasted since came
from the country.
81 really don't know what we should
do without her, papa, dear. You see'
turning to me, "she stays in the room
with my father great deal OF the time
while am away, SO that she can ge'
him whatever he requires"
And so we. chatted throughout the
meal, with but one shadow upon the
feast. l felt that / was traitor, Here
! was eating and enjoying the bread OF
these good people and meanwhile plot
ting their ruin. Another weeks ac-
ouaintance with the Robertson family,
and / should be ready to throw the Ca
zette overheard and help the criminals
to escape. After the meal was over and
Mrs. Virgins had snorted at the kitch-
en- door for the. last time and gone
nome, we sat down by the fire, and
while Mr.. Robertson gave me some
what rambling account of his re-
searches upon the Spanish lnquisition
at least it seemed rambling to me,
perhaps because of disturbing vision
upon the other side of the fireplace
Miss Ellen worked deftly at one OF the
famous umbrellas, and talked as clev-
erly as / knew how, trying to divide my
remarks between the Spanish lnquisi-
ton and the patent umbrella. Very
much too soon those deft and dainty
fingers had finished their task.
There" exclaimed Miss Robertson,
with an accent of triumph, interrupt
ing her fathers graphic description OF
the persuasive effects of thumbscrews
as manipulated by the Spanish lp-
nnisitors. ~ do believe practice makes