The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-04-11
\ CHAPTER y.-{continuedo

was asking me for some certain rings
that I've mislaid somewhere, and 1
could almost have declared for certain
that had left them in that righthand
drawer of yours before you came"
There were no rings there" said
Janetta coldly.
When Mason left the room Janetta
opened the drawer and peered in.
There were gloves and handkerchiefs.
which had evidently not been touched;
but on the top Of all were Neville's
letters, which Janetta kept bound to-
gether by an elastic band. One of
them had been taken from the packet,
and was half drawn from its envelope.
and thrown back hastily into the
drawer.
Its very queer and uncomfortable"
thought Janetta. Il can't conceive
what object the girl has in wishing to
read my letters. She shall not have
the privilege! I don't want any one
here to guess how anxious I am about
the boy. wish l were sure that he
had broken with all his old friends;
no effort of mine will keep him
straight If he won't try himself"
She slipped the letter back into the
packet, locked the drawer. and put the
key into her pocket. Her earthly para
disc seemed failing her all in minute.
Then she remembered how often she
had found Mrs Mortimer's eyes fixed
upon her when she received one OF
Neyilles letters with queer. suspic-
tous expression in them; and she
laughed aloud as the thought darted
through her mind that possibly Mrs.
Mortimer was credfting her with a
young man" of her own, and was
8 ready to make mischief about him.
But. even If this were so, it did not
!. explain the reason why Mason should
be foraging about among her letters.
She finally decided to make no men
ton Of what had occurred, but to be
ca1eful about keeping her possessions
under lock and key for the future.
CHAPTER vi.
Clarice was not at all we'll for the
J Aext few days, so that it was not
difficult for Janetta to avoid any in
ivaIe.
Her latent suspicion of Mason was
famed into a fame by the fact that
one afternoon, when she ran in late
from the town. having gone on some
commission for Clarice, she heard
foices talking In the shrubbery near.
One of the voices was a mans, the
other Mason's.
!, 4. 81 sha'n't do it, tell you! There are
4 plenty of people in the house who'd
find me out, and that new one is as
sharp as needle!''
49, .Janetta. .hurriad lar..4ey s1oe'ir.4.s.
:. very uneasy. What was it that Mason
vas declining to do. and to whom
could she be talking? That the new
one' referred to her she was tolerably
certain. Perhaps it would be wise to
mention the circumstances to Mrs.
Mortimer. Accordingly that evening,
When CIariee( had gone to bed, she
returned to the drawing room and re-
lated to Mrs. Mortimer what she hal
overheard.
1t seems to me. Miss Howard, that
ron are making. mountains out of
molehills;" said Mrs. Mortimer calmly.
Mason is an excellent servant, most
civil and obliging; her character is
beyond suspicion"
could swear to her voice." said
Ianetta, a little hotly. Has she a
young man, do you know?"
oh, yes. Is there law of the
Medes and Persians' that parlor maids
should be exempt from love-affairs?"
asked Mrs. Mortimer. "She's engaged
tn:a very respectable fellow who does
not live here. Indeed, 1 happen to
know that he's not in the place at
present, for she. only asked my leave
tnday for few days holiday to go
and visit his people. She told me
that she had not seen him for more
than six months. really think, Miss
Howard, that it will be wiser if you
leave the management of the house
md servants to me-
Certainly will in FUTURE replied
Janetta, swallowing her vexation; "but
It is the second time that have had
suspicious about Mason's straightfor-
wardness."
a letter for you. miss" said voice
behind her, and Mason. with a per-
fsctly immovable face, handed her a
letter ON silver waiter. 1t was from
Neville, and Janetta slipped it into her
pocket; and she felt somehow as if
her actions were noted alike by both
Mason and Mrs Mortimer.
'tStraigh tforwardness. indeed!" NUT
tered Mrs. Mortimer angrily, when
Janetta babe her goodnight and went
off. to her room. She's none too
straightforward herself. with letters
from one man nearly every day of her
life, and playing fast-and- loose with
Miss Seymour's lover under her very
eyes, only she's too infatuated to see
it, It will be seen that Mrs. Morti-
mer was letting her jealousy run away
with her judgment.
Ehat letter made Janetta very anx-
Eous and miserable. 1t was an urgent
demand for money.
Il literally haven't q copper to bless
myself WITH wrote Neville. ''The
landlady's using awful language, and
* you can't help me I believe soon
she'll turn me, ont into the street. 81
know you won't want to draw any
salary yet; but isn't there some more
In the bank that you can lend me for
bit? I'll pay you back directly my
!. seggarly screw is given nae. Do come
TO the rescue. there's dear girl! The
minute can hear of something better