Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-05-30

almost dark when she returned. She
met Elsie on the verauda and the two
were chatting when Aunt Caroline
came quickly down the stairs.
Girls" she cried, excttedly, some,
thing dreadful has happened, My
brooch is gone"
Gone" cried Kate, in coustcrua,
tiou, while Elsie spraug to her feet,
Gomez"
YES; stolen is the word. didn't
mislay it; that know. for after show.
ing It to you placed it ON the tap OF
my dressing stand in plain view. 1t Is
gone, and some ono must have taken
it,"
Into the house again won't the dis,
tressod widow,
well" demanded elsie, QuoerlE
why are YOU looking at mo like
that@"
"Oh, elsie, YOU didn't"
steal it," Kate Sanford, do you
take me for tMef@'
but YOU wcro speaking, dear, OF
borrowing Il quietly for Saturday, If
YOU did such a thing dear, please"
But Elsie had tlounCcd augrily into
the house, leaving Kate one Of the
most shocked, doubling, wrctched
girls in the world, Aunt Caroline
had not been as far away rs either
supposed, and now Mrs, Brewster
having overheard, had a new griof
that was greater than even the 'osS
of the priced brooch All three met Mt
dinner but none had much TO say, In
the morning Aunt Caroline took Elsie
for n walk. She meant to ascertain
If the girl had anything to confess,
Kate decided upon morning soss n
with the novel She hurried to the
arbor, but found her aunt and cousin
there before her.
why, that's a curious hole, and
there seems TO be a box In there, too"
said Aunt Caroline, eapying Natea
treasure place, She stepped over to
examine but the young writer very
much clustered and distressed, tried
to dotan her, faltcring:
"Oh, don't--ploaso don't"
why not asked Aunt Caroline, q
trifle sharply, as she saw the color
come and so in her nicCo's face, Them
without u word, she thrust her hand
into the hole, drawing out the box
of manuscript, Her hand touched
something else and she drew that
out, too--a Russian leather jewel Lox.
Three different notes of astonishment
sounded as Aunt Caroline opened the
box and the diamond opals flashed up
at thom.
"Oh, Kate! Kate! {" sobbed Mrs
Brewster
You didn't do II, doar-you lldn't
did you?" cried Elsie.
81 didn't" protested Kate, mIser.
ably, but she felt that neither be-
Iieycd her,
MY poor dear girl" sobbed Mira.
brewster. "Oh, what an unhappy day
this Is for mel"
Il didn't steal It, again insisted
Kate, a flood Of hot tears coming.
Indeed, auntIe, | don't know"
who didn't shtcal. Didn't 3htoal
phwat questioned honest, slow.
minded Michael tho gardener. thrust.
ing his head into the arbor.
Michael said Mrs. Brewster,
severely leave u.s."
But Michael caught sight Of the
brooch, the box and seemed to take IN
the situation He looked as II some.
thing had struck him.
WAS the shtolon gow.gaw In trot
box, ma'am?" he demanded.
Unable to speak, Mrs. Brewster
nodded her head
Then wait joost phowre ?ez re.
leddies!" cried Michael excitedly.
Don't shtir, Wait till | come back"
lie went off at his top speed toward
the house. Neither Mrs. Brewster
nor her nieces spoke. In almost n,
time Michael was back, with little
blackand-tan dog Flirt, in his arms.
Here's the thief, ma'am. Lam.
bashto her well, ye'd better. Shura.
Yesterday avenlng, Just after Mas
Kate left here, saw this shpalpcen
dog a-racin' In here. She KEN .rou
the house, too, did Flirt, and had
somcthin brown in her moutht thot |
know, now, was this box"
why, yes, that must have been
so" cried Mrs. Brewster. a new light
coming in her eyes. Now / remom,
Der that just before dinner Flirt was
in my room She was holding one oil
the lace curtains In her mouth The
box, which was at the edge OF
dressing stand, must have rested
across a bit Of the curtain. Fl'rt
pulled the box 10 the floor When /
drove her from the room she mus.
have snatched the jewel box up In her
mouth and fed with II.
Then contritoly:
"Oh, Kate My dear, my 20 r!
Forgive met"
II was a very happy trio that turned
toward the house, all three talking at
once, or nearly So And Michael, gaz-
Ing after them, looked as proud as a