The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-10-03


enjoy ourselves last night at the
Hush" cried Mrs Baidock. laying the
diamond rinsed finger on her lips $50
YOU liked the singing and the dancning.
eh?"
Particularly when Miss Chifie Fla
belle was doing her-bft,n said the house
maid. Cook said she thought her as
beautiful as an angel. ohm her frocksl"
They're considered pretty" said Mrs.
Baldock. Mind you hide those ilIustrat-
ed papers I lent you n by accident the
master should look into the kitchen. Now
] must get my hat and run or l shall be
late for the train"
And the garden gate clicked after her
In ten minutes.
"Oh when ] think I'm going 20 sit up and
watch for her tonight l feel horribly
mean"
"Hou'll fell as heavy as lead" said the
inexorable Midgell, 'if you don't get
nap between this and half-past II. So
have your supper now and then lie down
III have you up I'm time. depend on me-"
And she did have Mrs. Kelsey up in
time. The agitated old lady. arrayed in
Jaeger dressing gown and a Shetland
shawl witnessed with her own eyes the
return of the guilty wanderer at O'Clock
I'm the morning. At three precisely, as the
sparrows were chirping i'm the ivy and the
pigeons beginning to wake, Archibald
Baldock inserted his key In the garden
door. Then an exclamation OF astonish-
ment escaped him, for a strangely draped
figure stood at his elbow and the voice
OF Midgell said
MY missus wants 10 speak 20 youi"
Dear me-" said the astronomer feeling
for his eyeglasses. Isn't it rather early?"
''It's too late as 1t is replicL Midgell,
darkly
s.ptt wba, done go, r,ts.ro.- r.... -
me?" asked the astronomer. ''Ah, I have
IT, Somebody has broken In and stolen
something +"
''Somethink as been stolen" said Mid
gell, with portentious sniff. ''but you're
the party robbed, and you're going TO
know a. ] may have bin baked crusty
when a tender infant OF five. but I've art
enough to feel for you, you miserable VIC
tim"
MY good woman" protested the as
tronomer.
I'm glad you know one when you see
her" returned Midgell. Come. now, and
see the missus."
And the astronomer went.He- was very
pale as he listened to the weeping Mrs.
kelsey's story.
How silent and grave he has been to-
day! reflected Mrs Balaeek some II
hours later as she watched the as
tronomer 60 down the garden path, with
his bag and overcoat. II couldn't have
told him u tried. He might have looked
something like that IL he had found out
without my telling him. But he hasn't"
And she went to get ready. The gar
den gate clicked after her and moment.
later Mrs kelsey's gate opened and shut
and the spare figure OF Midgell shot down
the road. All womanly pity must have
been baked out OF Mrs felsey's house,
keeper long ago. with other things For
she followed the astronomers wife TO
track, spy and expose her. When Mrs.
Baldock showed her season ticket at the
station and passed through on 10 the plat
form. Midgel took return third and
waited behind a truck OF milkcans until
the Charring Cross train came in Then
she took her opportunity and her car
riage-in one bound. When Mrs. Raldock
left the train. 80 did Midgell: when Mrs
Raldock emerged into the outer air and
took a handsom. Mideell unseen OF her
victim. lesped upon the drivers step. and
when the infuriated cabman swore snd
thrust at her with the butt end OF the
whip slid large. hot Ave shilling piece
into his ready hand.
THAT N you take me where your In
sid"s s-soine'" she sssped
'I spose you mean the fare" said the
driver. $50 come along 10 the 'Rotunda.'
for that's where I'm 20 drive 'er But n
your hooted for unwomsnliness. don't
blsms me. Miss Slater"
People were too busy 20 notice MidKelt.
sud she was too much occupied with
holding on 20 notice anything The drive
was short one. She got down. with