Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-10-15

EN1 WAS Mt Miss Stetson's
8 8: : ::
I*IgSA:x2 promptly at o'clock.
EY BGCS Mr.. Jaimson was
Eb nj waiting there for me,
C2 Nil and Miss Stetson was
~ all prepared for her
49, strange journey.
81 don't like this at ALL" she said,
biting her lip. II don't know whether
to regard 1t as joke or not"
st is not joke" Mr.. Jaimson re-
piled seriously. 81 fear it is far from
it."
"Why not tell me all, then? don't
like mysteries"
ut is for him to tell you," he an
swered, pointing toward me.
Knowing that he took me for a de-
tective, answered evasively:
well soon be there, Miss Stetson,
and then you will know ALL"
l led them brisk walk down the
old highway until we reached the
ground surrounding the old mansion.
When turned to so up to the house,
Mr.. Jaimson started and exclaimed:
as it DR.. Squires?"
I nodded affirmatively and increased
my pace.
"Of course this is where DIR. Squires
lives, but what of that?" inquired Miss
Stetson, looking from one to the other.
Neither Of us made reply, but trudged
on in gloomy silence.
Without any formality or explana-
ton l produced the key and opened
the front door of the old house. I
stepped inside and lighted the hall
lamp. Then as they followed me I
closed the door.
'Dr. Squires is not at home tonight"
said Miss Stetson, land I do not see
why we should enter his house in this
way. Where did you get the key and
where is his old servant?"
zone thing at a time, Miss Stetson,"
l replied. II will explain everything
in few moments. Please be seated
in the hall until light more lamps"
I left them in the hallway while l
bounded up the stairs to see if the old
servant was all right. I unlocked the
room and glanced in. He was propped
and his bandages were secure.
closed and locked the door and
turned then to the treasure room.
put two or three extra lights in this
place, placing them SO that the rays
would glisten on the silverware and
jewels. drew off all the coverings of
the stolen goods and even arranged
many Of them SO they would show of
to the best advantage. With the lights
shining down upon them they made a
feast for the eyes that was dazzling.
1t was spectacular effect that graft
fled my little vanity.
I returned to the hall, where I had
left my two companions, and said:
"If you will accompany me upstairs,
will make all this mystery plain"
They both eagerly followed me, even
Miss Stetson showing more than her
ordinary curiosity. She preceded Mr..
Jaimson, and as she reached the door
of the room threw 1t open and said:
Behold, Miss Stetson, DIR, Squires'
secret! Here is the mystery which he
has safely guarded from you and all
the people around here"
She stepped into the room, shaded
her eyes with one hand and then STEP
ped back with little cry of amaze
ment.
"What does this all mean? What
beautiful things? Where did they
come from?"
Examine some of them, Miss Stet-
son." said. "Look at this handsome
silver teapot and water pitcher"
She stepped forward and took them
out of my hand and then nearly drop
ped them in her agitation.
"Why, they are mine! They have
my mothers initials on. They are the
ones stolen from my house."
eyes. they belong to you, and If you
will look around you will see plenty of
others that you may recognize-not
only those which belonged to you, but
to your neighbors."
She picked up one after another,
handling them with such eagerness
that she nearly dropped them. Then
she turned helpless toward me and
Mr.. Jaimson.
what does it mean, Mr.. JaimsonP
she asked in trembling voice.
"That we have at last run the robbers
to EARTH" he replied sternly.
"Who are they?" she gasped while
her face turned white and red. Mot
surely not-Dr,"-
Eyes, Miss Stetson. fear DR.. SQuires
is one of the guilty parties"
at can't be. How could he do such
thing? I-I-don't understand it."
She leaned. against the wall for sup
port. Mr.. Jaimson put his arm around
her waist.
"You must not give way to your
feelings" he said tenderly. "You must
be brave. There is more to do tonight.
We must tell you the whole story, and
You must be equal to the emergency.
1t is difficult
I interrupted him by touching his
arm. The sound of wheels on the
gravelly drive had attracted my atten-
ton.
Somebody is coming" 1 said. "Go
down to the office. will follow you"
1 turned the lights out quickly, locked
the door and bounded down the stairs
two at time. Had the doctor unex-
pectedly returned earlier than he had
promised?
When I reached the office. showed
them into closet shut off from the
rest Of the room with soft, sheeny cur
tains. The place was barely large
enough for all of us to squeeze in.
warned them to keen quiet until I gave