Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-10-02
CHAPTER XXI.
.% WAS Miss Stetson's

T%I all prepared for her
OF strange journey.
Il don't like this at ALL" she said,
biting her lip. 81 don't know whether
to regard It as joke or not"
ut is not a joke" MIR. Jaimson re-
piled seriously. 81 fear it is far from
IT,"
"why not tell me all, then? I don't
like mysteries
1T IL for him TO tell you" he an.
swered, pointing toward me.
Knowing that he took me for a de-
tective, answered evasively:
"we'll soon be there Miss Stetson,
and then you will know all"
led them brisk walk down the
old highway until we reached the
ground surrounding the old mansion.
When turned to go up to the house.
Mr.. Jaimson started and exclaimed:
"Is it DR.. Squires"
nodded affirmatively and increased
my pace.
"Of course this Is where DR.. 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 Formally or explana-
ton I produced the key and opened
the front door of the old house. |
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 l do not see
why we should enter his house IN this
way Where did you get the key and
where is his old servant?'
"One thing at time, Miss Stetson,"
I replied II will explain everything
IN few moments. Please be seated
in the hall until light more lamps"
l left them in the hallway while I
bounded up the stairs to see if the old
servant was all right. unlocked the
room and glanced in. He was proppcd
up in the same attitude on the bed,
and his bandages were secure.
closed and locked the door and
turned Their to the treasure room. I
put two or three extra lights in this
place, placing them so that the rays
jewels drew of all the coverings Of
the stolen goods and even arranged
many of them so they would show Off
to the best advantage. With the lights
shining down upon them they made
feast for the eyes that was dazzling.
1t was spectacular effect that graft
fed my little vanity.
l returned TO the hall where / 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 l threw 1t open and said:
Behold Miss Stetson, Or. 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 fromT
Examine some Of them, Miss Stet-
SON." l 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"
Yes, 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 cagerncss
that she nearly dropped them. Then
she turned helpless toward me and
Mr.. Jaimson.
What does il mean Mr.. JaimsonY"
she asked in a trembling voice.
That we have at last run the robbers
to earth" he replied sternly.
who are theyT she gasped while
her face turned white and red. Not
surely not-Dr,"-
Yes, Miss stetson, ! fear DIR. Squires
Is one Of the guilty parties"
ut can't be. How could he do such
a thing1 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 I said. eco
down to the Office, / will follow you"
! 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
promised2
When | 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 MS to squeeze In. |
warned them to keep quiet until / gave
them permission to speak. Through
the soft curtains we could see any one