Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-09-05
MYSTERIOUS MISS DACRES
BY MRS. SCHUYLER cRowN1NsH1ELD.
Copyright lWl, By J. u. Llpplaoox Co.


hasten the making of the bed. Wher
1T was ready I called to her softly
from the open door, but she hat
really fallen asleep, and so 1 left
her until I got fresh water and tow
els. Then I closed the window softly
and went to her side. I rested my
hand lightly on her shoulder. Your
room is ready" said. She did not
awake at once, and l gave her gen.
tie shake. She sprang to her feet and
stood blinking at me, holding on to
the chair for support.
"Jim!" she said. Jim, is it your"
Poor creature! My heart went on,
to her. Thinking of that dead
brother. She had told me that he
was just 10 when he went away.
Some people use that expression for
the more solemn word, death.
She awoke fully at this, and stun.
bled up the step into the square hall
and walked unsteadily towards the
door of the room. I took up the
dress-suit case and carried it within
the room and set it down. Then l
went outside and softly closed the
blinds. There came ring from Aunt
Jane Mary's bell. l finished closing
the blinds and went into the room
again. My boarder was sleepily I'M
tying the knots in the muddy shoe
strings. I looked at the shoes dis
trustfully. II wonder who will clean
your shoes?" I said.
II don't know" she murmured.
some one will have to. 1 will nav
for it. Do help me, please; you have
made this room so dark, 1 can't see
anything. Oh"-she fumbled In her
pocket suppose you would like to
be paid for the first week."
VI never thought"
Here, take it, it's just as we'll"
and she thrust some money into NV
hand without counting it. / remind
ed her of this.
DO let me Sleep" she exclaimed.
YEARLY. mo matter what II IS
Easy come and easy CO." and she had
thrown herself upon the bed and
was in the land of dreams before I
had closed the door.
1 had the muddy shoes in NV
hand as | went down the hallway.
had taken them with me, for. so far
as | could see, they were her only
ones; but something else l had seen.
and that was, that of the bills which
she had thrust within my hand. one
OF these was OF the denomination of
fifty, and another was numbered one
hundred
l was almost afraid to have so
much money at once in nv posses.
sion, and that belonging to another
person. AS l went to put the hills
carefully in my desk. they foil to the
floor, and saw there were four, the
third and fourth being numbered
five and five respectively. 81 will
keep these small bills" 1 said to nv.
self-"it is exactly the amount I
charge her for week paid in nd.
vance--and restore the rest"
As folded them to put them where
my small savings were hidden away.
l saw two dots or marks upon the
very edge. Looking closer, | dis
covered that they were the letters
"a. D."
VI. A. d." said 1 to myself, re-
Numbering the initials on the dress
suit case. Some relation, prob
ably. I wonder if he marks all her
bills" l looked at the others, and
there in the corners of each were the
letters "a. D." II imagine 1 shall
know good deal more about nv
boarder than 1 do now before l fin
ish with her." said 1 to myself; and
l was not mistaken.
Just then Aunt Jane Mary's bell
rang again, but for once 1 allowed it
to ring apparently unheard. 1 wrote a
hurried list for the village store,
went to the back-hall window, called
Badly Towner from his xood.split.
ting, and sent him post-haste to tho
village. Then l took half sheet,
folded fave-dollar bill within it,
wrote on the outside From Mother"
and addressed it to Tom, stamped the
letter, called Badly Towner back, and
gave it to him; then locked my desk
and hurried across the hall to Aunt
Jane Mary's room. opened the door
very quietly. l heard whiskinp
sound, and found that Aunt Jane
Mary was painting and breathing un-
easily as l entered. Had l not
known that it was quite impossible
for her to move or stand l should
have thought that she had been get
ting up all by herself.
ITS such an exertion to reach
that bell" said Aunt Jane Mary. And
how long you do take in coming. 1
thought I heard voices"
"You did, Aunt Jane Mary" said
I, putting the hand-bell close to the
edge of the table. 1--WE let the
lower front"
Without consulting me?" said
Aunt Jane Mary.
"Why, Aunt JaHe Mary, you know
we've talked it over and talked it
over, until l thought you were tired
Of the subject, and / let it the last
time and you seemed pleased. Be-
sides, I hadn't time"
Hadn't time for what9"
TO consult you. II I hadn't
cltnched the bargain she would have
thrown it up"
Who would?"
"rha hoorda,.n