Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-05-31

on with round eyes. that the Thief
ITSELF has been in here?'
And she looked back at her brooms,
he- pals and her cloths with a mix.
ture of amazement. fear and respect.
We'll. somebody's been in there,
that's evident. isn't it:' said he. good
humoredly.
And he decided in his own mind that
the clever thief had opened and shut
the back door loudly as blind. and
had secreted herself in this cupboard
until he was safely out of the house.
Il suppose you don't happen to have
seen him about this morning." he
went OH, in Jocular tone.
Seen the thief, Lor. no. sir If he's
been in the house he must have goi
our again pretty quick. for got down
pretty near as soon as the master
himself; an there was nobody about
then. for sure. but i'm and me and
Miss Nell"
Tho poor young lady was fright.
ened. I'm afraid. by the comuotion?"
oh. we'll. were used TO these set.
cuts by this time" replied Meg. philo.
sophically. Miss Nell did look very
white an faint-like. an she was all of
q tremble. poor thing. when she heard
about the fuss. So master packed her
off to the colonels. and told her as she
was to stop there till he sent for her."
THE colonel's. And who is the colo.
nel:"
"Oh. an old gentleman as lives a lit.
tie way from here along the Court.
stairs road. Miss Nell takes them their
milk there fresh from the COW every
morning and evening"
oh" remarked the detective, high.
~ satisfied ut having tapped the fount
OF Meg's loquacity. Il should have
thought she was too much of a fine
lady for that, your Miss Nell"
All. but she wouldn't do it for any
body else" replied Meg. anxious to de.
fend her mistress. You see. the col.
onel an his daughter are real gentle.
folks. only they're poor-very poor.
An they don't keep no servant. an
Miss Theodore does all the work her.
self. So. you see. as she's been kind
to Miss Nell. an got the master to give
Miss Nell her fine eddication and
French an the pianner. why, Miss
Nell don't seem' to know how to do
enough for her. That's how it is. sir.
I'd be glad to take the milk myself.
or we could easy get the boy to do it.
only Miss Nell likes to do it herself
like"
The detective was about to interro-
gate Meg further. when the voice OF
the innkeeper, shouting to her to know
why breakfast was not ready. pre-
vented his hearing any more. And.
much TO his regret. he found on his
next meeting with her that the poison
of suspicion had been mstilled into
her mind by her master. and that she
was communicative no longer.
Finding this source of information
dry. therefore. the detective, who
shrewdly concluded that Nell would
not return until he had taken his de.
parture. sent boy off toward Stroan
with his luggage on barrow. aud
pau Ills anu went away.
But he did not go very far. Over.
taking the boy he made him leave his
luggage at Stroan station. and as soon
as the lad was out Of sight he had il
taken to one of the inns of the place.
This done he had his luncheon and
walked back to the Blue Lion.
He did not want to put in an appear.
ance until he knew whether Miss Nell
had returned from her visit to her
friend. But it was n slack time of
day at the inn. and there was nobody
about OF whom he could ask n ques.
ton. He managed to get peep into
the bar as he walked past the house.
but there was no one there. either in
front or behind. When he had hung
about the place some time. keeping as
much out of view of possible watchers
as lie cou,ti ne saw the robust figure
of Meg at the side door. She was
shaking out a cloth. She started and
uttered little gasp at sight of him.
Why" said he. getting. by dexter
Gus movement. between her and the
door. what's the matter: You look
scared ut the sight of me-"
We'll, l don't want to have any
more to say to you. and that's the
fact" replied stalwart Meg. with her
hands on her hips. 1T seems you're
nothing better than a detective chap,
what's coming ferreting about the
place. asking questions and trying to
get us all into trouble Ugh. I'm
ashamed to be seen talking to you.'
We'll. now. can't you see that it is
for the good of all of you that this af-
fair should be cleared up. and that it
should be known who it is that has
brought the bad name on the house,"
said the detective. persuasively. I'm
very sure you ladies must be fright
ened out of your lives to hear the
things that are said. It'll end by your
all going away from the place like
Miss Neil has done"
To be Confined . .-z>rA-.ss