Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-10-14

his deep growl sounding in my ear.
strained my eyes; Bill certainly
was not there.
Bill, dear old Bill! They knew
your faithfulness, but they also knew
your greediness, as the following
morning showed me, when Badly
Towner, with real tears in his eyes,
came and bcckoned me to the back
door. There lay my dear old dog,
stiff and cold, a meat bone stained
with green powder lying near, proof
of his too trusting nature.
I crept out through the dark hall,
and going close to Miss Dacres' door,
put my ear to the keyhole and lis
| tened. / heard voices talking,
though hardly above a whisper;
there We're more than two; it
seemed to me that heard three, but
so nervous had l become that could
not place them or say if I had ever
heard them before. Sometimes I
thought that one of them sounded
like Mr.. Beldon's. / fancied that I
heard Miss Dacres' soft tones, and
my heart sank like lead! Perhaps.
though, she was pleading for her life.
Of course, I knew that Mr.. Beldon
could not be there, that he was away
in the city, working over his articles
TOR the next days paper. Then I
heard movement within, and a
door was unbolted and light
streamed from under the door Of
Mr.. Beldon's room. So this was the
way in which Miss Dacres disposed
of her midnight visitors! Such was
my sudden change of mind. She used
Mr.. Beldon's room while he was
away!
started up and went swiftly to
the door of my lower-back. AS 1
reached it, saw that figure was
there before me. 1t came suddenly
upon my sight. 1t stood on the
farther side of the door and leaned
down with it's ear to the keyhole.
AS came close, it raised it's head,
and at the same time clasped my
wrist with why grip of iron.
'Hush!" he whispered. Don't
move! Don't speak! Don't breathe"
1t was Elder Wynne. 1 was struck
with amaze. He drew me under the
protecting enclosure Of the back
stairs and whispered:
$50 upstairs to your room; can
attend to this matter alone. Leave
me to handle it," I saw now that
the old man possessed more yigor
than had thought possible.
"But I am afraid" I whispered,
"afraid to leave you. What do you
think of it? Do you think she has
got into the hands of some house
breakers? Oh, if Mr.. Beldon were
only here! You are SO old, so frail.
Those men might murder you. Let
me stay in the dining room, that 1
may be within CALI
Elder Wynne laughed, silent sort
of laugh
I'VE have no time now" he whis-
pered, ITO explain matters. Do as I
tell you; go upstairs quickly. Leave
this matter to me-" At the same
time he threw back the lapel of his
cotton dressing gown, and flashed
forth little CLEAN of light from
somewhere which struck full upon
the shining shield bearing the badge
of the detective force. We heard a
movement within the room, then a
hand was laid upon the knob.
Rum" he whispered. run tc
your room," and then began to cough
violently, following me and calling
at the same time up the stairs:
Mrs. Brathwaite! Mrs. Brath
waite!" was only on the THIRD
step, and saw that he had lighted q
match and was CROPPING his way to-
wards the dining room door.
At this juncture Mr. Beldon's doc,
was opened. who is that?" he
called.
"lt is only 1, sir" said Elder wynne
II am searching for some sugar. Ny
cough is troublesome. 1t is too bac
to wake you all up
At this came running from the
! stairs. 1 was surprised to see Mr.
Beldon. "You at home?" said I. "Oh
l wanted to call you some time ago
J ii had only known it!''
J Wanted to call me?" He locke,
annoyed and surprised.
Elder Wynne gave me a quick
warning glance.
"1es-yes-I wanted to-to-cal
you. Elder Wynne has coughed-
coughed-so-so-coughed So"
Il have not heard Elder Wynn,
cough" said he, turning swiftly OF
the old man,-"at least not until JUS
now"
$50 perisistently," I continued
"that was Enthusiastically
| Elder Wynne was now so convulsee
| with his cough, that turned to tn,
J sideboard and got out the sugar
!, bowl. 1 then went to the water-cool
} er and filled glass half full o
! water, and dropped some Jumps o
sugar within it"
Mr.. Beldcn watched me narrowly
HAS anything alarmed you, Mrs
Brathwaite? You seemed so upse
just now, So"
"Oh, no." said I. 81 never felt safe
nor more courageous than have TO
the last few moments"
Finding you in the house, my dea