Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1902-07-04

want you to tell me whether that is
exactly the state in which you left
the cupboard when you went to it
last"
1t had needed only very few mo.
ments for him to decide that this was
not the woman of whom he was in
search. Stout, broad, clumsy Of move.
ment and heavy Of tread, the robust
figure before him had certainly none
Of the nimbleness of the thief of whom
he was in search. He had had expe.
rience enough to know how to assume
an entirely reassuring manner with
persons Of her stamp, and it took hef
only few minutes to recover her self
possession and to answer him intelli.
gently.
"Why, no it amt" she said, with 70.
bust surprise and yehemence. "The
things as been knocked down an
trampled Oh. an all my cloths mixed
up. why do you think SIR" she went
on with round eyes, that the thief
ITSELF has been in here?'
And she looked back at her broOms,
her pals and her cloths with a mix.
ture Of amazement, fear and respect.
well, 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 a 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?" hi
went or, in JOcular tone.
Seen the thief! Lor, no, sir. If he's
been in the house he must have goi
out again pretty quick, for 1 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"
"The poor young lady was fright.
ened, I'm afraid, by the comnotion?"
ooh, well, we're used to these set.
cuts by this time" replied Meg, philo.
s0phically. Miss Nell did look very
white an faint-like, an she was all of
a tremble, poor thing, when she heard
about the fuss. So master packed her
off to the coloneps, and told her as she
was to stop there till he sent for her."
1.-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
ly satisfied at having tapped the fount
Of Meg's loquacity. II should have
thought she was too much of q fine
lady for that, your Miss Nell"
'Ah, 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 instilled 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 a barrow, and
paid his bill and 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 it
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 a slack time of
day at the inn, and there was nobody.
about of whom he could ask 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 he could he saw the robust figure
of Meg at the side door. She was
shaking out cloth. She started and
uttered little gasp at sight Of him.
why" said he, getting, by dexter
GUS movement, between her and the
door. whats the matter? You look
scared at the sight of me-"
"Well, don't want to have any
more to say to you, and that's the
fact" replied stalwart Meg, with her
hands Oh her hips. ut seems you're
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