Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-10-28
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MYSTERIOUS
MISS D.ACRES
BY h-s. Schuyler Crawri,slield.
Copyr,gh. l.cl, by j. u. Llp,lpoo,. Co.
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pictured little Johnny Allibone hav
ing mad the assurance to even ster
foot inside of Darlington Hall. "But
the regular doctor, always called in
by the family, is away, and we had
to take this young man or nothing
from where did he obtain you?"
AT the sisterhood just outside OF
the town." said she. 81 shall feel
very much mortified, naturally. to re.
turn there so late at night. Can
not stay until the morning? Thew
VIII think that the blame lies with
me, that | have committed some
breach Of etiquitte, or have made
some mistake in the case; really. it
is very mortify-"
NO one can be more sorry about
1T than l am, and than Miss Darling
ton herself is" said I. "She has com
missioned me to offer YOU" 1
began to open the pocket-book.
Does Miss Darlington think that
she can soothe my wounded honor
with money!" 1t seemed to me that
the subject did not call fer 30 much
algnihed anger, "No! kindly tell Miss
Darlington that could not accent
a penny at her hands. Good even
ing! l shall reckon with DR., ALI
bone for this" and she swept out
of the room.
II was all very unpleasant, extreme
~ So! What unpleasant things do
happen in this world! There was
Aunt Jane Mary, always considered
the soul of truth and probity, getting
out OF her bed and wandering round
the house at night. There was that
tiresome Elder Wynne. for I had be.
come very weary of Rob Jennings
ana his double personality, showing
me things that he said he had found
secreted in my cellar, Heaven knows
when, perhaps by those men who
had chloroformed Amaranthe; and
between Badly Tewner, and Bills be-
ing dead. and my almost wishing
that Glorianna was, felt that life
had become a pretty problem.
l sat me down upon the sofa, which
always stood against the fireplace
don't know why, but On these hot
days and nights theEe. was a pleasant
draughl across and under it un tho
chimney. lay my head back upen
the pillow, was tired, tired! Should
| sleeps raised my eyes and en-
countered the under side of the mar.
Bile slab that rested upon the two up
right slabs, and as looked my glance
fell upon the loosened one which Miss
Elizabeth had said, which in fact I
knew, concealed the case of rubiea.
The paper which had held It ip place
was gone, the least touch would
loosen it. shook the slab. 1t fell
forward against the sofa, | arose
in tremuloNs haste. and, pushing
away the sofa, lowered the slab upon
the floor. There was nothing behind
it. The cavity was empty!
l arose to my feet at once. Whom
should l suspect? The Sister of Char.
ity, of course. There MAS no me
else to snsBsst, except Miss Eliza
bethss maid, Katherine, and she had
lived in the family for ~ years. She
was as careful guardian of the
family honor and the family possess
sions as any born Darlington of
them all. Ny thoughts. try as 7
would, reverted ever to the Sister of
Charity, and l was quite right as
events will show. Just here | heard
Il shout. The sound of mems voices.
Then came piercing scream, sim
gle revolver-shot was fired, and then
| heard the sound of running feet.
The steps We're coming toward the
great door of the Hail. l ran swift
~ down the stairs, unbarred and un-
locked the door, for l heard Johns
voice among the rest, and Mr.. Bel
don's in mild protest. l came out up
on the broad top step of the stone
light in the brilliant moonlight. A
group Of people were below me. A
woman had just sprung upon the
lower step as / opened the door, and
had run little way upward.
NO use, JOSIE" said voice, which
| recognized as the voice of Bob Jen-
nings. All, it was the Sister of Char
ity whom he had captured. | was
right after all, He sprung up the
two or three steps, caught her in
his grasp, and snapped something up
on her wrists with click, and then
she gave another piercing scream
which had something of familiarity
in 1t.
remember hoping that she would
not awaken the ladies and Amaran-
the. All three would be terrified
poor, nervous little Amaranthe more
than all. Behind Jennings came two
men in policemen's uniform. and be-
tween them they dragged, almost
carried, man in the garb of priest.
His hat had fallen off, and could see
his tonsured head. His face was
smooth shaven, and pale from fright
and anger. They came, all of them,
part way UP the steps. l remember
what a dreadful picture they made
in the clear moonlight. 1t was ter
rible to me to see detective holding
4 woman as a prisoner, ard that wo-
man sister CT religious body. i
emelnbcr that Jennings said, NO.
10! don't go i'll here. The ladies are
H." l wondered how he knew. "Let
is go round to the kitchen door. Mrs.
Srathwaitc, can you let us IMP"
started back through the hall. l ran
to the back of the house, and through
several rooms and passages l took my
| hurried way until came to the hall
door leading into the kitchen apart
| ments. This l unbolted and I'M
| locked, and the detective, the two 20.