Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-09-30

When l went to cali Miss Dacres to
tea, she said, "Who swept my room
this morning?"
81 told you that l should" said I,
sand l did. Isn't it done to your
satisfaction"
well, not exactly; I'm rather par
ticular. I've been moving the things
to see if it was clean, and I'm sure
you never swept behind the bureau
NO" l confessed, 81 didn't"
"Why not?"
well, the bureaus heavy piece
of furniture, and l am not very
strong, and you would not allow me
to bring Glorianna in, as you said
well, it was just as well to-day"
said she, because found that some
things had slipped down behind out
of the crack at the back of the
drawer, and l shouldn't care to have
anyone see them, but please sweep
there next time, even if you have to
call in Vinegar Cruet to help you
move the furniture"
very WELL" said /, "since you give
me permission"
II feel so much better for my
Tlde,' said she. Pm going out every
day on my wheel. think l shall
take my lunch somewhere tomorrow
and come home late, as l did to-day"
And now | was determined to get
those letters, or copies of them, if
should be imprisoned for it. lay
awake far into the night, thinking
the matter over. L determined not
to speak to the ladies until l was
certain. The next morning she was
off, and at about IL O'Clock l was
putting the finishing touches to her
room-I mean the ordinary work of
the day. She had not gone more
than mile before l began to move
the bureau out from the wall.
had edged it out little way when
I heard the gate click, and pushing
the bureau hastily back, l stood up
right, and began to dust again the
immaculate top of the old piece of
furniture. AS l did so, / raised my
eyes to see Miss Dacres looking in
through the open window.
"There you are, busy as ever" said
she. "Just hand me my little coat,
will you? l forgot it. There it is,
hanging over the rocker. That's it;
thank you. Now I'm really off," and
she was.
wondered if I looked conscious
as she stood at the window When
l was sure that she was well away,
l again pushed the bureau out into
the room, and then / leaned down
and began to work at the drawer.
While jerking and pushing l heard
n rustic. She could not have pushed
the letters back very securely the
day before, for, lying flat on the
floor, again perceived that packet.
l took it up hastily, and withdrawing
one letter, l restored the packet
through the wide crack and then
pushed the bureau back again.
then wondered, with the guilty con-
science of novice in deceit. if Mr..
Beldon could by any possibility be
at home. But of course he was. My
day was his night. L went to the
door between the rooms and put my
eye to the keyhole. The keyhole
was dark. 1 could see nothing. l
went out of the door, and round
through the hall, and tried the door
of my lower-back. what? What?
Coming" l heard. He was rather
slow in coming, and waited. Final
ly he opened his door. | glanced
at the keyhole as 1 stood there. He
looked curiously at me as | did so.
He seemed to be trying to repress
smile.
A piece of dark cloth was pinned
so that it hung over the key.
$50 you think l am very secretive?"
said he. 81 have no fancy for having
that girl in there peeking at me-"
81 am surprised to see you at
home" said l. in a sort of embar-
rassment.
Surprised? Why? Didn't 1 say I
should be at home during the day?"
yes" said I, $50 you did. l de-
ClitIC L SSU 81 SolluSSQ Wllu YOU
and the lower-front-Mi Dacres,
/ mean-and my invalid aunt, and
Badly and Glorianna, not to speak of
the Hall, that THAT don't know
which is the day-bird and which the
night-bird."
"Ah, the Hall! That's just exactly
something / want to speak to you
about. 1 hear that they have been
putting the newspapers on the case,
and they're sort of detectives, you
know. l told old Haight that l was
not willing to do any such work, es-
pecially as you had asked me not to,
though l didn't tell him anything
about you, of course. l am in NOR
tai dread that he will find out that
L am located out here close to the
Hall. Then he will think it the
easiest thing in the world for me tc
write the article he wants. OF
course, l could do it, but then
should not be keeping my compac
with you. l don't want him to know
anything about it, so, if some re
porter comes out here, please dom
mention me or my connection will
the Star Union"
Certainly not" said I; 81 appre
ciate your kindness very much"
You are awfully good" said Mr.
lb1ll ,lo% I.