Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-11-25

killed, now?" quc-ied -.ancy as she shot
the bolt into place. Eu. her mistress took
no notice OF TIE question
Did you see this on the bottom of your
fancy loaf, Nancy" asked Mrs. Kingsley,
IN stage whisper, with her words far
apart.
No, ma'am," was the surprised answer.
An, has the bastely thing gone an burned
itself now?"
mo, Nancy" exclaimed her mistress,
"but sincerely wish it had-burned itself
up. Look here!" and she held the fateful
Pilgrim Fathers combine close to the
servants defective vision.
In a second it all flashed over Nancy's
keen inner perception. But she stood
fright in betwixt dishonorable discharge
and a fine home for the winter" as she
afterward explained, land it really was
no place to tell the truth at ALL
20, can't imagine" she said, gravely
and mysteriously. why, it must be a
warnin', ma'am," crossing herself hurried
ly. "Shure, the day for its writin' it is,
though / can't make it out meself, ma am"
and she bent attentively and soemnly over
the map of Ireland as distinctly traced on
the loaf.
"Well, can," and Mrs. Kingsley put the
loaf down on the table with SILVER.
can is it some vans death, ma am, that
We fear?" asked the curious Nancy, feel
ing sure that it was something more seri
GUS than an outline of her native isle.
mo, Nancy, but it is about as serious"
and the excited woman shivered again.
"The saints deind us!" and Nancy Ell
len stood aghast.
Mr.. Kingsley was in the library dis
cussing a scheme of money-making with
Tom, and Mrs. Kingsley sent for them.
"The misthress be wantin yes to come
right off and onravel black mysteryW
cried the cook, breaking in upon them.
What" and both men sprang to their
feet at the unusual summons. In trice
they, too, were bending over the Pilgrim
Fathers affair with open-eyed astonish-
ment.
"That's devil of motel" blurted Tom,
irreverently. "How the deuce came it on
a loaf Of bread?" Strengthening up and
looking straight at Nancy Ellen, who stood
behind his mother, mutely making the sign
of the cross on her heaving bosom.
"I'm shure it's all black mystery to
me-" she said, answering his look. II
couldn't be afther maxim thin high-ro-
gliphics if I would, and wouldn't any,
way"
Alicia came in presently and stared at
the quartette of horribles in bold relief
on the innocent loaf. care we in the times
of Cotton Mather?" she asked, with white
lips. But no one could answer, and the
dumfounded "1ot" regarded the bold
scrawl as an avenging angel.
Mr.. Kingsley was the first to arrive at
conclusion. Walking slowly over to the
window, he looked across to the Upton
cottage, showing its low roof over the
ridge of stubble in a pleading way. A far
away ancestral inspiration touched him and
throb of latent superstition in his being
responded
II take it that we are to obey the warn.
ing" he said. "We've been flying in the
face of Providence"
When the family withdrew to discuss the
matter farther the cook carried the Pill
grim Fathers loaf to Bessie and confessed
for them and herself as well.
'You blessed old blunderer," cried the
girl. "Harley's letter WAS in the tin and
the heat and homemade ink did the rest;
but why did you not confess to mamma?".
can be turned off afore the bakin' was
cold?" exclaimed Nancy Ellen. Saints be
merciful!'
The next day Harley Upton-o occupied the
place of honor at the Kingsley's Thanks.
| giving dinner. But the Pilgrim Fathers
loaf was not served.
BY order of the head of the family it was
buried in the garden the night previous.
j