Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-09-16
MYSTERIOUS MISS DACRES
BY Mrs. SCHUYLER CRoWNINsHIELD.
os,y.sAs 1sa, By u Apy.ass.. c..

eyer aunt, pro'bly."
my aunt! You know well enough
Glorianna, that my aunt cannot move
from her bed. Everything that is
done for my aunt l have to do"
bright thought struck me. Now
why shouldn't you take some of the
care of my aunt off my shoulders
while you stay?"
Guess she wouldn't hev me-" re-
piled Glorianna; "but I'll see about
it when I've done a-stirring of this
mess"
There's one thing won't have in
| this house," said l, looking at the
cowhide, land that's
"Lor'," said Glorianna, following
my eyes with hers-'he likes it,
do you, Baldwin," said I. He
was peeping in at the door.
"Pshaw," said he, "she can't hurt
a fly"
We'll see," said Gloriama, still
stirring.
Haven't you the spunk of fea?''
said 1. starting up in rage. "Bald-
win, why don't you have her bound
over to keep the peace?"
"Pshaw, she don't hurt none. I'd
jess as lives she'd amuse herself's
naut"
DO you know who was up in my
room just now, Baldwin?'
His wife gave him quick glance,
whether of caution or threat I could
not decide.
"How sh'd I know? I've ben a
splittin' wood ever sence 1 got up
baldwin," said !, II must go to
town. See to things until get back,
will you?" And again started with
the broken parasol and walked quick
ly on my way. When I got nearly
into the village, saw man coming
towards me on bicycle. AS he
neared me. he slowed his wheel and
jumped off.
"Here are my certificates" he said.
l saw that it was my lower-back,
and put out my hand to take the pa
pers, which he held towards me. I
opened them, standing i'll the middle
w pAiS sunny Aoa1. llG IcGu.
This is to certify that Holdsworth w.
Beldon is perfectly reliable and trust
worthy. He has been in my employ for
over four years. and there is no one in
my office whom consider more faithful
to my interests.
(Signed) walton Il. G. Haight,
Editor of the Star Union"
OF course l knew that Mr.. Haight
IL -
turned to the other, which was
written very differently from the
first. Mr.. Haight's recommendation
was in strong, heavy hand. an up
right hand which wobbled first this
way and then that. The second rec
concentration was written in fine,
thin hand, almost a lady's hand, and
certified, very much in the same Ian
guage, that Mr.. Beldon was to be
trusted with almost anything that
this or any other world possessed.
This was signed "John Everett"
Somehow the names gave me much
comfort, for l knew all about their
owners, and felt confidence in the
young man, my prospective boarder,
from that moment.
every well,' said l. SEQ on to the
house. I will be back soon. I'm just
going in town for locksmith."
"Indeed?" he laughed. what has
happened? The young woman hasn't
locked herself in the cellar, has
she?"
NO" said I, ''but I've broken the
lock of my desk. BY the way, the
young woman won't trouble you for
long. She's going away
Going away?" His look was one
of incredulity. ''That's-that's bet
ter than l expected. What's the rea-
SOM"
swell, don't like some things
about her."
81 hope l haven't frightened her
away" said my new boarder. II
should be sorry to make you lose
the rent of the room on my account.
What's she done?"
'Wen, don't want to prejudice
you"
"Oh, you can't prejudice me. l
always judge for myself. What's she
done?"
well, she was out at the gate last
night must have been all of II
o'clock-with some other man. She
says he's her brother, but do not
believe it,"
DON'T" said the man. II wouldn't.
No one with n particle of sense could.
The idea of girl talking at the
gate at 12 o'clock with her own
brother! Why, it's beyond reason.
It's a waste of raw material. !
wouldn't believe word she says If
she tells such stories as that. You
see, if that man was her own brother,
he might as well have been at some
other gate with some other fellows
sister, and the other girls brother
might as well have been at your gate
| with your young woman. Well, !
hope you'll get rid of her. 1 won't say
by fair means or foul. I suppose
she's got her living to make as well
MS the rest of us, but I'd rather she'd
make it elsewhere than in your low.
er front, if I'm to have the lower
back"
"She's very quiet thus far" said
thinking regretfully of the money
spent and the bills locked up in the
desk.
I'm glad of that! No cackline
girls yet, Ell? Well, I'm sure don't
! mind her talliinm with har l,,o4La.