Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-06-19

A
do YOU KNOW THAT GIRLS a
BOY?"
allowed to smoke in that barn, not
in the Judges time, nor yet in
.mine.'
'sHe might have done it all the
same" said I. eve have to shut our
eyes to a great deal in this world"
THAT'S true" said Aunt Jane
Mary. "But there's one thing you
can't shut if you try, not unless you
put clothespin on it, and that's your
nose; the smell came right up
through the foor.''
perhaps Mr.. Beldon came home
early, and it was he who smoked"
"He has no business to come home
early. He said"
ooh, yes, he has," said I. "He has
right to use the room at any time.
But Miss Dacres may even smoke
and not be boy"
"And look at her hair!" exclaimed
Aunt Jane Mary, "and her slang!
You'll never convince me she isn't a
boy until
Aunt, Jane Mary did not say when
say that what she had given voice to
stayed by me and had it's effect on
me to a certain degree.
''Miss Dacres has boys ways and
tones and manners; and her. hair!
If I ever saw boys hair, it is her
short, coarse curls."
"Well,'' said I, "boy or no boy, she
has got to stay until I find her mon
-
and when I come home I shall bring
either John Sommers or his advice
with me. You needn't mind any of
them coming up to wait on you,
there's nothing to steal" I sighed
again. Here's your bell" and I ran
hurriedly down the stairs.
Aunt Jane Mary's bell rang before
I got to the front door. I had put
it too near her. I went back wear
lily.
"Wen?" I exclaimed, somewhat
impatiently. fear.
''There's another thing. You run
| off so! I heard voices under my
window last night"
sob, dear! Aunt Jane Mary, don't
tell me of any more mysteries. I
am so tired of them. Her brother
came out to see her the night before
last. Perhaps he came out last night.
I can't help it. She may be liar or
murderess, anything in the wide
world. but here she must stay until
I find that money" and I ran down
| the stairs again and ran out of the
| house and out of the gate and half
way to the Hall.
| I found the people assembling in
the great hall, but Miss Elizabeth
sent Margot to tell me that she want
ed to see me upstairs, that I was to
come down with the family to the
library. went up as was bid. Miss
Elizabeth drew me into small room
off the chamber where her brother
had died. She kissed me, and whis-
| pered in my ear, They're here! I've
three years ago."
per.
| "The Jewels" she whispered. ''The
| Jewels, my dear mothers rubies.
| think those were what they were
| looking for, those wretches! And
think that in some way they com
passed my poor brother David's
DEATH She drew down the shade
closed the door, and locked it. Their
she went to the fireplace. Here
she said. ''This upright slab was al
ways loose. I often pulled it dow1
as a child. When. I went away,
drew it out So" she suited her &C
ton to her words. "I deposited thi:
case within and then sealed it VI
with a little plaster-of-Paris.
took the rubies from drawer in the
library, q secret drawer; we al
knew the secret. They were mine
as much as his, and you see now how
wise was. Had I not done so. thos.
wretchess would have had them to
day" She had in her hand the blu
velvet case which I knew SO well
She opened it, and even in>that dark
ened room the wonderful rubie
shone forth with a million dazzling
rays. There was a knock at tn
door. Miss Elizabeth hurriedly re
placed the case. Eyes, yes" sh
, called, 'I am coming; win be ther
at once.' She pushed the slab il
lplace. stuck folded piece Of pape