The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-04-09

Neither of us made reply but trudged
on in gloomy silence
Without any formality or explana.
ton produced the key and opened
the front door of the old house.
stepped inside and lighted the hall
lamp. Then as they followed me /
closed the door
"Dr. Squires is not at home tonight"
said Miss Stetson. ANA l do not see
why we should enter his house in this
way. Where did you get the key and
where is his old servant?"
"One thing at a time, Miss Stetson,"
l replied. Il will explain everything
in Il few moments. Please be seated
in the hall until light more lamps"
left them in the hallway while
| bounded up the stairs to see if the old
servant was all right. l unlocked the
room and glanced in. He was propped
up in the same attitude on the bed,
| and his bandages We're secure.
| l closed and locked the door and
| turned then to the treasure room.
| put two or three extra lights in this
|
would glisten on the silverware and
| jewels. | drew off all the coverings of
| the stolen goods and even arranged
many of them so they would show off
| to the best advantage. With the lights
| shining down upon them they made a
| feast for the eyes that was dazzling
| 1t was spectacular effect that graft
| fed my little vanity.
| l returned to the hall, where l had
left my two companions, and said:
"If you will accompany me upstairs,
l will make all this mystery plain
They both eagerly followed pe. even
Miss Stetson showing more than her
ordinary curiosity. She preceded Mr..
| JafInson, and as she reached the door
of the room l threw it open and said:
Behold Miss Stetson. DR.. Squires'
secret! Here is the mystery which he
has safely guarded from you and all
the people around here"
She stepped into the room, shaded
her eyes with one hand and then step
| ped back with little cry of amaze
ment.
"What does this all mean? What
beautiful things? Where did they
come from?'
| Examine some of them, Miss Stet-
! son." l said. Lock at this handsome
silver teapot and water pitcher"
She stepped forward and took them
out of my hand and then nearly drop
| ped them in her agitation
'Why, they are mine! They have
my mothers initials on. They are the
ones stolen from my house."
Yes, they belong to you, and if you
will look around you will see plenty of
others that YOU may recognize-not
only those which belonged to you. but
TO your neighbors'
She picked up one after another.
handling them with such eagerness
that she nearly dropped them Then
she turned helpless toward me and
| Mr.. Jaimson.
What does it mean, Mr.. Jaimson?"
she asked in trembling voice.
THAT we have at last run the robbers
to EARTH" he replied sternly
'Who are they?" she gasped while
/
surely not-Dr."-
Yes, Miss Stetson, fear DR.. Squires
is one Of the guilty parties"
TT can't be. How could be do such
a thing? I-I-don't understand it."
| She leaned against the wall for sup
port. Mr.. Jaimson put his arm around
| her waist.
I or NO <viv,0 10
feelings" he said tenderly. "You must
be brave. There is more to do tonight.
We must tell you the whole story, and
You must be equal to the emergency.
It is difficult
l interrupted him, by touching his
arm. The sound Of, wheels on the
gravelly drive had attracted my atten-
tlOn.
Somebody is coming" said. go
down to the office. l will follow YOU"
l turned the lights out quickly, locked
the door and bounded down the stalks
two at time. Had the doctor unex-
| pectedly returned earlier than he had
| promised?
When reached the Office, showed
| lHciu llllO Il ClOSel SDttI OIL IrOm the
rest of the room with soft, sheeny cur
| tains. The place was barely large
enough for all of us to squeeze in. |
warned them to keep quiet until | gave
them permission to speak Through
the soft curtains we could see any one
i'll the office, but nobody could see us.
We had barely closeted ourselves
when the sound of key in the lock of
the front door announced the coming
| OF the owner of the house. Heavy
steps in the hall followed. and the voice
OF Dr.. Squires could be heard saying:
l. Il suppose my man has retired,
.Charles. told him not to wait up for
me. Ah, he has left light burning
for me in the Office. 1t always seems
more cheerful to have a light waiting
for you"
He entered the Office, followed by
my master. After turning up the light
into brighter blaze he removed his
overcoat.
mo, Charles; you're wrong in imag-
| iDiDU that | tlo NOT holm vou IN p,y