The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1904-08-11
Loretta. the Jeffreys' maid

terest in tho man most threatened by
my visit. Was it. could il he, on her
own account? Recalling what | had
heard whispered about the station con
cernlng Il maid Of the Jcfrrcys who al
ways seemed on the point of saying
something which never really left her
lips, stopped her as she was about to
slip upstairs and quietly asked
Are you LOrctta|'
The way she turned. the way she
look ed at me, MS she gave me Il short
Affirmative and then quickly proceed
ed on her way, convinced me that my
colleagues We're right as to her being "A
woman who had some cause for dread.
ing police Interference. | instantly
made up my mind that here was a
mine TO be worked and that | knew
just the demure little soul best equip
ped to act the part of miner.
In moment she came back. and
had a chance to note again her pretty
but eXpressionleSs features, among
which the restless eyes alone bespoke
character or decision.
MIR. Jeffrey Is IN the back room
upstairs" su" announced. He says
for you To come up
"ls il the room Mrs. Jeffrey used to
occupy?' | asked, with open curiosity.
as | passed her.
An involuntary shudder proved that
she was not without feeling. So did
the quick disclaimer:
"No no, Those rooms are closed
He occupies The one Miss Tuttle had
before she went away
"Oh. then. Miss Tuttle is gomez"
Loretta disdained 10 answer. She
had already said enough 10 cause her
10 bite her lip as she disappeared down
the basement stair Decidedly the boys
were right. An uneasy feeling followed
any conversation with This girl. Yet,
while there was slyness in her man
Her, there was a certain frank honesty
visible in II. too, which caused me TO
think that If she could ever be made to
speak her evidence could be relied on.
Mr.. Jeffrey was sitting with his
back TO the door when | entered. but
turned as ! spoke his name and held
out his hand for the note carried. He
appeared 20 shrink from observation
and shifted uncasily as long az stood
in front of him. though he said nothing
and did not lift his eyes from the letter
he was perGSlug til he heard me step
back to the door ! had purposely left
open ana soitly closed it, Then he
glanced up with keen If not an
alarmed look, which seemed an eXag-
gerated one for the occaslon-that is,
If he had no secret TO keep.
do you suffer so from draftsW he
asked, rising in a way which in itself
was a dismissal.
/ smiled an amused denial. then,
with the simple directness / thought
most likely to win Inc his confidence,
entered straight upon my business in
these plain words;
Pardon me, Mr.. Jeffrey, have
something 10 say which Is not exactly
fitted for the ears Of servants" Then
as he pushed his chair suddenly back
added reassuringly: 1T Is not q po-
lice matter, sir. hut an entirely per
sonal one. II may strike you as i'm
pOrtant, and It may not. Mr.. Jeffrey,
was the man who made the unhappy
discovery in the Moore mansion which
has plunged this house into mourning. y
This announcement startled him and
produced visible change In his man
ner. His eyes few first to one door
and then TO another. as IL 1t were ht
who feared intrusion now.
Il beg your pardon for speaking on
20 painful topic" ! went on as soor