Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1904-08-05
ROCKVILLE MARYLAND. FRIDAY MORNING, AUGUST s. 1904.
Mrs. BIuebeard
BY IEoIo L. ForrsFTsr
Copyright, 1901, by T. o. Mcclure
SIS II antique?"


prelude OF troublous chords before she
answered the query.
81 suppose 1t is," she said Grossly.
Pm sure | can't tell whether it's real
antique or not. 1t looks old and dusty
and is all covered with heavy carvings,
II you meant that sort of thing. Why,
Bess" - she turned to the questioner
with sudden energy-'I wouldn't have
thought a thing about 1t II he had
shown 1t to me or even mentioned It,
the house, and I'd never have known
a thing about this II hadn't told Nora
to clean out that catch all, as she calls
1t, at the turn Of the garnet stairs
There is large windowless space over
the dining room wing, and 1t was in
there"
"And locked" concluded Bess posi-
lively.
Every drawer. | asked Nora how
long II had been there, and she said
II had come with Bob's trunks from
home while we were on our honey
moon. Pm not bit curious"- She
paused.
"Of course not" assented Bess warm
ly. "0r suspicious"
only interested"
Bess nodded her head wisely over
the Interested sigh
at IL kind Of mysterious Bob's not
telling you word about 1t and hiding
1t In there out Of sight, and then the
fact Of 1t being locked shows that some
one didn't want 1t opened"
AS she gave her conclusive point OF
logic Bess rose She was pretty and
petite, with a decisive tilt to her chin
and the confidence Of eighteen In her
blue eyes
"Of course you'll do as you please,
Sue, You always did. But II had
only been married a month and had
found a locked desk in my house that
l knew nothing Of l know what I'd
do"
Young Mrs Sheldon left the plano
with an impatient movement. She was
tall and slender beside her sister, and
NhO Nhui VI a Va ihV IN
visible in her dainty negllgee toilet of
white crepon.
81 believe absolutely in Bob" she de
clared
Bess raised her eyebrows and smiled
mlschlevously.
some old love letters or souvenirs that
he doesn't care to part with. Do you
remember Adelaide GiffordT
THAT WAS two years ago"
Bess laughed
"Goodby, sis Believe in Bob all you
want to. He's dear, and II It were
| I'd hunt a locksmlth all the same"
Mrs Sheldon stood at the window
and watched the small, girllsh figure
as It vanished down the street among
the huttering sn0whakes. II was dusk
The room was unlighted as yet, and
sudden sense OF loneliness stole over
her In the semigloom, the first she had
experienced since the joyous wedding
OF month ago. II the affinity Of
moods and colors we're true, she was
In harmony with the soft violet gray Of
the twilight tone that was stealing
over the world
New Years eve and Bob away. The
tears blinded her eyes. OF course It
was business. Merely n fIyinu trim To
New York for the firm, made all the
more imperative by his neglect OF bust
ness during the honeymoon. but she
felt a vague rebellion In her heart
against even the seuaration of a few
days.
And there WINS the locked desk.
Bess words and arguments ran
swiftly through her mind. Come 10
think. Bob had told her not to tire
herself out rummaRinR while he WAS
away. Rummaglng! That meant hunt
Ing In the garret and running the risk
OF discovering the desk.
And Bess had spoken OF Adelaide
Clifford. There had been talk Of a
summer engagement, she remembered.
Adelaide was older than Bob Some
way, she had always blamed her for
the romance and had looked upon Bob
az an lmpressionable youngster. But II
he had cherished her letters and keep.
sakes then he must have loved her.
Adelaide was engaged to old Mr.. Thur
ston now, Copper Thurston, the boys
called him. Perhaps after all Bob had
been jealous Of the copper made mil
lions and had married her In a ut OF
pique.
She turned from the window with
sudden determination. II lacked half
an hour OF dinner time. A lonely din.
ner for bride, she thought, az she
went upstairs. her first New Years eve
Perhaps by the time the midnight bells
rang out she might be making u few
strange resolutions for the coming year.
1t was dark ON the garnet stairs. She
stopped at the door Of Bob's dressing
room and took candlestick from the
mantel. II was II wedding gift, Jap
anese bronze griffin with Outspread
wings and spiral, slnuous tail.
As she held 1t to the gas jet to light
Al 81