Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-07-01

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SHE SPENT ALL THE AFTERNOON
TRYING TO WRITE A LETTER
umphantly. "Ah, my boy, you'll have
to revise your facts to fit these circuan-
stances"
The detective checked him with a
warning look, and Immediately addressed
the maid:
"You say Mrs. Stackhouse went out
last evening Do you know why?"
Well, you may be sure do. If not,
I can guess" returned the maid. "She
spent all the afternoon trying to write
letter. She must have torn up dozen,
for the waste basket was half full of
scraps. And she went to the post Of
fee and put it in with her own hand,
for Moffett saw her."
Indeed" said Lamm; "and we, I
suppose, have no means of knowing for
whom that letter was meant?"
Yes, indeed, we have,' returned the
maid, with an air of self-conscious
shrewdness. II happened to be in at
the time she was going out 1t was a
big square, cream-white envelope, such
as she always writes on. and was writ
ten to Thornton Stackhouse, Adams
House, Boston
Umph! And so she at last answered
him, Thomas" he whispered in his
friends ear; 1--WE must have that let
ter or the ones that she didn't send. It
may give US the whole story"
Thomas, nodded.
/ And this, suppose, is all?" asked
the detective, turning again to the
young woman.
Mollie White shrugged her shoulders
and actually Uttered in her delight.
Well, l guess not. Well, guess
not she exclaimed, and enjoyed the
huge anticipation and wonder to be
read in the faces of the two men.
"Mollie, you're jewel" said John
Lamm, with genuine admiration. IF
you keep on this way I'll get brother
Johns salary raised. Now, what is it %
Well, you see, sir, to begin with, Miss
HARDWOOD went out last evening to visit
friend of hers, and while she was
gone Mrs. Marion had a visitor"
Was this before Or after the letter
was written?"
This was after it was written, but
before 1t was posted, sir. He only stayed
half an hour, and afterward she went
right and carried the letter."
by he, of course you mean the friend
OF the family Mr.. Fetridge?''
The girl tossed her head with a con-
temptuous sniff
Friend of the family, indeed! Well.
the family with him consists of one per-
son, I can tell you; and that person
don't scarcely be in position to re-
turn his affections
Eth? Eth? What's this?" said Lamm
Loye-making!"
No wonder you're surprised, MT
Lamm, and she married woman!
Well, you may be sure was; and If it
wasn't for you I'd give my notice at
once. Never till last tsight did really
suspect the baseness of such a mon
ster; but then saw with my own eyes
and heard with my own ears"
SO you listened to their converse
ton, did your"
And what harm? II it was me they
suspected of thieving they'd have no
hesitancy, ladies and gentlemen though
they consider themselves to be. Be-
fore this, you see, haven't a-dared to
risk it. on account of Miss Harwood, but
last night, the old lady being out and no.
body on The floor but myself, just
quietly sided up to the portiere and
peeked in. You see, it was warm, and
the light In the hall hadn't been turned
on, and it was SO dark you could scarce
ly see your hand, but the glass doors
leading from the parlor to the yeranda
were opened, and the missis and her
fine gentleman were sitting in the full
stream of moonlight
"Umha! How interesting you are.
Miss White! Describe their attitude
as near as you can remember"
well, sir, she was fidgety and drawn
away; but he was tender and kept com
tng nearer on the sofa. You know what
the obstacles are?" said she. 'Andifthere
were no obstacles? 2 says he. oh, Rich
ard, am very wretched woman!
says she, which was true enough in all
conscience. She kept tapping her foot
0R the CARPET, with her face turned