The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-02-07
The Minister'S Wife
BY MRS. HENRY WOOD

two points, If you will give me pen and
ink, 10 which your attention mUs- be
/ chiefly directed, and thea If you think
you can master them, III mention you 10
the so!ic.ors.'
IF Jour loEdship will be the trouble
Of sitting TO mS desk, lou will ind all
you require AZ hand" said Charles, ris-
ing TO pilot him TO il.
DosA sat the bishop, and wrote rap
/ idly for five minutes. Have you some
blo.:ing paper?' he asked.
The blotting paper Is under the paper
Tou are writing upon" explained Charles,
and the bishop drew il out.
Bending his head, he stared at ii
through his spectacles. Then, turning his
severe face to Charles, he spoke in a tone
that ought TO have annihilated him.
DO you give this 10 NE 10 use, sir:'
Charles advanced quickly. looked and
stood COMPOUNDED with yexation. On the
olotting pad, white and clean. for the
top sheet must have been taken Of, was a
fancy drawing in pen and ink, bold, clear
and well done, of half dozen billet girls
in very airy costumes. The color few
TO Charles face: he knew what the
bishop was. What on earth, would he
judge. must be his private pastimes, If
he could adorn his professional desk with
such sketches, and set a bishop down 10
regale his eyes with them?
Charles tore of the sheet in a heat.
Il assure you, my lord. on my word of
honor, that know not how those-those
things came there. Some one must have
been here last night unknown TO me, and
taken the liberty TO leave a remembrance
behind him"
Allow me to recommend you 10 burn
it, sir" said the scandalized divine.
YES, but | will first Of all endeavor
10 identify the offender" was Charles
answer.
Up rose the bishop, his head erect.
Charles attended him downstairs, but his
lordship did not shake hands with him.
Back tore Charley, two stairs at time.
Joe's mother, who lived near at hand,
and came in to attend TO the work at
stated times, was then removing the break
fast things.
Were you here last night while Joe
was out, Mrs. TuffT'
Yes, sir. | had some cleaning"
Who came inE" interrupted Charles.
Nobody came, sir; not a single soul"
"Who has been into this room this
morning?" continued Charles.
"Only me, sir, TO put it to rights"
Did you do this, them asked Mr..
Baumgarten, pushing the sheet of blot
ting paper under her eyes.
Me-" cried Mrs. Turf, who was a
sharp-faced little woman in a neat stuff
gown and white cap. You must be jok-
ing, sir. When saw it there in busting,
| thought what odd-looking ladies they
was. ASd / put the writing paper upon
'em to cover 'em up Bit
Charles reflected. Joe wouldn't do
it?" he remarked.
"Joe" said Mrs. Tuf in astonish-
ment. why, sir, Joe would not dare do
such thing as that. He couldn't, either.
Joe haven't no talent that way. When
he was a little one, I'D give him a pencil
and piece Of paper and tell him TO draw
the cat, but it would come out more like
a pump"
That just brings us round to my ar
gument, that some one else has been in
the ROOM" said Charles. Now / want
to find out who that is"
"It must have been done in the day
time yesterday, sir"
The last thing, before dinner yester-
day evening. after Mr.. Clay left, wrote
a note at the table and used this blot
ting pad" returned Mr.. Baumgarten /;
'and left it as i used it, much marked
with ink. Did Mr.. Clay come in last
night for any purpose"
mo, sir. And il he had. he'd not
have left them disrespectful things behind
him."
That was true enough. But Mr.. Clay,
joint clerk to Charles and another young
barrister, might have let some one in who
had so amused himself; some lawyers
clerk with a hasty brief, who possessed
more skill than discretion. However, the
woman persisted that no person whatever
had entered, and Charles Baumgarten
thought IL a mystery which seemed, for
the moment, incapable of solution.
Sitting down TO his desk, he began to
look over some papers. A few minutes
later, and Charles had occasion to open
one of the deep drawers on either side
the desk. He took his bunch of keys
from his pocket and fitted one into the
lOCk. Dut IL WOulu not open. ue lOCk
had evidently been tampered with-and
he had left it in perfect condition the
previous evening. Mrs. Turf was called
in again.
"Will you believe now that some one
has been at mischief in the room?' de-
manded her master. They have been at
the drawers; cannot unlock them"
She stood, somewhat incredulous; and
Mr.. Baumgarten, taking another key, tried
the opposite drawer. 1t opened readily,
but he gazed at it as il transfxed. Look
here" he sharply uttered.
The woman advanced and stood behind
his chair. 1t was full Of papers and
parchments, all in a mass of inextricable
confusion.