The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1907-04-24
Below Stairs
By Will a. Page.
sssssssssssss eeseee esss
BY Will \. Page.

IN sRiiN, lilt tNAltlt WIS illtANAliPdN
reading the newspaper out loud. ON
the other side of the Kitchen table Nor
timer, the eoachman. WIS nending his
whip
The daring robbers then bundled Up
their booty and decamped." the pom
pouS butler read very loudly. leaving
the detective officers hatllcd without Il
elew A. there was no evidence that
the doors bad been forced or locks
tempered with, the detectives We're at
first Inclined 10 suspect the servants.
but MS Mr.. Nalce;t declared he had the
utmost faith IN them the police were
not allowed 10 search ileir rooms.
Mortimer ehlieiouS of the newspaper
item. did not reply when Evans stop
ped reading II thpnsh expecting some
comment.
4 say Mortimer. old ehap, hat isn't
such bad haul is it, The paper
says they got away with S2.om wortl
of silver"
Bad haul" qurred Mortimer.
what are you talking about =
Talking about" repeated Evans,
Disguised Why. what else should
be talking about but the big robbery
down the street at old man Waleotf.
house"
"Oh, I'm sorry. | didn't kmow You
were reading anything of Importance"
Il should say it WAS OF Importance.
As the servants there are suspected,
that naturally places us in an awkward
position
What de you mean"
aren't we all servaHtSf And if one
Of the fashionable families takes up Il
fad don't all the other fashionable fam
lilies follow Snita''
Nonsense, Evans You're an ole
fool"
Il tell yolt. persisted Evans. that II
the Walcett servants are suspected OF
dishonesty th2 servants of every fash.
ionablc family in the city will have &c
clear their characters
Why, We are we'll known 10 ths
missus have been with her six
years. vet YOU dare Aud Mortimer
rose. tourishing his whip
Il don't mean YOU" snoercd Evans
IFS Miss Charlotte who is more like
ly TO be suspected.
Mortimer resisted HE inclination tC
strike the fellow. though he WAS strong
ly tempted The doorbell sounding
then. Evans. with n muttercd impreea-
ton. rushed to Il small mirror hanging
on the kitchen wall. prmpcd himself
and disappeared, bowling deliberately &c
Charlotte, the maid newly come I'd
service, who happened To be entering
the Kitchen nj that particular moment.
Nov, then, You stupid broke in
Charlotte, Won almost made me droI
the chinawarc.
Charlotte bowed, without speaking
to Mortimer. who commenced to mend
the whip with redoublcd anxiety. She
busted herself at the gas stove making
chocolate. and neither spoke Il word
for several moments. Then Evans
broke in hurriedy upon them.
Its Il detective he cried, rushing
across The room toward the door which
led into the front basement Il seen
it on the card he sent up 10 the missus.
"A. J.. Walker, Detective Ilcadquar-
ters;' that's what the card said" He
opened the door into the basement,
But what does he WANT" inquired
Charlotte.
That's Just what I'm going to find
out There's II furnace pipe in there
that is loose, aud 1t opens right under
where the detective Is sitting | can
hear every word" And he disappeared
into the cellar.
Pm afraid Mr. Evans is not trou-
bled by scruples. Mr.. Mortimer" said
Charlotte, turning to the gas stove
again. Il always thought buffers Il
bad lot"
I'm glad You think So began Nor
timer.
why, Mr. Mortimer, what do you
meanf'
'Of course one cant be jealous of
butler" broke in Mortimer, dropping
the whip.
jealous? Well, / like that" with a
toss of the head
Perhaps shouldn't say Jealous"
continued Mortimer. abashed. But,
YOU see. | wanted to ask YOU
"Well?"
IF you'd spend your next evening
out with me, unless you have some
other engagement"
"NeNt week, GA Thnrsdayf' said
Charlotte eoquettlshly. NO, don't
think | have anything on my card
Then I'll put you down for next
Thursday, Miss Charlotte Thanksp
Did you say it was for the grand
opera, Mr. MortimerE'
NO, Miss Charlotte; for the coach-
mems bail
"Thc coachmen's ballT' repeated
Charlotte enthusiastically. "Oh, how
jolly, I've always wanted to go to a
coachmen's bail. LISTS rather ex.
elusive, isn't itf"
Il should say So" answered Morii-
mer proudly. only those who drive
for the west end families are eligible"
The sudden boiling over of the milk
interrupted these pleasant anticipa
lions of future happiness, and MORT
mer was dispatched poSthaste to the
dining room to secure some chocolate,
Charlotte, left alone, reached for hci
handkerchief and found a letter in the
pocket of her apron. Evidently she
was deeply Interested, for she read
and reread tie letter several times
Then she united the handkerchief dis.
closed large diamond ring and tried
II on several fingers.
"Cracky. \ diamond" cried Evan
entering suddenly from the cellar
Charlotte hastily returned the ring to
her pocket.
Its my own" she declared at
was given to me by dear old lady
who has just died.
stuff and nonsense, broke In the
man roughly. ITS the diamond some
one stole from the mlssus. | heard all
about II through the stove pipe The
detective is looking for it now. He's
going TO search the house"
But it's mine, | say
NAh l.