Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1907-04-06
The Minister'S Wife
BY MRS. HENRY WOOD


severe face to Charles, he spoke in a tone
that ought to have annihilated him.
DO you give this to me to use, sirT'
Charles advanced quickly, looked and
stood COMPOUNDED with vexation. On the
blotting 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 ballet 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, IL
he could adorn his professional desk with
such sketches, and set a bishop down to
regale his eyes with them2
Charles tore off 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 remembrance
behind him."
ALLOW me to recommend you to burn
it, sir" said the scandalized divine.
''Yes but | will first of all endeavor
to 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 a 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. Tuffr'
Eyes, sir. l had some cleaning"
who came inn" interrupted Charles.
Nobody came, sir; not a single soul"
"Who has been into this room this
morning" continued Charles.
only me, sir, to put 1t to rights"
ibid you do this, then?" asked Mr.
Baumgarten, pushing the sheet of blot
ting paper under her eyes.
me !" cried Mrs. Turf, who was
sharp-faced little woman in a neat stuff
gown and white cap. You must be jok-
ing. sir. When l saw it there in busting,
| thought what odd-looking ladies they
was. And l put the writing paper upon
EN- to cover 'em up a bit"
Charles reflected. Joe wouldn't do
it," he remarked.
Joe !" said Mrs. Turf in astonish-
ment. why, sir, Joe would not dare do
such thing as that. lie 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
OH hof ole bo, -,
the ROOM" said Charles Now l want
to find out who that is"
ut must have been done in the day
time yesterday, SIR"
1.-THE last thing, before dinner yester-
day evening, after Mr.. Clay left, l wrote
a note at the table and used this blot
ting pad" returned Mr.. Baumgarten !;
land left it as l used 1t, much marked
with ink. Did Mr.. Clay come in last
night for any purpose?"
mo, sir. And if he had, he'd not
have left them dsrespectful 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 hasty brief, who possessed
more skill than discretion. However, the
woman persisted that no person whatever
had entered, and Charles Baumgarten
thought 1t mystery which seemed, fer
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. But it would not open. The lock
had evidently been tempered with-and
he had left 1t 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; l 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 If transfxed. Look
| here" he sharply uttered.
The woman advanced and stood behind
his chair. 1t was full of papers and
parchments, all in mass of inextricable
| confusion.
Now, listen, Mrs. Turf. Yesterday
evening, after l had written the note |
spoke of, before l sealed it, opened thi,
drawer to put parchment in; at thai
time it was in perfect order, and l locked
it and left 1t so. There is some mystery
| in all this"
Mrs. Turf could dispute facts no long
er; she had to give in to the evidence O
her own eyes. Sir" she said, what {
good thing it is that l was here las
night instead of young Joe. We nigh
have accused him of doing it for mis-
chief"
Il don't know that 1t Is a good thing,
significantly retorted her master. 9TH
fact must be that you dropped asleep las
night and let some one get in"
The woman was indignant at the insin
uation. Sir" returned she, I'D rattle
you accused me of doing it myself thai
say that. l don't think as much as sa
| do 1a..N TIL