La Junta tribune., 1907-06-22
Kitty and
The Cabinet.

B, JOHN BEAUMONT.
,opsrish,, ,s.. hy Homer sprasue.

VINCENT cried ElvIa. bow can you
say such a thingy'
I'm simply putting Into words what
Miss Celeste has been limiting for the
last ten minutes" he cried.
Celeste may have been unfortunate
in her remarks" said John SoailSe
soothingiy. but she meant nothing OF
that sort"
Vincent Chester laughed. Ever since
Miss Celeste NoaiIes descended upon
her brothers household Mt the death OF
his wife she had fought Vincent. He
was boy then. but even then in love
with Elvia. and Miss Celeste had high
or ideas OF matrimony for her very
attractive niece.
This evening the two had been ex-
amining n ring and somehow. none
knew how. 1t had disappeared They
had hunted all over FOR IL. but II could
not lie found. and II was to ie expect
ed that Miss CeIeste's acid tongue
would but thInly veil her suspicious
thoughts.
"If Mr. Chestcr's conscience IL I'M
easy churkIed Miss Celeste, II can
understand that he takes tn himself
purely impersonal speeches
Vincent turned n, Mr. NoailcS VIII
you search me. slrT' he asked.
Nonsense! cried his host. Celeste.
for heavens sake keep sill. Ny hoy.
no ono believes that you would steal
anything-"1ccpt one thing.
He patted Eiyia's shoulder meaning
" to explain his last sentence aud
thereby added fuel to Miss ceieste's
fame
Il don't see why he should not be
searched" she fuDed The ring was
here moment ago, and now 1t IL
gone
You see,-' said Vincent Again
ask you Ia search me
MY boy, you were moi day old
when first took you in my arms
said Mr. NoaIles. Il would as soon
accuse myself of crime as To believe
II of you
We'll. II you won't said Vincent
briskly. IN have to do IT myself, I
guess
Rapidly he turned out the contents
Of his pockets. spreading them on the
table John Noailrs spraue forward a.
th"ngh To- stop him, but Elela Laid a
OBTAINING hand upon his shoulder.
II, Is better sn.'' she whispered. lit
is the only way ~ convince auntie"
They stood silent until the things
had h,-eu returned to CsawforL's ppck-
cts. then Mr. Noaiies stepped forward.
'-'rhis should satisfy you. Celeste" he
said sferrly. Il want to tell you TINT
IL you ever raiS the question again i
shah rnt coudune your second oIt-nse."
VERY Well" said Miss Cclcstr with
shrug OF her shoulders, since /
seem to he so much In the way here
l suppose that Mr.. Crawford VIII per
init uie to retire
She swept erandly from the room.
leaving the thn.e to face each other
uncomfortably. All knew that Miss
Celeste was not satisfied and We're
fearful of her next outbreak.
Each tried 10 sppcar at ease. bu1 the
pleasure of the visit WAS gone. aud
presently Crawford made an excuse
for taking his departure. Elyla fol-
lowed him to tn. door.
VIII you drop in tomorrow even
ingg' she asked. We shall probably
lie able TO tell pou then where re
found the ring
Il am afraid that cannot get
around" he said nncomfortably. III
ron find 81. win yon writey"
Wont you come over" pleaded El-
via. hut Vincent shook his head. lie
had been shocked by the accusation,
apl not even the belief OF Elvla and
her father could salye his wounded
feelings yet. 1t seemed almost as
though he We're passing out OF E1rln Is
life
Up In her room Miss Celeste was sit
ting nj her writing table while her
busy pen covered sheet after sheet OF
note paper Not until she had written
dozen pages did she cease her work.
and then. Ioing over TO her bnrenu.
she unlocked the upper drawer and
drew tlcrefrom II paper covered book
with a gnudy title page. From the in
side OF this she clipped II coupon. which
she attached TO the letter before slip
ping 1t into an envelope.
:, year before while visiting the city
she had been tempted TO visit a yaude-
willie ,heatcr at which man and ro-
man known ms the NRays We're Great
Ing sensation with some mind read
ing accomplishments. Always inclined
to the supernatural. she had been
greatly interested by the Rays accom-
plishment and had slipped back the
next afternoon to purchase some of the
books which gave her the right to ask
questions by mail.
Once or twice since then she had con
suited the oracle. and now she was
writing for advice as 10 the where
abouts OF the ring. 1t was well for
her faith that she was not present nj
the answering OF her question.
Two young men sat before table
In cheap theatrical boarding house
when messenger entered with pack