The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-03-26
Below Stairs
BY Will A. Page.
Copyright. 1901, by c. H. sutcliffe.


tempered with the detectives were at
first inclined to suspect the servants.
but as Mr. Walcott declared he had the
utmost faith in them the police were
not allowed to search their rooms"
Mortimer, oblivious of the newspaper
item, did not reply when Evans stop
ped reading as though expecting some
comment
81 say, Mortimer old chap, that isn't
such a bad haul is it? The paper
says they got away with $1,000 worth
of silver"
bad haulT queried Mortimer.
What are you talking about?"
Talking about?' repeated Evans,
disguised. why, what else should J
be talking about but the big robbery
down the street at old man Walcott's
house?'
"Oh, I'm sorry didn't know 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 do you mean?"
Aren't we all servants? And if one
of the fashionable families takes up 4
fad don't all the other fashionable fam
lilies follow suit?"
Nonsense, Evans. You're an old
Cool"
81 tell you," persisted Evans. that il
the Walcott servants are suspected OF
dishonesty the servants of every fash.
ionable family in the city will have tc
clear their characters
why, we are we'll known to the
missus. l have been with her six
years, yet you dare And Mortimer
rose, fiourishing his whip.
Il don't mean you" sneered Evans
IT'S Miss Charlotte who is more like
ly to be suspected
Mortimer resisted the inclination to
strike the fellow, though he was strong
Iy tempted The doorbell sounding
then, Evans, with muttered impreca.
ton, rushed to small mirror hanging
on the kitchen wall, primped himself
and disappeared, bowling deliberately te
Charlotte, the maid newly come to
service, who happened to be enterin.
the kitchen at that particular moment
Now, then, you stupid broke in
Charlotte, you almost made me DROP
the chinaware"
Charlotte bowed, without speaking.
to Mortimer, who commenced to mend
the whip with redoubled anxiety. She
busted herself at the gas stove making
chocolate, and neither spoke a wore
for several moments. Then Evans
broke in hurriedly upon them.
TITS 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 to the missus
"A. L. Walker, Detective Headquar-
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 a furnace pipe in there
that Is loose, and it opens right under
where the detective is sitting. | can
hear every word" And he disappeared
into the cellar.
I'm afraid Mr. Evans is not trou
bled by scruples, Mr. Mortimer" said
Charlotte, turning to the gas stove
again. ~ always thought buffers a
bad lot"
I'm glad you think So" began Nor
timer.
why. Mr. Mortimer, what do you
mean?'
"Of course one can't be jealous of q
butler" broke in Mortimer, dropping
the whip.
Jealous? Well like thatp' with a
toss of the head.
Perhaps l 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"
next week on Thursday?" said
Charlotte coquettishly. NO, don't
think have anything on my card"
"Then I'll put you down for next
Thursday, Miss Charlotte Thanks
"Did you say 1t was for the grand
+ opera, Mr. Mortimer"
mo, Miss Charlotte; for the coach.
mems ball.
1.-THE coachmen's ballg' repeated
Charlotte enthusiastically "Oh, how
| jolly! I've always wanted to go to a
! coachmen's ball lists rather ex
elusive, ISM it,"
81 should say So answered Morti
mer proudly only those who drive
/ for the west end families are eligible
The sudden boiling over of the milk
interrupted these pleasant anticipa.
| tons of future happiness. and MORT
mer was dispatched posthaste to the
| dining room to secure some chocolate
Charlotte left alone, reached for her
handkerchief and found letter in the
pocket of her apron. Evidently she
was deeply interested. for she read
and reread the letter several times
Then she united the handkerchief. dis
closed large diamond ring and tried
It on several fingers.
"Cracky, A dlanond!" cried Evans
entering suddenly from the cellar
Charlotte hastily returned the ring t.
her pocket
Its my own" she declared. 1T
was given to me by dear old lady
who has just died.
"Stuff and nonsenser' broke in the
man roughly. ITS the diamond some
one stole from the missus l heard all
about 1t through the stove pipe. The
detective is looking for it now. He's
going to search the house"
But it's mine, l say
"Ah, your game is up, my girl. Give
me the ring and won't tell Say
you'll marry me. l can sell the dia-
| mond"-
Let me go. You hurt me. Help.
Let me go"
Perhaps you'll be good enough to
oblige the lady" said Mortimer, strid-
ing down to Evans and giving him a
twist on the collar. BE off with
your
Evans withdrew to one side angrily
I'm going to tell the detectiver' he
/ cr1ed roughly. linen Wen see whose
turn it will be-
The man rushed out Of the kitchen
angrily. Charlotte flushed red. What
is he going to tell the detective?" asked
Mortimer
"He-he-thlnks | have stolen this
diamond" she answered, showing the
ring.
MY God! Where did you get that
ring" cried Mortimer "And he says
you stole 1t? Quick give it to me be-
fore the detective comes. I'll say 1
took it."