La Junta tribune., 1907-06-08
Below Stairs
BY Will a. Prse.
BY VIII a. P-=e.

so0 . o-eoooseee
Evans. the butter. WAS industriously
readin; the newspaper out loud. On
the other side Of the Kitchen table Nor
timer. the coachman. WAS ncndins his
whip.
THE daring robbers then bundled up
their booty and decnnpesi." the Iom.
p,us butler read very loudly. -iearins
the detective officers bafiied without
clew. As there WIS no evidence that
the doors had been forced or locks
tampere,i with. the detectives were al
hrst inclined TO suspect the servantx-
but as Mr.. waicott declared be had the
utmost faith In them the police were
not allowed to search their rooms"
Mortimer, obiivious of the newspaper
item, did no; reply when Evans stop
ped reading US though expecting some
comment
II say, Mortimer. old chap. that isn't
such a bad haul. is III The paper
nays they got away with 5000 worth
Of silver"
bad haul?' queried Mortimer
what are you talking nboutT'
Talking aboutY' repeated Evans
dIsgusted. why. what else should
he talking about but the big robber,
down the street at old man Wsico't't
house,"
.Db. I'm sorry. I didn't know you
were reading anything OF importance.
Il should say II was Of importance.
As tn. servants there are suspected
that naturally places us In an awkward
position
What do you mean:"
Aren't we all Servautss And II one
of the fashionable families takes up
fad don't all the other fashionable fam
lilies follow suitf'
Nonsense. Evans. You're an old
fool
II tell you persisted Evans. that II
the Walcott servants are suspected OF
dishonesty the servants Of every fash
ionabie family In the city will have te
clear their characters"
WHY. we are well known to the
missus- have been with her SIX
years. yet you dare And Mortimer
rose. hcurishing his whip.
Its Miss Charlotte who ls more like.
~ to he suspected
Mortimer resisted the inclination &c
strike the fellow. though he was strong
ly tempted. The doorbell sounding
then. Evans. with n muttered imprecn'
ton. rushed to a small mirror hanging
on the kitchen wall. primped himself
and disappeared, bowling elaborately 10
Charlotte, the maid newly come TO
service. who happened to be entering
the kitchen at that particular moment.
Now. then. you stupid" broke In
Charlotte. you almost made me DROP
the chinawarc'
Charlotte bowed, without speaking.
to Mortimer. who commenced to mend
the whip with redoubleI anxiety. She
chocolate. and neither spoke word
for several moments. Then Evans
broke In hurr!ediy upon them.
Its detective" lie 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 mlssus.
"A. l.. Walker. Detective Headquar-
ters:' that's what the card said" He
opened the door Into the basement.
But what does he wantT' inquired
Charlotte.
That's just what I'm going 10 find
out. There's furnace pipe in there
that is loose. and It opens right under
where the detective is sitting. l can
hear every word" And he disappeared
into the cellar.
u t.,
bled by scruples, Mr.. Mortimer" said
Charlotte. turning to the gas stove
again. II always thought buffers
bad lot
''I'm glad you think So" began Nor
timer
Why. Mr. Mortimer, what do you
mcan?- s-iss '''s
.of course one can't he jealous Of
butler" broke in Mortimer. dropping
the whip.
jealous? Well, Ike that-' with
toss OF the head.
Perhaps i shouldn't say jealous"
continued Mortimer, abashed. But.
you see. l wanted to ask you
"Welly'
If you'd spend your next evening
out with me. unless you have some
other engagement"
Next week, on Thursday" said
Charlotte coquettishly. mo, don't
think bave anything on my card"
Then I'll put you down for next
Thursday, Miss Charlotte. Thanksv
"Did you say 1t was for the grand
opera. Mr.. Mortimer
NO. Miss Charlotte: for the coach
mems ball.
"The coachmen's ballT' repeated
Charlotte enthusiastically. "oh, how
Jolly. I've always wanted to go to
coachmen's ball. It's-it's rather ex-
elusive. Isn't II:
Il should say So answered NORTH