The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1908-01-18
THE Sc cR E ry


II was there when 1t happened" Miss
Artois quietly replied. but to this day
they have not the slightest suspicion
that Miss Artois Is an acquaintance"
Belle Hampton opened her eyes wide.
What on earth do you mean,
Blanchef" she exclaimed,
"Only that was there as parlor
maid." Miss Artois coolly responded.
her naughty eye sweeping the magnif-
lceut width OF the handsome eonserva-
tory through which they were saun
tering
AS parlor maidv echoed Belle, mp
setting rare exotic as she hastily
turned % look at her companion "a
parlor maldl What would mamma
sayT' =. .-..a - .,.,.---4.. ...sssA =.
At this little ripple OF laughter
parted Miss Artois' handsomely curved
lips, but the next moment she said
gravely. IT IL II, 81 Z. :. SO.
You need not tell her l am in the
confessional 20 you alone. remember
And then she contiRled abruptly:
When the world said l was rusti
eating among the Yorkshire hills was
playing parlor maid at Red Moor
WhereforcY That Is my secret
THE three old ladies OF Red Moor
reminded me more OF three little
sprites than aught else. When prop.
erly disguised. aproned and capped
was presented for their approval. But.
fortunately for me. their keen, bright
with my good star I'm the ascendant /
entered upon the somewhat promlscu-
Gus duties assigned me.
IL had not been In the house three
weeks before l discovered that IL con
cealed mystery.
1.-The discovery was made by me In
this way: One night. after restlessly
rose. intending to 20 down 10 the IL
brary fire.
II softly crossed the upper hall, al
ways kept dlmly lighted, and was
about proceeding downward when the
weird sight OF old Mrs. vasser the
eldest OF my three mlstresses, sudden
ly arrested me.
"Instinctively I paused and gsEed
She was standing with her back to
ward me In a dark. narrow angle o.
the building az the extreme end OF the
hall. her splendid waves OF snowy hair
Hosting In wild disorder over the blood
red dressing gown sweeping far be-
hind her But the spell binding me
was broken by what appeared 10 be
her sudden disappearance through the
solid wall
STRANGE! I exclaimed under my
breath. The servan tod me that
part or Red Moor WAS tearfully haunt
ed and consequently had been walled
10 and rendered wholly inaccessible
"Of course I was curious, but rs
turned to my bed and fell asleep.
"A month later I was passing along
one or the many narrow, winding cor
ridors with which the house sbounded
when al o sudden turning came upon
the old. gray headed butler bending
under the weight Of large tray filed
TO overlooking With sii the iuxuries Of
the season
Jssperv ! insoluntariiy exclaimed
Where in the world are YOU taking
that repast7 Everybody In the houss
has been served
silent and motionless. be stood gaz.
ing al me in blank dismay The next
instant there was . soft rustic OF silk.
and the old housekeeper's voice rang
sharp and stern from the other end OF
the corridor
Jasper. attend TO your business,
Myra, come here, adding still more
sternly as ! obediently approached.
and do you attend 10 yours, girl. what
brings you here al this hourr
She listened 10 my excuses ana
then sharply dismissed me.
Two days after as Bradley and
slipped our tea together we were star.
tied To our feet by the sudden clnnk.
Ing OF heavy chains In the adjoining
room, and the next instant the door
Jew violently open, and an old man OF
herculean proportions dashed In upon
rs. his trailing chain, Wild, bloodshot
eyes aud disordered apparel proclaim
Ing too plainly he frightful truth.
"'Not here eItherf he shrieked,
stamping his foot IN foamlng rage m
bis glance rested upon US Not herel
Not here
Bradley apparently paralyzed with
horror looked appeaiingly ~ me and
,aid
Your nistresses! Save theml Rum
II got 70 the drawing room door
when the creature seized me by tho
shoulders and sent me whiriing 20 the
door was On my feet again In an
instant but his wild eye had caught
sight Of poor Mrs Vasser. who with
Ter sisters. bad started up and stood
gazing az him 10 petrihed horror. The
next instant be cnught her. with
icrce shout Of triumph and delight, In
ale arms.
Swift as lightning he bore her out
o the great winding staircase. You
Inow the rest. I'm a seconds time sbo
ny dead below. and he In leaning over
he bnlustraJe to gloat over his fear
ui work lost bis balance. and before
he hurrylng servants could reach their
,oor mistress he lay with broken
ieck upon the stairs.