The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-06-11
THE rsln cETos7 ualos: THU RsDAY, JUNE i, 1eos.

stble for bad eyesight perhaps, but il
Is your poor old brain that troubles
me. You have developed into a fussy
old woman-Miss Michaela Corrigan,
spinster. sixty-one and afraid to say
boo to a bat"
The old lawyer paused suddenly in
his walk and thrust the ferrule Of his
cane deep into the gravel path.
Jacob" he said in a tone of SUD.
pressed anger, shat will do. You have
gone just little too far. I told you
what thought without any wish for
an argument, and now I'll tell YOU
something else. I don't care whether
you lose your diamonds and plate or
not. What's more. I hope you will.
Good night"
He had intended staying for dinner,
but changed his mind and swung rap
idly away, while Mr.. Renwyck looked
after him, laughing merrily.
"Oh, I say, Michaela!' he called.
Don't forget to look under your bed
tonight. You might find burglar
with a cast in his eye"
For once Mr.. Renwyck had got the
better of his brother-in-law, and the
fact pleased him immensely.
''The poor old granny he muttered
as he went into the house. upon my
word, I'm astonished at himv'
1t may be stated that, contrary to
Mr.. Corrigan's fiat denial, that gentle
man did take further interest in the
possible burglary, if only to prove his
own theory. On the following night
three private detectives came out to
Irvington and stole separately to the
lawyers house. About II o'clock, &C.
companied by Mr.. Corrigan in person,
they concealed themselves at various
points of vantage on the Renwyck
place and awaited developments. The
night was damp and gloomy-most
excellent weather conditions for a
HOUSEKEEPING party, but with disad.
vantages for amateur detectives at the
advanced age of sixty-one Beyond a
touch of rheumatism Mr.. Corrigan
bagged nothing, and the morning
found him a very disgruntled old gen.
tleman. However, there was a humor-
GUS side to the vigil, and with this the
old lawyer consoled himself. o.
"Lord!' he chuckled. "The jokes on
me this time, but wouldn't have ia
cob find it out-no, not for a thousand
dollars cash."
Meanwhile Mr.. Renwyck, having
scored decisively on Uncle Michael,
enjoyed his dinner as victor should.
he was In the best Of spirits, not alone
because of his triumph, but because Of
certain cheerful developments which
had come to light at the meeting Of
the stockholders Of his new deep water
harbor company. He was so elated
over his certain success that he cast
out broad hints which were mystifying
enigmas to all present with the excep-
ton of Richard, who understood only
too we'll. TO him they meant the COL
lapse Of his fathers cherished hopes
while he, dutiful son, was forced to
sit calmly and watch an enemy gloat
Dinner was scarcely over when call
ers We're announced. They were old
friends of the family, claiming the at
tention of Mr.. and Mrs. Renwyck and
Miss Schermerly, which left the four
young people to their own devices.
For this Richard thanked the visitors
fervently and wandered with Miss
Harriet across the lawn, where they
seated themselves on a favorite bench
and enjoyed long and uninterrupted
chat. Had Uncle Michael been present
instead Of sulking in his lonely bach
elor home he might have had cause to
exchange his frowns for chuckles, in
view of the fact that a certain young
scamp was assuredly making progress.
The progress was not of tremendous
moment. after all, yet Richard forgot