The Washington times., 1909-08-21
GETTING RID OF LIZZIE

but / think 1t will be a good plan 10
discover what else is missing, nov that
I've started in.
Nonsense / called after her. Great
Scott. where's my other set OF cum
links"
Turning to my chiffonler. as my wife
left the room, I had opened the little
pigskin case which lay upon its top to
change the links in my fresh shirt
and discovered It empty.
Don't bother mel" my wife called
from her chamber. I've discovered
that half OF my manicure set is miss
ing. And my silver curling irons are
gone. Together With-With three OF my
rings from my jewel easel" Her voice
rose to a despairing cry. that was nearly
a shrek
And my pearl studs. five Of my
stickp1ns and my best cuff links are
gone. too" [ shouted. dropping the
rifled pigskin case to the floor
Dashing across the room, I brought
up race, to face with my wife, who
bad rushed from her chamber TO meet
me in the dividing doorway.
creid.
4 think-I think" stammered.
Then, helPIessly. ! turned away. II
don't know what TO think! 1 finished,
lamely.
wen. know" she exclaimed, de-
terminedly, striding after me into my
room. The things are not mislaid-
been stolen. You know who I think did
L too she added, neaninglY.
L zzie?' / questioned, weakly.
Lizzie my wife answered firmly.
WHO else could it be7 Who else in the
hOuse is under Suspicion"
IT'S a hard charge to bring against
the girl [ hesitated. II hate to think
that one so young as she. one in whom
blindly to the extent of guaranteeing
her integrity. could stoo2 to such dis
gushing thievery. But
But you can't doubt any longer that
she is guilty, can you?" my wife inter-
1upted. You see now that I was right;
that she is a thief?'
IL don't know whether she is posi-
Gvely convicted yet OF not" ] answered,
slowly. Evidence surely points in her
direction. But that evidence is only
circumstantial-only based on suspicion
I want proof of her guilt-something
positive to go On-oefore I'll give up and
agree with Jour low opinion of her"
If you WeTen responsible for her.
I shifted my wife, you wouldn't be half
/ so Charitably inclined, ] know
Possibly not. ] replied. But put
yourself in my plsce-wouIdnt you feel
SIS loath to believe her guilty II you
were me?''
Evidently she did not consider the
question wSrth answering. And we
! went down 10 breakfast in silence, and
in silence 1 made ready TO depart for
town.
"IH think the case ever today" /
| told my wife as I left her. and to
night Wen sift the matter Of this new
est theft down to the grNmd-and un-
| earth the guilty party. Lizzie or who
ever else il ISL
! Carrying out my promise I did moth
/ ing but think of the robbery of our per
sonal belongings all that morning and
afternoon and when 7 returned that
: night / was still thinking.
a in
/ problem OF whether our nurse-girl was
/ guilty or not There was only suspl-
/ cion against her in my wife's and my
mind on which to base charge against
/ her. And I wanted proofs.
/ Ny vile greeted me on the doorstep
/ her manner visibly indicating an un-
usual excitement, and pulled me by
1 main force into the parlOT before l had
time to take off even my hat.
Read this" she cried, hourishing
! a sheet of paper before my ast0nlshed
eyes ct found Ii tucked In Chloe's
clothes when 1 undressed her not five
minutes before.
1T is part of a letter" she ex-
( planned. thrusting the sheet into my
eager hand. ''all of which YOU do not
need TO read TO understand this much
/ Of 1t. The whole missive IS from a
man who came over on the same
Asteamer with Lizzie, as you VIII see
when you read 1t all later, and was
addressed TO her. Read what is writ
I ten Oh NtldA % ~
I my ewes dropped to the German
/ script written in pencil on the cheap.
! biue-I lined sheet. And as l read all
doubt of LizZie's guilt was swept from
my mind had what / was after: the
proof Of her criminality, I'm the frag-
ment Of her letter I held in my hand.
Literally translated. the words ran
/ as follows.
81 should be pleased 10 receive the
/ stickpins and other gentlemen's
/ iewelry which you say you have sent
me three DAYS go. The cigarette case
which you got from the master OF
your house viii be nice for me to
/ have too. though 7 smoke a pipe only
but anyhow, I will be glad to have
IT. as you say IL is OF silver and very
! Misunderstanding on the outside.
The ladies' things I have no use
Tor to keep myself. But I can perhaps
dispose of them some how, and so they
I viii be all right to have, too. When ]
/ get these things you say YOU have
sent. I will write and thank you for
\ them. Until then, ] am your devoted
and much-IovinE lover always.
! lotto SCHWENkE."
The Confirmation of This Story VIII
/ BE Found In TONOrrOW's
Issue of The Times.