Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-07-01

/ cannot tell! There Is only one
way which l can think of.
What is that?" she asked.
4 don't like to mention it
ooh, p,ease!-I am all on fire with
curiosity and INTEREST,"
well" he said, slowly, reluctantly.
Mind, you force me, Miss Verner!''
yes; do not mind me: speak quite
openly"
He may have obtained the infor-
nation from you!"
From mel" exclaimed Marie Yer
ner; then she dropped her head and
plucked at the convolyulus in her
hands as if nervously.
yes; you say you told Miss Darra-
court. Were you alone when you told
herr"
II don't remember" she STAN
mered. Were we alone? l quite
forgot I'm so confused that I can't
recalI-why yes, I think so. l am not
sure. Oh, dear, how dreadful this is
Don't let it trouble you" he said,
in kindly way, cor I shall regret
having told you anything about it"
Marie drew a long breath, cycling
the covering Susie at her feet.
Il wish you hadn't told me the
word, then l couldn't have told it to
anyone else" she said, fervently.
But there, it's too late now. Oh
dear, l feel so dreadfully upset!
shan't dare to tell Lucille!"
do not" he said, gravely. wait
for a little while, at and rate. The
less the matter is talked about for
the present the more chance we have
of catching the thief be he whom he
may"
Yes" she assented, 4 must go now.
My head aches terribly, and I feel as
if had stolen the plate myself
Only think if it should turn out to be
my fault! I should never forgive my
self.
And I shall never forgive myself
for telling you the word, in that
case" he said, gently. Pray, think
no more of it. We shall get hold Of
the culprit before many hours are
over, and I have no doubt shall re-
cover my property
"Oh, I hope sou she exclaimed.
"Good-by. Come up an tell Miss Oar
racourt all about it."
Il will, after I have seen the po-
lice" he said, and raising his hat he
walked quickly away.
Marie Werner gathered her flowers
together, uttering little EXPLANATIONS
of dismay.
Come, Susie" she said. 81 am so
intensely upset that I don't know
what l am doing
Susie rose white and trembling.
ooh, Miss, how good of you not to
tell him. she gasped, cIasping her
hands.
Tell him, the marquis, What?'
That l was in the room when you
were talking about the secret word,
Miss Marie I thought I should have
died. Miss, all the time. For l am
the only other person who knows the
word, excepting you and Miss Lu-
ellie.
Sure. Quite-quite sure" de-
cIared poor Susie. 4 never mentioned
il to d living soul, Miss Marie; it has
never passed my lips
Then it was not from you that
Harry Herne got the word" said Ma
RE, thoughtfully.
Susie's face flushed and then grew
pae again
Harry! Master Harry" she ex-
claimed Indignantly. DO you think
that it's Master Harry who has done
it, Miss? Why. he wouldn't do it to
to save his life, Master Harry ste
the silver things from the marquis.
Why, he'd rather die first. Oh. it's
quite impossible, Miss Marie,"
Yes, I think so, too, Susie, but you
heard what Lord Merle said: Harry
Horne was seen lurking about the
pIace-cIose to the window of the
plate-room-"
oh, don't say 1urking,' Miss Ma
rie!" broke in Susie, made quite cour-
ageOus in her defence of the absent
man. Master Harry never turks
anywhere: he is too much-toO much
like a gentleman, Miss Marie! Be
sides why should he lurk? If he
wanted to go to the Hall, or the
Court, he could go the same as any
one else. All, if you knew him better
Miss-as we all know him-you would
say it was Impossible that any one
should think he did it"
And yet the marquis thinks he did
it." said Marie Watching her closely.
The marquis. Yes. Miss, = assented
Susie, hesitatingly; but the marquis
is no friend Of Master Harry's. Miss.
He-he struck him with a whip, Miss
Marie; and there's i'll blood between
them in other ways. 1t isn't for me
to say so, Miss Marie, but I think
her voice trembled and dropped
the marquis would do him an injury
if he could"
You think so, do you" said Marie,
in a voice of pretended concern.
yes. Miss" said Susie, wiping her
eyes. 4 do believe he would. And
Master Harry's one that never did
him any harm. too
Marie Werner seemed to consider
little while, then she stopped short
as if an idea had struck her.
Susie, if what you think is true
and the marquis is so great an enemy
Of Harry Herne's, he would not have
much mercy upon him if he had him
in his power"