The Tupelo journal., 1909-06-25

eNAJ
unpretending but considering their
s%ource) distinguished gifts she be-
slowed in the kindest manner. Janet
| was no doubt grateful; she embroid-
cred half a dozen luncheon napkins
with Mrs. Melville's monogram and
crest, in sign thereof; and very pref
tily. she being a skilful needle-woman.
On her part, Mrs. Melville was so
pleased that she remarked to her
brother-in-law, shortly after, that she
believed Cousin Angela's sisters
hadn't been just to Miss Smith; she
was a nice girl; and if she married
(which was quite possible, insinuated
Mrs. Melville, archly), she meant to
give a tea in her honor.
Now, that's right decent of you,
Millie," cried the colonel; and he
smiled gratefully after Mrs. Melville's
beautifully fitted back. Yet a scant
five minutes before he had been pur-
suing that same charming back
through the garden terraces, in a
most brotherly frame, resolved to give
his sister-in-law a warning with a
| fog-horn." The cause of said warn
ing was his discovery of her acquaint-
ance with Atkins. For days a bit of
information had been blistering in his
mind. 1t came from the girl at the
telegraph Office at the Palace, not in a
Decline, but indirectly, through her
chum, the girl who booked the theater
tickets. 1t could not be analysed
properly because the telegraph girl
was gone to southern California. But
before she went she told the theater
girl that the lady who received Mr..
Makers wires was one of Mrs. Win
ter's party! This bit of Information
was like a live coal underfoot in the
~colonel's mind; whenever he trod on
it in his mental excursions he jumped.
who else but Janet?" he de-
F, manded. But by degrees he became
first doubtful, then daring. He had
Birdsall fetch the telegraph girl back
to San Francisco. A ten minutes in
terview assured him that it was his
brothers. wife who had called for
Mr.. Makers messages, armed with
MI. Makers order.
Aunt Rebecca was not nearly SO We
hement as he when he told her. She
listened to his angry criticism with a
lurking smile and a little shrug of her
shoulders.
"Of course she has butted in, as you
tersely express 1t, in the language Of
this mannerless generation; Mill
cent always butts in. How did she
get acquainted with this unpleasant,
assassinating, poor white trash? My
dear child, she didn't probably; he
made an acquaintance with her. He
pumped her and lied to her. We
know he wanted to find out Mr..
Keatcham's abode; he may have got
his clew from her; she knew young
Arnold had been to see him. There's
no telling. / only know that in the
interest Of keeping a roof over our
heads and having our heads whole in
stead of in pieces from explosives, /
butted in a few days ago when some
body wanted Mrs. Melville Winter on
the telephone. I answered it. The
person asked If I was Mrs. Melville
Winter; it was a strange mans voice.
/ don't believe in Christian Science or
theosophy or physics, but / do believe
I felt in my bones that here was an
occasion to be canny rather than con-
scientious. You know / can talk like
Millicent-or anybody else; SO I in
toned through the telephone in her
silken Anglican accents, DO you want
Mrs. Melville Winter or Aunt Re-
becca, Madam Winter | hate to-be
called Madam Winter, and she knows
it, but Millicent is catty, you Know,
and she always calls me Madam Win
ter behind my back. The fellow fell
into the trap at once-recognized the
voice, ! dare say, and announced that
it raj Mr.. Makers; Mr.. Atkins, who
had left for Japan. had not been able