Bradford County telegraph. (Starke, Fla.) 1888-current, 1910-09-09
AN OBSERVER
By MARION l. BAKER.
Copyright, 1910, by American Press
Association.

Miss Pinkerton. aged ffty-fve. Occu-
pied q house from whose rear windows
! she could look out upon the back yard
Of the Pleasantons. She spent the rest
Of the day on guard. but nothing Oc-
CURED to suggest solution Of the
cOmmOtiOn that so deeply interested
| her. But that night as she was clos
ing the blinds before getting into bed
she saw forms moving about near the
fence that divided the two properties.
Slipping on wrapper and her shoes,
she went down stairs, out the back
door and stole along till she was near
enough TO see what was going on.
What was her surprise and horror
to see Evelyn PleasantOn standing
beside an old family manServant who
Tas digging Il hole in the ground.
when it was completed the servant
went into the house, returning with q
box Just long enough and the proper
shape to hold the body of an infant.
The servant placed the box In the hole.
while something white held before
Evelyn's eyes indicated that she was
weeping. Then the servant filed the
grave and replaced the sod evidently to
conceal the spot and the two entered
the house. Miss Pinkerton returned
to her room swollen with the impor-
lance of the secret she had discovered
and went to bed. but not to sleep.
Reginald should know this she
said to herself. He must know it. 1t
is my duty to tell him. l have no right
to permit young man to marry a
girl In ignorance Of her true charac-
ter"
The next morning she sent an anony-
nous note to Reginald Clemens. giving
him a detailed account Of what she
had seen the night before.
Now, so we'll known were the prying
instincts Of Miss Pinkerton that her
house was commonly called the OBJ
servatory. At first blush. on perusing
the note. Reginald's heart stood still
Then. remembering that the ''observa-
tory" overlooked the back yard of his
fancee's home. it suddenly occurred
to him that Miss Pinkerton had been
the observer and writer Of the note.
The same evening he laid it before
Evelyn. AS soon as her indignation
had subsidized she and her lover, after
a prolonged consultation, settled on a
plan Of action.
The next day Reginald called on Miss
Pinkerton. secured a confession from
her that she had written the note and
expressed himself profoundly grateful
for the information it contained.
One morning Miss PinkertOn re-
ceived a note from Evelyn Pleasanton
stating that she had a confession to
make, trusting to the kindness Of
Miss Pinkerton's disposition. her hon.
esty Of purpose. and asked permission
to intrust a secret Of importance to her
care. Would Miss Pinkerton kindly
meet her the next night at IL o'clock
at the fence dividing the two placeS2r
II Miss Pinkerton was pleased at
her discovery she was beside herself
with delight at the prospect Of receiv-
ing a confession and being made the
repository Of a secret. The hours
dragged heavily until evening came
and heavier still till the clock struck
the hour for the meeting. Then Miss
PinkertOn passed through her back
yard and stood waiting beside the
fence.
Presently a rear door In the Pleas
anton home opened, and Evelyn, &C
companied By the servant who had
dug the grave, carrying a spade, came
toward the waiting woman. Seeing
Miss Pinkerton leaning on the fence.
Evelyn said to her:
al have to thank you, dear Miss
PinkertOn. for consenting to share
with ME the burden Of my secret. /
have considered that the matter Is Of
sufficient importance to warrant its
being placed in the keeping Of several
other persons. They are coming now"
From the rear door came Reginald
Clemens carrying a lantern. He was
followed by the Rev. Mr. Stark
weather, DR.. Arnold and their wives.
AS the party approached the servant
began opening the little grave which
had been made q few nights before
While he dug the party stood In
silence. Having exhumed the box, he
produced a screwdriver for the pur-
pose Of opening 1t. Miss Pinkerton, IN
able to restrain her curiosity, pushed
forward, bent over the box and when
the lid was removed was peering In
tenuy into 1t. Evelyn stepped forward
and, removing a cloth. uncovered the
body OLA poodle.
At the same moment Reginald
raised the lantern so that its light
shOne upon not only the dead dog, but
the face Of Miss Pinkerton. Her eX-
preston was a study. 1t is said that
to drowning person the events Of a
whole lifetime come up at once. Miss
Pinkerton saw at least the lesson Of
lifetime. For years she had been pry-
ing into peoples affairs without a
check. In this episode she received
sufficient punishment to cover every
meddlesOme act since she was girl.
"Are you satisfedr asked Reginald,
whose indignation had been kept under
restraint and whose tone was now
cold and cutting.
Miss Pinkerton without q word
TUNED and went to her own room.
while the others left the servant 10
rebufy the dog.
That was the last observation made
BY o. gptnstpe from .sithef her back
o. DDhoot windoW.