The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1910-06-02

upon the unfair disposition of her prop
erty may have strangely upset this equi-
! librium.
''Of course it is theory. but not empty
theory. One thing is sure; 1t was Mrs
Springstead or her double whom l saw
| She replaced the lost pearl. She put the
! girdle back in the safe where it wll stay
never fear
Stop right there, Abe" again inter-
rupted the judge sharply. There is one
thing, there are two things ! must say.
| to take the less important tirst-why are
! you so confident that the pearls VIII stay
in the safe from which they were once
! filched?"
Because, sir, 1 changed the combina-
ton after Mrs. SpringsteaG had gone.
oh ah, wise precautlon, but not
half so vital a matter as may rest on
| your chance reference to her double.
Don't you see? Don't you see? The
thief is masquerading i'll her likeness,
the better to avoid suspicion.
Mrs. Springstead saw this other self.
! Don't you remember her frenzied words,
| to me that Branch and Miss Knage-
would make it appear that she had stolen
the pearls, that she had killed herself
For heavens sake, what was that, Abe !?
Come, man, come! There was deadly
portent in such a scream
AS hurriedly as the judge and his
man descended, they found a panic
central hall below. Mr.. Briscow alone
had the composure to explain the little
that was known to them
1T came from Mrs Springstead's
rooms" he said. Il tried in vain to.
find either Miss Knage or old Anne. The
other servants refused to go. You had
best investigate at once while | call the.
physician and what other help may be
needed l know some one who should
be here, though l don't like to inter
fere."
1t was strange scene that met the
judge and Cronkite as they unceremoni-
ously burst into the private sitting room.
Miss Knage was tenderly supporting and
soothing Mrs. Springstead on the sofa.
In front of the locked safe lay the mo-
tionless form of what in dress and GEN
eral guise seemed Mrs. Spriugstead's sec
Ond self.
'I'll not be fooled again." muttered
Cronkite. raising the lifeless form and
1T is old Anne the maid" he ex-
planned. Il might have reckoned on the
driving force of pent up envy and av-
arlce. She is dead, by this knife in
her own hand, which she had first turned,
upon another. There are shreds cling
ing to the blade that never came from
her waist-the very texture of the wran-
per Mrs. Springstead is now wearing.
old Anne must have come back. to
take the girdle from the safe, sir. Dis
appointment and rage at finding she
could not open the door must have
turned her brain, already perhaps disor-
dered. She must have sprung at her mis-
tress, at that moment entering. Had it
not been for the courage and devotion of
n q crn hon Sc e
slim, firm fingers on old Annes arm
On. let me go onr' cried Mrs. Spring
stead. He is exact, wonderfully exact,
Tor one OF whom you spoke so sighting
~, judge; but let me go on to do JUS
tIce, scant justice, to a woman whom I
have loved even while wronging her.
Miss Knage saved my life, she tore
that frenziedG wretch from me. More,
still more. She restored my reason. No
wonder they thought had brain fever.
l was distraught by this vision of my
self, saw once, twice. | feared that 7
had stolen the pearls myself feared,
oh, don't know what incredible, awful
things.
''Why had not done fairness. Judge
fairness forbids fear But / will. I will
at once. Harry shall have his rights; my
faithful companion, my savior, shall
have her just recompense-all would be
slight. Let those parasites down stairs
hear it too"
''No, no. protested Miss Knage. her
straining hands over her heart II am.
not so blameless as you think. I knew
you were about to make your will | lis
tened, not on my own account, believe
me, / was so anxious for Harry. Then
l was resolved that at least he should
have the pearls
Il went for them in the dead of night.
but some one passed me in the hall with
the girdle in her hands. l thought it was
you, dear madam. / thought so the more
when you sent word that you had taken.
them.
''Then, when you were i'll and would,
not see me, my anger vanished. /
watched and waited without There were.
no signs of old Anne, feared you were
alone [ ventured in"
''To remain forever in my heart, my.
dearest friend and daughterl'' cried Mrs
Springstead. ''See, darling, who are con-
ing--our own dear Harry, ushered in by
that discreet Mr.. Briscow.
Judge | must make my will at once,
my last will, believe lie. Your factO-
tum and our Indian savant shall be the
witnesses. 1t won't be long-everythi
to my children here; and the sooner they
marry and enjoy it the better for them
and for me."-New York Sun.