Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-05-09
CHAPTER XVI.

CHAPTER XVI.
At noon that day | telephoned to
Margery.
Come up" l said, "and bring the
keys to the Monmouth avenue house.
have some things to tell you, and
some things to ask you."
met her at the station with Lady
Gray and the trap. My plans for that
afternoon were comprehensive; they
included what hoped to be the solu-
ton of the Aunt Jane mystery; also,
they included little drive through
the park, and a-well, l shall tell
about that, all am going to tell, at
the proper time.
To play propriety, Edith met us at
the house.. 1t was still closed, and
even in the short time that had elaps-
ed 1t smelled close and musty.
At the door into the drawing room
I stopped them.
Nov, this is going to be sort of
game" explained. Its sort OF
game" I explained. cts sort OF
button, button. who's got the button
without the button. We are looking
for drawer, receptacle or closet
which shall contain. punched together
and without regard to whether they
should be there or not, small revolv-
er two military brushes and clothes
brush, two or three soft bosomed
shirts, perhaps half dozen collars,
and suit Of underwear. Also small
fiat package about eight inches long
and three wide."
What in the world are you talking
about?" Edith asked.
ri am not talking, I am theorizing.'
explained. ~ have a theory, and
according to it the things should be
here. II they are not, it is my mis-.
fortune, not my fault"
l think Margery caught my idea at
once, and as Edith was ready for any.
thing, we commenced the search.
Edith took the top floor, being &C.
customed, she said, to finding unex.
pected things in the servants quar-.
tiers; Margery took the lower floor
and for certain reasons I took the
second.
For ten minutes there was no result
At the end of that time had finished
two rooms, and commenced on the
blue boudoir. And here, on the top
shelf of three.cornered Empire cup.
board, with glass doors and spindle
legs, found what was looking for
Every article was there, stuffed a
small package into my pocket and
called the two girls.
"The lost Is found" stated calmly
when we were all together in the
library.
when did you lose anything
Edith demanded do you mean to
say, Jack Knox, that you brought us
here to help you find suit of gaudy
pajamas and pair Of military
brushes :"
II brought you here to find Aunt
Jane" said soberly, taking letter
and the fiat package out of my pocket
you see, my theory worked out
Here Is Aunt Jane, and there Is the
money from the Russia leather bag
laid the packet in Margery's lap
and without ceremony opened the let.
ter. It began:
my Dearest Niece:
II am writing to you, because can
not think what to say to Sister Letitia
am running away! I-am-running
away! My dear, it scares me even
to write it, all alone in this empty
house. l have had cup Of tea out OF
one of your lovely cups, and nap on
your pretty couch, and just as soon
as 1t is dark am going to take the
train for Boston. When you get this,
| will be on the ocean, the ocean, my
dear, that have read about, and
dreamed about, and never seen.
II am going to realize dream of
forty years-more than twice as long
as you have lived. Your dear mother
saw the continent before she died, but
the things / have wanted have always
been denied me- have been of those
that have eyes to see and see not.
Sol have run away. / am going to
London and Paris, and even to Italy
If the money your father gave me for
the pearls viii hold out. For year
now have been getting steamship
circulars, and I have taken a little
French through correspondence
school. That was why always made
you sing French songs, dearie; / want.
ed to learn the accent. | think I
should do very well II | could only sing
my French instead OF speaking it.
~ Al.