Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-06

patchwork quilts and winter fannels.
It is strange to look back and think
how. quietly We sat there; that we
could see nothing but burglary-or an
attempt at tin what we had found.
It must have been after nine o'clock
when Bella came running into the
room. Ordinarily q slow and clumsy
creature, she almost few. She had
a tray in her hand. and the dishes
were rafting and threatening over
throw at every step. She brought up
against a chair. and cup went fly
ing. The breaking Of cup must have
been q serious offense in Miss Letitia
Maitland's house, but Bella took no
notice whatever of it.
Miss Jane" she gasped "Miss
Jane, she's-she's-"
Hurt" Margery exclaimed, rising
and clutchfng at the table for sup
port.
"No. Gone-she's gone! She's been
run OF with"
"Nonsense!" I said, seeing Margery's
Mortified face Don't come in here
with such q story. II Miss Jane is
not in her room, she is somewhere
else, that's all"
Bella stopped and gathered up the
broken cup, her lips moving. Margery
had recovered herself. She made
Bella straighten and explain.
"Do you mean-she Is not in her
room?" she asked incredulously
isn't she somewhere around the
house?"
60 up and look at the ROOM" the
girl replied, and, with Margery leading
we rap up the stairs.
Miss JAMES room was empty. From
somewhere near Miss Letitia could be
heard lecturing Hepsibah about put
ting too much butter on the toast
Her high voice, pitched for Heppies
old ears, rasped me. Margery closed
the door, and we surveyed the room
together.
The bed bad been occupied; it's COW
erings had been thrown back. as II
it's occupant had risen hurriedly The
room itself was In state of confusion;
a rocker lay on it's side, and Miss
James clothing, folded as she had
taken it of. had slid off on the floor.
Her shoes stood neatly at the foot Of
the bed, and bottle of toilet vinegar
had been upset. pouring stream over
the marble top of the dresser and
down on to the floor. Over the high
wooden mantel the Maitland who had
been governor of the state years ago
hung at a waggish angle, and q clock
had been pushed aside and stopped at
half-past one.
Margery stared around her in be-
until later in the day that I saw all
the details. My first impression was
of confusion and disorder; the room
seemed to have been the scene of a
struggle. The overturnd furniture
the clothes on the floor. the picture,
coupled with the print of the hand on
the staircase and Miss James -disap-
pearance, all seemed to point to one
thing.
And as il to prove it conclusively
Margery picked up Miss James new
lace cap from the floor. 1t was crump.
led and spotted with blood.
"She has been killed." Margery said
in a checking voice. KILLED, and she
had not an enemy in the world!'
'But where is she?" I asked
stupidity.
Margery had more presence Of mind
than I had; suppose it is because
woman's courage is mental and mans
physical, that in times Of great strain
women always make the better show
ing. While was standing in the
middle of the room, staring at the con.
fusion around me, Margery was al
ready on her knees, looking under the
high four-post bed. Finding nothing
there she went to the closet. 1t was
undisturbed Pathetic rows of limp
black dresses and on the shelves two
black crepe bonnets we're mute re.
minders OF the little old lady. But
there was nothing else in the room.
Gall Robert, the gardner" Margery
said quickly, land have him help you
search the grounds and cellars. l
will take Bella and go through the
house. Above everything, keep It
from Aunt Letitia as long as possible"
l locked the door into the disordered
room, and with my head whirling, |
went to look for Robert.
It takes short time to search an
acre Of lawn and shrubbery. There
was no trace of the missing woman
anywhere outside the house, and from
Bella, as she sat at the foot of the
front stairs with her apron over her
head. I learned in monosyllable that
nothing had been found in the house.
Margery was with Miss Letitia, and
from the excited conversation I knew
she was telling her---not narrowing
details, but that Miss Jane had d1sap-
peared during the night.
The old lady was inclined to scoff
at first.
Look in the fruit closet in the store
ROOM" / heard her say. "She's let
the spring lock shut on her twice: she
was black in the face the last time
we found her"
Il did look: she's not there Mar
gerry screamed at her.
Then she's out looking for stump
water to take that wart off her neck.
She said yesterday she was going for
some"
But her clothes are all here Mar
gerry persisted. I'VE think some one
must have got in the house
eff all her clothes are there she's
been sleep walking" Miss Letitia said
calrv "Wo used tn have to tie her