Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-03-24
CHAPTER X.
Z Make . Discovery.

much engrossod with my own affairs
to pay the invalid much attention.
Once or twice during the day I had
stopped In to see her. and had been
received frigidly and With marked dis
approval. was in disgrace, Of course.
after the scene In the dining room tho
night before. had stood like .
naughty child. Just inside the door,
and replied meeAly when she said the
pillows were overstuffed. and why
didn't have the linen slips rinsed In
starch water! She laid the blame Of
her illness on me. as have said be-
fore. and she made Jim read to her in
the afternoon from Q book she carried
with her, Goals Of Fire on the Do
nestle Hearth" marking places for
me TO read.
She sent for me that night. just
O. had taken OF my gown: 30 I
threw on . dressing gown and went
in. To my horror, Jim was already
there. At gesture from Aunt Sc
lima, he closed the door into the hall
and tiptoed back beside the bed.
where he sat staring at the figures
on tho silk comfort.
Aunt selina's first words were:
where's that dibberty.gibbet-
Jim looked at me.
"she must mean Betty" I explain
"a. "she has gone to bed. think
Observation-Disclosures - ROOM
again" she said. with awful emphas.
sis. "5he 10 an infamous creature"
"Oh. como now. Aunt Selma" Jim
broke In: she's foolish. perhaps. but
she's Q nice little thing" Aunt Sc.
lina's face was curious study. Then
she raised herself on her elbow. and
taking . nat chamoisskin bag from
under her pillow. held It out.
my cameo breastpAn." abe said
solsmnly: my cu6buttons with gold
rims and storks painted on china in
the middle: my watch. that has put
me 70 bed and got me up for forty
ysars. ana my OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
With he doors Hooked under my noso.s
Witch was ambiguous.s but foeeibIs.
"But. good gracious. Miss Car
Aunt eeiinai" ! exclaimed, you don't
think Betty Mercer took those
things!"
mo-" she said srimly; II think
I probably got up in my slssp and
lighted the Ars with them. Of sent EN-
out for walk" Then she stuffed
the bag sway ana sa& up resolutely IN
bed.
''Have you made upi" she demand.
Cd. looking from one 20 the other OF
~. bella, don't toll mo you stu
persist in that nonsense"
Whist nonsense!" / asked, getting
ready 70 run.
''That you do not love him."
Him.
James" she snapped frritably. DO
you suppose mean the policeman"
I looked over ct Jimmy. She had goe
mo By tho hand. and Jimmy WAS ms
king frantic gestures 70 tell her the
whole thing ana b done with Il. But
I had gone too far. The min Of the
gods had crushed me already. and !
didn't propose 10 b drawn out hide
ously msnsled and held up % an q.
ample for the next two or three
weokD, although Il was clear enough
that Aunt Selma disapprovsd OF me
thoroughly. ana would have been glad
enough TO md that no tie save the
board Of health held us together. And
then Bella came IN. and you wouldn't
have known her. She had put on Q
straight white woolen wrapper. and
she had her hair In two long braids
down her back. She looked Ike .
nice widesysd little girl In her
teens. and she had some lobster salad
and . glass Of port On . tray. When
che cav the situation che put tho
things down and had the nastinsss to
stay and listen.
I'm not blind" Aunt Selma said.
with one eye On the tray. you two
silly children adore each other:
saw some things last night"
Bella took step forward: then she
stopped and shrugged her shoulders.
Jim was purple.
II saw you kiss her In the dining
room. remember that!" Aunt Selma
went on. giving the screw another
turn.
Il was Bella's turn to be excited.
She gave me IN awful stare. then che
axed her eyes On Jim.
Besides" Aunt Selma went on.
you told mo today that you loved
her. Don't deny Il, James"
Bella couldn't keep quiet another in
slant. She came over and stood at
the foot Of the bed.
"Piease dont excite yourself. dear
Miss Cafuthsrs." she said. In . voice
IKE ice. every enc knows that he
loves her: he simply ovsrAews with
Il. lit 10 quite hysword among
their friends. They have been sitting
together In Q oos1sS ell evening"
Yes, that was what che said: when
had not spokoa 70 Jimmy the whole
time IN the dsn. Bella was catfish.
and she vas Jealous, too, I turned on
my heel and went to the door, then
turned 70 her, with my hand on tho
knob,
You haye been uisinfssmsd,"
said coldly. "You caa net possibly