The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1911-04-13
CHAPTER XII,
Make a Discovery.

NSdiiy, nave lelt aunt Selma rath'
er out OF 1t. but she was important as
u cause, not as a result; at least at
nrst. She came out strong later.
believe she was a very nice old WON
an, with strong likes and prejudices,
which she was perfectly willing to pay
Tor. At least, ! only presume she had
likes; | know she had prejudices.
Nobody ever understood why Bella
consented to take Betty's place with
Aunt Selma. AS for me, | was too
much engrossed with M own affairs
to pay the invalid much attention
once or twice during the day | had
stopped In TO see her, and had been
received frigidly ard with marked dis
approval. was in disgrace, of course,
AFTER the scene in the dining room the
night before. | had stood like a
naughty child, just inside the door,
n replied meekly 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-
lore, and she made Jim read to her in
the afternoon from a 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, tust
as l had taken off my gown; so I
Threw on a dressing gown and went
IN 10 my horror, Jim was already
there. At a gesture from Aunt Sc
INA, he closed the door into the hall
and tiptoed back beside the bed.
where he sat staring at the figures
on the silk comfort.
Aunt Selina's first words were:
Where's that fibberty-gibbet? ?"
Jim looked at me.
She must "a Betty" I explain
cd she has gone to bed, | think"
"Dont-let-her-in-this - room
again. h said. with awful emphas-
sis. She is an Infamous creature"
"Oh, come now, Aunt Selma" Jim
broke in; shes foolish, perhaps. but
she's a nice little thing Aunt Sc
lina's face was a curious study, Then
she raised herself on her elbow, and
taking a fiat chamois-skin bag from
under her pillow, held it out.
My m breastpin," she said
solemnly; my Cuffbuttons with gold
rims and storks painted on china in
the middle; my watch, that has put
me TO bed and got me up for forty
years, and my money-s510.40!-taken
with the doors locked under my nose"
Which was ambiguous, but forcible.
But, good gracious, Miss Car
Aunt selina!" exclaimed, you don't
think Betty Mercer took those
things?"
NO." she said grimly; 81 think
probably got up in my sleep and
lighted the fire with them, or sent EN-
for a walk" Then she stuffed
the bag away and sat up resolutely in
bed.
Have o made up?" she demand
looking from one to the other of
Bella, don't tell me you still
persist in that nonsense"
What nonsense?" / asked. getting
ready to run.
That you do not love him."
Him"
James" she snapped irritably. do
suppose | mean the policeman"
looked over at Jimmy. She had got
me by the hand, and Jimmy was ma
king frantic gestures to tell her the
whole thing and be done with it. But
had gone too far. The mill of the
gods had crushed me already, and |
1idnt propose to be drawn out hide
mangled and held up as an ex-
ample for the next two or three
weeks, although II vas clear enough
hat Aunt Selma disapproved of me
thoroughly, and would have been glad
to find hat no tie save the
BOARD of health held us together. And ,
hen Bella came in. and you wouldn't
known her. She had put on a
straight white wooden wrapper, and
he had her hair in two long braids
Town her back. She looked like a
lice wide-eyed little girl in her
Gems, and she had some lobster salad
nd a glass of port on a tray. When
he saw the situation she put the
Kings down and had the nastiness to
tay and listen. '
I'm not blind" Aunt Selma said.
nth one eye on the tray. You two
lily children adore each "tAer; l
aw some things last night"
Bella took a step forward; then sho
topped and shrugged her shoulders
i'm was purple. +,