Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1913-12-26

spring. "oh, Miss Cobb. if only he
would use a little bit Of sense!"
"He?" she said. HE nothing! It's
that Summers woman I'm talking
about, Minnie. l knew that woman
wasn't what she ought to be the min
ute set eyes on her"
"The Summers wnan!" l repeated.
Miss Cobb leaned over the railing
and shook finger in my face.
"The Summers woman" she said.
"One of the chambermaids found my
my protectors hanging in the crea-
ture's closet!"
/ couldn't speak. There had been
so much happening that I'd clean for
gotten Miss Cobb and her woolen
tights. And now to have them come
back like this and hang themselves
around my neck, so to speak-it was
too much.
"Per-perhaps they're hers" said
weakly after a minute.
"Stuff and nonsense!" declared Miss
Cobb. Don't you think 1 know my
own, with L. c. in white cotton on the
band, and my own darning in the knee
where slipped on the ice? And more
than that, Minnie, where those tights
are, my letters are!'
l glanced at the pantry, where her
letters were hidden on the upper shelf
The door was closed.
"But-but what would she want
with the letters?" l asked, with my
teeth fairly hitting together. Miss
Cobb pushed her forefinger into my
shoulder
"To blackmail me- she said, in a
tragic voice, ''or perhaps to publish
I've often thought of that myself
they're so beautiful. Letters from a
life insurance. agent to his lady-love-
interesting, you know, and alliterative
As for that woman"
What woman!" said Miss Sum
mers voice from behind us. We
jumped and turned 81 always save
myself trouble, SO if by any chance
you are discussing me"
"As it happens" Miss Cobb said
glancing at her, 81 was discussing
you" ~
"Fine!" said Miss Julia. 81 love to
talk about myself"
II doubt if it's an edifying subject, >
Miss Cobb snapped.
Miss Julia looked at her and smiled
Perhaps not she. said, but inter
esting. Don't put yourself out to be
friendly to me, Miss Cobb, if you don't
feel like it."
Are you going to return my let
ters?" Miss Cobb demanded.
"Your letters?p
"My letters-that you took out of my
room!"
in good humor, don't you suppose
I've got letters of my own, without
bothering with another woman's?"
Perhaps" Miss Cobb replied in tri
umph, perhaps you will say that you
don't know anything of my-of my
black woolen protectors"
Never heard of them!" said Miss
Summers. What are they?" Ant
then she caught my eye, and l guess
l looked stricken. "Oh!" she said.
Miss Cobb was robbed the Other
night" l explained, as quietly as !
could. Somebody went into her room
and took bundle of letters
"Letters!" Miss Summers straight
ened and looked at me.
"And my wooden tights said Miss
Cobb Indignantly. And I'll tell you
this, Miss Summers, your dog go
in my room that night, and while
have no suspicious, the chambermait
found my missing garment thil
morning in your closet!"
| l'T don't believe Miss Julia said
looking hard at me, that Arabells
would steal anything so-er-gro
tesque! Do you mean to say" sh'
added slowly, that nothing was takel
from that room but the-lingerie ant
a bundle of letters" ?"
Exactly" said Miss Cobb, "and L,
thank you for the letters"
"The letters!" Miss Julia fetorted
| FI've never been in your rpom.
haven't got the letters. I've neve
seen them Then light davned il
her face. I-oh, it's the funnies
ever!"
And with that she threw her hea,
back and laughed until the tears role,
down her cheeks and she held he
side.
"Screaming!" she gasped. "It'
screaming! But, oh, Minnie, to hay,
seen your face!"
Miss Cobb swept to the door an,
turned in fury.
81 do not think it is funny" sh,
stormed, "and 1 shall report to MI
Carter at once what l have discov
cred"
She banged out, and Miss Julia lpu
her head on a card table and writhet
with joy. ITO have seen your face
Minnie!" she painted, wiping her eyes
''To have thought you had Dick Car
ter's letters, that I keep relied in as
bestos, and then to have opened thel
and found they were to Miss Cobb!",
BE as happy as you like" snappey
"but you are barking up the wron
tree. 1 don't know anything abou
any letters and as far as that goe,
do you think I've lived here fourtee
years to get into the wrong room a
night? If I'd wanted to get into you
room, I'd have found your room, nc
Miss Cobb's."
She sat up and pulled her hs