News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1914-02-11

umph, perhaps you will say that you
don't know anything of my-of my
black wooden protectors?"
Never heard of them!" said Miss
Summers. What are they?" And
then she caught my eye, and | guess
l looked stricken. "Oh!" she said.
Miss Cobb was robbed tAe other
night" I explained, as quietly as !
could. Somebody went into her room
and took a 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 got
in my room that night, and while l
have no suspicious, the chambermaid
found my-er-missing garment this
morning in your closet!"
Il don't believe" Miss Julia said,
looking hard at me, that Arabella
would steal anything so-er-gro.
tesque! Do you mean to say" she
added slowly, that nothing was taken
from that room but the--lingerie and
a bundle of letters?"
Exactly" said Miss Cobb, and I'd
thank you for the letters"
"The letters!" Miss Julia retorted.
Give never been in your room.
haven't got the letters. I've never
seen them" Then a light dawned in
her face. oh, it's the funniest
eyer!"
And with that she threw her head
back and laughed until the tears rolled
down her cheeks and she held her
side.
Screaming" she gasped. ITS
screaming! But, oh, Minnie, to have
seen your facet"
Miss Cobb swept to the door and
turned in fury.
81 do not think it is funny" she
stormed, land / shall report to Mr.
Carter at once what / have disccv.
cred"
She banged out, and Miss Julia put
her head on a card table and writhed
with joy. ITO have seen your face,
Minnie!" she painted, wiping her eyes.
ITO have thought you had Dick Car.
ter's letters, that l keep rolled in as.
bestos, and then to have opened them
and found they were to Miss Cobb"
"Be as happy as you like" snapped
"but you are barking up the wrong
tree. l don't know anything about
any letters and as far as that goes
do you, think I've lived here fourteen
years to get into the wrong room at
night? If I'd wanted to get into your
room, I'd have found your room, not
Miss Cohb's."
She sat up and pulled her hat
straight, looking me right in the eye.
IF you'll recall" she said, q came
into the springhouse, and Arabella
pulled that-garment of Miss Cobb's
off table. 1t was early-nobody was
out yet You were alone, Minnie, or
no. she said suddenly, you were not
alone. Minnie, who was in the pan.
try?
What has that to do with it?" l
managed, with my feet as cold as
stone.
She got up and buttoned her sweat |
er.
Don't trouble to lie," she said. 81 |
can see through a stone wall as well |
as most people. Whoever got those
letters thought they were stealing
mine, and there are only two people
who would try to steal my letters;
one is Dick Carter, and the other is
his brother-inlaw. 1t wasn't Sam in
the pantry-he came in just after with
his little snip of a wife"
"Well?" l managed.
But she was smiling again, not so
q might have known it," she said.
What a fool I've been, Minnie, and
how clever you are under that red
hatch of yours! Dicky cannot appear I
rs long as am here, and Pierce takes
lis place, and help to keep the secret
ind to play the game! Well, car APP
,reciate a joke on myself as well as
most people, but-Minnie, Minnie,
hink of that guilty wretch Of Dicky
Jarter shaking in the pantry"
Il don't know what you are talking
bout" said, but she only winked ard
vent to the door.
Don't take 1t too much to heart"
he advised. TOO much loyalty Is a
ice, not a virtue. 49, another piece
advice, Minnie-when ! find Dicky
arter, stand from under; something
ill fall"
They had charades during the rest
our that afternoon, the overwei hts
eaded by the bishop, against the IN
erweights headed by Mr.. Moody. They i
elected their words from one of Tor
ce Fletcher's books, and az Mr.. Pierce
asn't either over or underweizlt,
ley asked him to be referee.
oh, they were crazy about him BY
lat time. II was "Mr. Carter" here
nd dear Mr.. Carter" there. with ',e
omen knitting him neckties and the
en- coming up to be bullied and ask
g for more. And he kept the ul.,.t
and, too, once he got it.
But il Mr.. Pierce was making a hit
it'll the guests. he wasn't so pcr''or
it'll the Vaa' Alstvnes or the Carriers. /
he night the cigar stand was ED
r. Sam came to me and leaned r
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