The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-01-16

i
life insurance agent to his lady-loVe-
interesting, you know. and alllterative.
As for that woman"
What woman!" said Miss Sum-
mers' voice from behind US. We
jumped and turned II always save
myself trouble. so IL by any chance
you are discussing me-"
"As 1t happens Miss Cobb said
glancing at her. Il was discussing
you"
"Fine!" said Miss Julia. 'T love to
talk about myself"
II doubt IL 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?"
MY letters-that you took out OF my
room!"
Look here" Miss Julia said, still
in a 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 thew" And
then she caught my eye, and l guess
looked stricken. "Oh!" she said.
Miss Cobb was robbed the other
night" l explained, as quietly as l
could. Somebody went into her room
and took a bundle of letters"
"Letters!" Miss Summers straight
ened and looked at me.
And my woolen tights" said Miss
Cobb Indignantly. And I'll tell you
this, Miss Summers, your dog got
in my room that night, and while
have no suspicious, the chambermaid
found my-er-missing garment this
morning in your closet!"
81 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
I've never been in your room.
haven't got the letters. I've never
seen them" Then a light dawned i'll
her face. I-oh. it's the funniest
ever!"
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. TITS
But, oh, Minnie, to have
seen your face!"
Miss Cobb swept to the door and
turned in fury.
81 do not think 1t is funny" she
stormed, "and 1 shall report to Mr..
Carter at once what l have discov-
cred"
She banged out, and Miss Julia put
1er head on a card table and writhed
with joy. ITO have seen your face,
Minnie!" she painted, wiping her eyes.
TO have thought you had Dick Car
.er's letters, that keep rolled in as
1estos, and then to have opened them
md found they were to Miss Cobb!"
'Be as happy as you like" snapped,
but you are barking up the wrong
rec. / don't know anything about
my letters and as far as that goes,
10 you think I've lived here fourteen
,ears to get into the wrong room at
light? II I'd wanted to get into your
Dom, I'd have found your room, not
Miss Cobb's."
She sat up and pulled her hat
straight, looking me right in the eye.
"If you'll recall" she said, Il came
nto the springhouse, and Arabella
pulled that-garment of Miss Cobb's
IF table. 1t was early-nobody was
'ut yet. You were alone, Minnie, or
TO-" she said suddenly, "you were not
lone. Minnie, who was in the pam
ry?"
What has that to do with it?" l
with my feet as cold as
tone.
She got up and buttoned her sweat
II.
Don't trouble to lie," she said. II
an see through a stone wall as well
s most people. Whoever got those
etters thought they were stealing
line, and there are only two people
Tho would try to steal my letters; '
ne is Dick Carter, and the other is
is brother-in-Iaw. 1t wasn't Sam in /
le pantry-he came in just after with
is little snip Of a wife" t
I"Well?" l managed
But she was smiling again, not so 6
t
Il might have known til" she said v
What fool I've been, Minnie, and
Ow clever you are under that red a
latch of yours! Dicky cannot appear
J long as am here, and Pierce takes
Is place, and help to keep the secret "
Id to play the game! Well, / can ap-
rebate a joke on myself as well as Ii
ost people, but-Minnie, Minnie, II
ink of that guilty wretch Of Dicky a
arter shaking in the pantryl" P
II don't know what you are talking
,out,' said, but she only winked and c.
ent to the door. p
Don't take it too much to heart"
10 advised. "Too much loyalty is Al
ce, not a virtue. And another piece in
advice, Minnie--when | find Dicky
lrter, stand from under; something II
III faIl." al
They had charades during the rest