Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-01-15

teeth fairly hitting together. Miss
Cobb pushed her forefinger into my
shoulder.
ITO 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-loye-
interesting, you know, and alliterative.
As for that woman"
What woman!" said Miss Sum-
mers' voice from behind us. We
jumped and turned. Y always save
myself trouble, so IL by any chance
you are discussing me-"
"As it happens" Miss Cobb said
glancing at her, Il was discussing
you"
''Fine!" said Miss Julia. 81 love to
talk about myself"
Il 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, IL you don't
feel like it."
Are you going to return my let
tersT" Miss Cobb demanded.
Your letters?"
MY letters-that you took out of my
room!"
Look here" Miss Julia said, still
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 wooden protectors?"
"Never heard of them" said Miss
Summers. What are they?" And
then she caught my eye, and guess
looked stricken. "Ohl" she said.
Miss Cobb was robbed the other
night" | 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 got
in my room that night, and while
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
bundle of letters?"
Exactly said Miss Cobb, "and I'd
thank you for the letters"
1.-THE letters!" Miss Julia retorted.
I've never been In your room.
haven't got the letters, I've never
seen them" Then light dawned in
her face. Lob, 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. Its
screaming, But oh, Minnie. to have
seen your facet"
Miss Cobb swept to the door and
turned III lury.
Il do not think it is funny" she
stormed. "and shall report to Mr..
Carter at once what l have discov-
cred" ef t4a
She banged out, and Miss Julia put
her head on card table and writhed
with Joy. ITO have seen your face,
Minniel" she painted. wiping her eyes.
ITO have thought you had Dick Car
ter's letters, that | 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. 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? II I'D wanted TO get into your
room, 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
into the sprihghouse. and Arabelia
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?" 1
managed. with my feet as cold as
stone.
She got up and buttoned her sweat
err. n
Don't trouble to lie," she said. II
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-in-law, 1t wasn't Sam In
the pantry-he came in just after with
his little snip of a wife,
''Well?" / managed.
But she was smiling again. not. so
pleasantly.
Il might have known it," she said.
what a fool I've been, Minnie, and
how clever you are under that red
thatch of yours! Dicky cannot appear
T. b
as long as ! am here, and Pierce takes
his place. and help to keep the secret
and to play the game! Well. can ap-
preciate joke on myself as well as
most people, but-Minnie. Minnie,
think of that guilty wretch Of DickY
Carter shaking In the pantry!"
Il don't know what you are talking
about" said, but she only winked and
went to the door.
Don't take 1t too much to heart"
she advised. TOO much loyalty is a
vice, not virtue. And another piece
of advice. Minnie-when find Dicky
Carter. stand from under; something
win fall"
They had charades during the rest
hour that afternoon. the oyerWeights