The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-07-09

picions in spite of all l could do to pre-
VEN it.
II hope you don't think Rosanna is
concerned in the loss Of the diamond"
l ventured to say.
The corners of the %sergeant's melan-
choly mouth curled up, and he looked
hard in my face-just as he had look
ed in the garden.
II think l had better not tell you, Mr..
Betteredge,' he said. "You might lose
your head, you know, for the second
time"
l began to doubt whether I had been
one too many for the celebrated Cuff,
after all! 1t was rather a relief to me
that we were interrupted here by a
knock at the door and a message from
the cook. Rosanna Spearman had ask.
ed to go out, for the usual reason, that
her head was bad and she wanted a
the sergeant I said. Eyes" (Which Is
the servants way out?" he asked when
the messenger had gone. I showed
him the servants way out. "Lock the
door of your room," says the sergeant,
"and if anybody asks for me say I'm
in there composing my mind" He
curled up again Mt the corners of the
lips and disappeared.
I walked out in the fine summer
evening, very sorry for the poor girl
and very uneasy in my mind generally
at the turn things had taken. Shortly
I again found myself face to face with
Sergeant Cuff.
II want a little information about
the country round here" said the SER
| geant.
I couldn't we'll object to improve Ser
geant Cuff in his geography.
as there any path in that direction
leading from the sea beach to this
house," asked the sergeant. He point
ed as he spoke to the fir plantation
which led to the Shivering Sand.
Yes" / said; there is a path"
"Show it to me-"
Side by side in the gray Of the sum-
mer evening Sergeant Cuff and l set
| forth for the Shivering Sand.
The sergeant remained silent. think
ing his WI thoughts, till we entered
the plantation Of frs which led to the
quicksand. There he reused himself
like a man whose mind was made w
and spoke to me again.
"Mr. ~Betteredge." he said, you are
determined to give me no information
to the prejudice of Rosanna Spearman
because she has been a good girl to
YOU and because you pity her heartily
Rosanna Spearman is not in the slight.
est danger of getting into trouble-no
Rosanna Spearman is simply an in.
strument In the hands of another per
son, and Rosanna Spearman will he
held harmless for that other persons
sake"
He spoke like a man in earnest
There was no denying that. Still,
felt something stirring uncasily against
him in my mind. Cant you give that
other person a name?" I said.
"Can't you, MI. Betteredge?"
no.
Sergeant Cuff stood stock still anG
surveyed me with a look of melan
choly interest.
cts always a pleasure to me to be
tender toward human intirmity," ht
said. II feel particularly tender a
the present moment. Mr.. B%etteredge
toward you. And you. with the SAM
excellent motive, feel particularly ten
der toward Rosanna Spearman, don
you? Do you happen to know whether
she has had a new outfit of linel
lately?"
What he meant by slipping in thi:
extraordinary question unawares l wa
at a total loss to imagine. Seeing N
possible injury to Rosanna if l owned
the truth, | answered that the girl hat
come to us rather sparely provided
with linen and that my lady in recon
pense for her good conduct laid f;
stress on her good cOnduct-had givel
her a new outfit not a fortnight since.
.This is a miserable world" says thu
sergeant. but for that outfit W.
should have discovered Il new night
gown or p%etticoat among Rosanna'.
things and have nailed her in that way
Surely you know what the girl wa.
about yesterday after she was take1
i'll? At II on Thursday morning Super
intendent Seegrave points out to all thu
women servants the smear on the door
Rosanna has her own reasons for sus
pecting her own things. She takes thu
first opportunity of getting to her room
finds the paint stain on her nightgown
or petticoat, or what not, shams i'll ant
slips away to the town, gets the mate
! rials for making q new petticoat o.