The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-07-02

AA,"S "N"S ~ SCcGCLudJ VI IOuNJ W
the person owning it. Superintendent
Seegrave,' added the sergeant, turning
to me, pointed the attention Of the
women servants to the smear when
they all crowded into the room on
Thursday morning. That may turn
out, Mr.. B~etteredge. to have been one
more of Superintendent Seegrave's
many mistakes"
My lady desired me to ring the bell
and order the washing book. She re-
manned with us until it was produced
in case Sergeant Cuff had any further
request to make of her after looking
at it.
Rosanna Spearman. The girl had come
down to breakfast that morning mis-
erably pale and haggard, but sufficient
ly recovered from her illness Of the pre-
vious day to do her usual work. Ser
geant Cuff looked attentively at II
second housemaid-at her face when
she came in, at her crooked shoulder
when she went out.
Have you anything more to say to
me?" asked my lady, still as eager as
eve to be out of the sergeant's society.
The great Cuff opened the washing
book, understood it perfectly in half a
minute and shut it up again. II ven
ture to trouble your ladyship with one
last question:" he said. Has the young
woman who brought us this book been
in your employment as long as the 9TH
err s~ervants?"
"Why do you ask? said my lady.
1.-The last time l saw her." answered
theft"
After that there was no help for it
but to tell him the truth. My mistress
dwelt strongly on Rosanna's good con-
duct in her service and on the high
opinion entertained Of her by the ma
tron of the reformatory. you don't
suspect her, l hope:" my lady added in
conclusion very earnestly.
II have already told your ladyship
that l don't suspect any person in the
house Of thieving up to the present
time"
After that answer my lady rose to go
upstairs and ask for Miss Rachel's
keys. The sergeant was beforehand
with me in opening the door for her.
He made a very low bow. My lady
shuddered as she passed him.
We waited and waited, and no keys
appeared. Sergeant Cuff made no re-
mark to me. He turned his melan-
oI,y- Noo. IN +l1 -}~10up. no r,1f hiQ
lanky hands into his pockets, and he
whistled "The Last Rose of Summer"
drearily to himself.
At last Samuel came in. not with the
keys, but with a morsel Of paper
for me
"Any news of Miss Verinder's keys?
asked the sergeant.
"My young lady refuses to have he1
wardrobe examined"
"Ah!" said the sergeant.
His voice was not quite in such &
perfect state of discipline as his face
When he said "Ah!" he said 1t in the
tone of a man who had heard some
thing which he expected to hear. HI
half angered and half frightened me-
why. l couldn't tell but he did it.
"Must the search be given up?"
asked.
eyes" said The sergeant, "the search
must be given up because your young
lady refuses to submit to it like the
rest. We must examine all the ward
robes in the house or zone. Send Mr.
Ablewhite's portmanteau to Londo1
by the next train. and return the wash
ing book. with my compliments ant
thanks. to the young woman WIN
brought it in"
"You don't seem to be much disap
pointed" I said.
NO." said Sergeant Cuff: "1'm no
much disappointed.' I tried to MAKE
him explain himself.
"Come out into the garden" he said
land let's have a look at the roses"
The nearest way to the garden, OF
going out of my lady's sitting room
was by the shrubbery path. We mus
now try to solve the mystery Of tn
smear on the door. which. you ma.
take my word for it. means the mys
terry Of the diamond also-in some 9th
er way. l have decided to see the sci
wants and to search their thoughts ant
actions, Mr.. Betteredge. instead o
searching their wardrobes. Before
begin. however, l want to ask you
question or two. You are an observan
man. Did you notice any thing strang
in any Of the servants, making due a
lowance. of course. for fright and flus
ter. after the loss of the diamond wa
found out? Any particular quarre
among them? Any one of them not il
his or her usual spirits? Unexpected,
out Of temper, for instance, OF unex
pectedly taken ill?'
l had Just time to think Of Rosann
Spearman's sudden illness at yestel
days dinner, but not time to make an
answer, when I saw Sergeant Cuff
; eyes suddenly turn aside toward tn
shrubbery, and I heard him say softl
:, to himself, "Halloo."