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

I'LL 10 ShASA ~ PiCNC 4C liz
of the female household from follow
ing me and Penelope upstairs in the
character of volunteer witnesses IN a
burning fever of anxiety to help Ser
geant Cuff.
The sergeant seemed to approve OF
Penelope. He became a trif1e less
drcary, and he looked much as he hao
looked when he noticed the white Isl
rose in the flower garden.
Penelope examined: Took a lively
interest in the painting Of the door,
having helped to mix the colors: no
ticed the bit Of work under the lock
because It was the last bit done; had
seen it some hours aftcrward without
a smear; had left it as late as IL at
night without a smear; had at mat
hour wished her young lady good nlght
in the bedroom: had heard b CLOCK
strike in the boudoir; had her hand
at the time on the handle Of the paint
ed door; knew the paint was wet. nav
ing helped to mix the colors, as afore-
said; took particular pains no to touch
it; could swear that she held up the
skirts of her dress and that there was
no smear or the paint then; could not
swear that her dress mightn't nave
touched it accidentally In going out'
remembered the dress she had on De-
cause it was new, a present from MISS
Rachel; her father remembered anu
could speak to it. too; could and woulo
and did fetch it; dress recognized by
her father as the dress she wore tnat
night; skirts examined, a long job from
the size Of them; not the ghost OF a
paint stain discovered anywhere.
The sergeant's next proceeding was
to question me about any large e
in the house who might have got INTO
the room and done the mischief with a
whisk of their tails. Hearing that this
was impossible, he next sent for a mag
nifying glass and tried how the smear
looked, seen that way. No skin mark,
as of a human hand, printed off on the
paint. All the signs visible-s1gns
which told that the paint had been
smeared by some loose article Of some
body's dress touching it in going by.
That somebody, putting together Pencil
ope's evidence and Mr.. Franklin's evil
dence, must have been in the room and
done the mischief between midnight
and 3 o'clock on the Thursday morn
ing.
Having brought his investigation to
this point, Sergeant Cuff discovered
that such a person as Superintendent
Seegrave was still left in the room,
upon which he summed up the proceed
ings for his brother officers benefit, as
, follows:
"This trife Of yours, Mr.. Superintend-
emit" a Y the sergeant, pointing to the
place on the door, "has grown a little
j, in Importance since you noticed 1t last.
You have got one of your men here,
see. Leave him here at my disposal
+ in case I want him and allow me to
wish you good morning."
= Superintendent Seegrave's respect for
the sergeant was great, but his respect
for himself was greater still. Hit hard
by the celebrated Cuff, he hit back
:, smartly to the best of his ability on
leaving the room.
II have abstained from expressing
any opinion so far" says Mr.. Super.
p. intendent. with his military voice still
= in good working order. II nave now
= only one remark to offer on leaving this
, case in our hands. There is such a
= thing. sergeant. as making a mountain
! out of a mole hill. Good morning"
u "There is also such a thing as making
nothing out of Il mole hill, in conse-
quence of your head being too high to
u see it," Having returned his brother
officers compliment in those terms. Ser
geant Cuff wheeled about and walked
away to the window by himself.
f Turning from the window after a
into the middle of the room and stop.
ped there. deep in thought, with bis
n eyes on Miss Rachel's bedroom door
u After a little he reused himself, nod,
ded his head, as much as to say, ''Tha,
l. will do" and, addressing me, asked fol
ten minutes conversation with my mis-
tress at her ladyship's earliest conven.
fence.
l found my lady in her own sitting
e room. She started and looked annoyed
y when l mentioned that Sergeant Cuff
wished to speak to her.
Must l see him?' she asked. Cant
you represent me. Gabriel:"
y" l felt at a loss to understand this
and showed it plainly, l suppose. il
IS my face. My lady was so good as tt
explain herself.
n II am afraid my nerves are a little
Shaken" she said. "There is some
II thing in that police officer from Lon
J" don which l recoil from. l don't know
a why. l have a presentiment that hi
l. is bringing trouble and misery Will
is him into the house. Very foolish ant
very unlike me, but so it is"
s l hardly knew what to say to this
The more l saw Of Sergeant Cuff thu
lr better l liked him. My lady rallied
little after having opened her heart t,
j. me. being naturally a woman of a higl