The Ordway new era., 1915-03-19

would use a little bit OF sense!"
Her" she said. He nothing! It's
that Summers woman I'm talking
about, Minnie. l knew that woman
wasn't what she ought to be the min
ute set eyes on her."
THE Summers woman!" repeated
Miss Cobb leaned over the railing
and shook finger in my face.
THE Summers woman" she eaid
"One Of the chambermaids found my
my protectors hanging in the crea.
ture's closet!"
couldn't speak. There had been
SO much happening that I'd clean for.
gotten Miss Cobb and her woolen
tights. And now to have them come
back like this and hang themselves
around my neck. SO to speak-it was
too much.
"Per-perhaps they're hers" l said
weakly after minute.
STUFF and nonsense!" declared Miss
Cobb. Don't you think l know my
own. with L. c. in white cotton on the
band and my own darning in the knee
where slipped on the ice? And more
than that. Minnie. where those tights
are, my letters are!"
glanced at the pantry. where her
letters were hidden on the upper shelf.
The door was closed.
"But-but what would she want
with the letters?" l asked, with my
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 30 beautiful. Letters from q
life insurance agent to his lady-love-
interesting. you know. and alliterative.
As for that woman"
What woman!" said Miss Sum-
mers' voice from behind us. We
jumped and turned. II always savd
myself trouble, 30 II by any chance
you are discussing me-"
"As 1t happens" Miss Cobb said
glancing at her. II was discussing
you"
"Fine!" said Miss Julia. "I love to
talk about myself"
81 doubt II it's an edifying eubtect." !"
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. II you don't
feel like It,"
Are you going 10 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 q good humor, don't you suppose
I've got letters of my own. without
with another womans?"
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
l looked stricken. "Oh!" she said.
Miss Cobb was robbed the other
night" explained. as quietly as l
could. Somebody went into her room
and took 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!'
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 elowly, that nothing was taken
from that room but the-lingerie and
a bundle of letters?" '.'M
Exactly" said Miss Cobb, "and I'd
thank you for the letters"
THE letters!" Miss Julia retorted
1--WE never been In your room.
haven't got the letters. I've never
seen them" Then a light dawned in
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. Its
screaming! But, on, Minnie, 10 nave
seen your face!"
Miss Cobb swept to the door and
turned in fury.
~ do not think 1t is funny" she
stormed, land I shall report to Mr..
Carter at once what l have discov-
ered.'
She banged out, and Miss Julia put
her head on a card table and writhed
with Joy. ITO have seen your face,
Minnie!" she painted, wiping her eyes.
ITO have thought you had, Dick Car
ter's letters, that l 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. I don't know anything about
any letters and as far as that goes,
do you think I've lived here fourteen
poor, 70 got trtN thA x,,ro-u