The Argosy — page 301: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A Great Mystery, 283 way over the débris to examine the shutters. “ They have not been forced in any way : they have simply been opened. The window also.” ‘* And neither window nor shuttess could be opened from the outside without force,” remarked Miss Deveen. “I fear, George, you must have forgotten this room when 1. 1 shut up last night.” “Indeed, ma’am, I did not forget ii,’ was the respectful answer. “I assure you I bolted the window and barred the shutters as I always do.” Janet Carey, standing in mute wonder like the rest of us, testified to this. ‘ When I came in here last night to get a needle and thread to mend. Miss Whitney’s dress, I ::m sure the shutters were shut: I noticed that they were.” , Cattledon, would not listen. She hid taken up her own opinion of George’s neglect, and sharply told Janet not to be positive. Janet looked frightfully white and wan this morning, worse than a ghost. “Oh my goodness!” cried Helen Whitney, appearing on the scene. “If even I saw such a thing !” ‘¢T never did—in all my life,” cricd Cattledon. ‘“‘ Have you lost any valuable. trom the secretary, Miss Deveen?” “My dear Helen, there were no valuables in the secretary to lose,” was Miss Deveen’s answer. ‘Sometimes I keep money in it—a little but last night there happened te be none. Of course the thieves could not know that, and must have been zreatly disappointed. If they did not come in through the window--whiv, they must have got in else- where.” Miss Deveen spoke ina dubious tone. that too plainly showed her own doubts on the point. (George felt himseff and his word re- flected upon. “Tf I had indeed forgotten this window last night, ma’am—though for me to do such a thing seems ne\vt door to impossible—I would con- fess to it at once. I can be upon my wath, ma’am, if put to it, that I made all secure here at dusk.” : “Then, George, you had better look ro your other doors and win- dows,” was the reply of his mistress. The other doors and windows were looked to: but no trace cou d be found of how the thieves got in. .\tler breakfast, we succeeded in put- ting the room tolerably straight. ‘Ihe letters and bills took most time, for every one was lying open. .\nd alter it was all done, Miss Deveen came to the conclusion that nothine had been taken. ‘Their object must have been mouev.”’ she observed. “It is a good thing I happened to carry my cash-box up-stairs yesterday. Sometimes I leave it here in the secretary.” “ And was much in it?” one of us asked. ‘*Not very much. More, thorch, thin one cares to lose®a)little gold and a bank-note.” ECOMicoOOKS.CoOm