Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 70, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 March 1914 — HER ACID TONGUE [ARTICLE]

HER ACID TONGUE

By JOHN BEAUMONT.

"See here,” said Chester hotly. “If you think I stole the ring, why don't you sayao and search me?” "Vincent," cried Elvia. “How can you say such a thing?” ‘Tn ■lmply putting into words -what Miss Celeste has been hinting lor the last ten minutes,” he cried. "Celeste may have been unfortunate in her remarks,” said John Noailes soothingly, ‘‘blit she meant nothing of that sort"

Vincent Chester laughed. Ever since Miss Celeste Noailes descended upon her brother's household at the death of his wife, she had fought Vincent He was a boy then but even then in love with Elvia and Miss Celeste had higher ideas of matrimony for her very attractive niece. This evening the two had been examining a ring and somehow, none knew how, It had disappeared. They had hunted all over for it, but it could not be found and it was to be expected that Miss Celeste’s acid tongue would but thinly veil her suspicious thoughts. “If Mr. Chester's conscience is uneasy,” chuckled Miss Celeste, ‘‘l can understand that hfe takes to himself purely impersonal' speeches.” Vincent turned to Mr. Noailes. “Will you search me, sir?” he asked.

“Nonsense,” cried his host. “Celeste, for heaven's sake keep still. My boy, no one believes that you would steal anything—except one thing.” He patted Elvia’s shoulder meaningly to explain his last sentence, and thereby added fuel to Miss Celeste’s flame.

“I don’t see why he should not be searched,” she fumed. “The ring was here a moment ago and now It is gone.” “You see,” said Vincent. “Again I ask you to search me.” “My boy, you were not a day old when I first took you in my arms,” said Mr. Noailes. “I would as soon accuse myself of crime as to believe it of you.” "Well, if you won’t,” said Vincent briskly, “I’ll have to do it myself, I guess.” Rapidly he turned out the contents of his pockets, spreading them on the table, John Noailes sprang forward as though to stop him, but Elvia laid a detaining hand upon his shoulder. “It is better so,” she whispered. “It is the only way to convince auntie.” They stood silent until the things had been returned to Chester’s pockets, then Mr. Noailes stepped forward.

“This should satisfy you, Celeste,” he said sternly. “I want to tell you that if you ever raise the question again I shall not condone your second offense.” “Very well,” said Miss Celeste with a shrug of her shoulders. “Since I seem to be so much in the way here I suppose that Mr. Chester will permit me to retire." She swept grandly from the room, leaving the three to face each other uncomfortably. All knew that Miss Celeste was not satisfied, and were fearful of her next outbreak. Each tried to appear at ease, but tte pleasure of the visit was gone and presently Chester made an excuse for taking his departure. Elvia followed him to the door.

“Will you drop in tomorrow evening?” she asked. “We shall probably be able to tell you then where we found the ring,” , “I am afraid that I cannot get around,” he said uncomfortably, “If you find it will you write?” “ WonT you cbrnF over?”pleaded Elvia, .but Vincent shook his head. He had been shocked by the accusation, and not even the belief of Elvia and her father could salve his wounded feelings yet. It seemed almost as though he were passing out of Elvla’s life. Up in her room Miss Celeste was 'Sitting at her writing table, while her busy pen covered sheet after sheet of note paper. Not until she had written a dozen pages did she cease her work ■and then going over to her bureau she unlocked the upper drawer and ■drew forth a gaudy title-page. From the inside of this she clipped a •coupon which she attached to the letter before slipping it into an envelope.

A year before, while visiting the city, she had been tempted to visit a vaudeville theater at which a man and woman known as the X-Rays were creating a sensation with some mind reading accomplishments. Always inclined to the supernatural, she had been greatly impressed by the Rays’ accomplishment and had slipped back the next afternoon to purchase some of the books which gave her the right to ask questions by mail. Once or twice since then she had consulted the oracle and now she was writing for advice as to the whereabouts of the ring. It was well for ■her faith that she was not present at the answering of her question. Two young men sat before a table in u cheap theatrical boarding house when a messenger entered with a package of letters to add to the pile on the table. One of them caught the thick blue envelope up. "Hare's another whole boot to be answered," he laughed as he slit open the cover. "Twelve pages,” he gasped as he turned over the closely written pages. "She must want her money’s worth." "What’s the question?" laughed the «tter. "Love or theft?"

"Something about a ring," chuckled the first as he read the first paragraph. "Listen. ‘At several crises In my life,’" he read, “‘I have turned to you for adviee, and you have never failed me. Now, in sore distress of mind, I come to you for advice as to a ring, which I have reason to believe was stolen. I . will acquaint you with the facts in the —’ ”

“Cut it,” urged the other. “Just use the old stand-by. ‘Your first suspicion was correct.’ That’ll do as good as anything.” The reader scribbled on the pad of paper before him and slipped it in the return enveldpe. A couple of days later Miss Celeste read the confirmation of her Suspicion and bore it in triumph to her brother. John Noailes came as close to swearing at a woman as he had ever done in his life, but he checked his temper and solemnly warned her of the folly of giving heed to the charlatans. But even as he spoke he knew that nothing~wouEFcofivihce her of Vincent’s innocence save the finding of the ring.— Gradually it became noised about the town that the spirits had told Miss Noailes that Chester was a thief. Vincent had not been near the house since that night, and the apparent break verified the gossip. It began to look ugly for his prospects when Miss Noailes was moved to entertain a few friends,

Elvia sat apart from the rest trying to appear interested in the conversation while her thoughts were with Vincent, when suddenly Miss Celeste sat up in her chair. “That miserable kitten has, brought a bone in here?” she cried as an irregular rattle on the hardwood floor broke upon her ears. “She is forever playing with bones.”

Elvia sprang toward bfer aunt. The kitten was one Vincent had given her, and for that reason disliked by Miss Celeste. Just as they turned to the heavy cap cabinet under which the kitten was playing Shah bounded Out from under the low-sitting cabinet in pursuit Of his plaything. Elvia’s startled cry scared him and he scampered off, abandoning his toy. Elvia pounced upon it. “Do you remember that Shah was playing in here that night?” she cried. “This is what he was playing with.” She held up a jeweled circle. “The ring dropped on the floor and the sparkle of the diamond attracted Shah. As long as he was on the rug we did not hear him. He must have knocked it under the cabinet. Nelli J never sweeps under there; look.” She caught up a light cane and poked under the cabinet. The dirt she swept out showed that the ring could easily have lain there since its loss.

“Perhaps you will believe the Rays now,” laughed John Noailes, coming forward. “I guess I’ll call up Vincent.” “I’ll call him,” volunteered Elvia “I guess you had better, daughter,” he laughed. “You can promise anything if he will come over,” Elvia’s promise must have been attractive, for Chester borrowed an automobile to come in, and after Miss Celeste had humbled herself to ’an apology, John Noailes insisted that that ring be the engagement one.