And he'll be back with the police in a minute now. Come on in with me,
Minnie."
"Lord!" exclaimed another voice. "Ain't it a good thing the missus is
away. She'd have highsteericks!"
Steps came somewhat hesitantly across the floor--from behind the desk,
Jimmie Dale could see that it was a maid, accompanied by a big, rawboned
woman, sleeves rolled to the elbows over brawny arms, presumably the
Mittels' cook.
The maid closed the French windows, there were no others in the room,
and bolted them; and, having gained a little confidence, gazed about
her.
"My, but wasn't he cute!" she ejaculated. "Cut the telephone wires, he
did. And ain't he made an awful mess! But the master said we wasn't to
touch nothing till the police saw it."
"And to think of it happening in OUR house!" observed the cook heavily,
her hands on her hips, her arms akimbo. "It'll all be in the papers, and
mabbe they'll put our pictures in, too."
"I won't get over it as long as I live!" declared the maid. "The yell
Mr. Mittel gave when he came downstairs and put his head in here,
and then him shouting and using the most terrible language into
the telephone, and then finding the wires cut. And me following him
downstairs half dead with fright. And he shouts at me. 'Bella,' he
shouts, 'shut those windows, but don't you touch a thing in that room.
I'm going for the police.
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