The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-04-26
THAT eRowN-HAfREp WOMAN.


( salo, accept congratulations on your ap-
. preaching wedding. I have told most OF
the boys and everybody is delighted Our
compliments 70 Miss Burnett. Don't hurry
he me. We're getting on nicely and YOU
are entitled 70 as long vacation as YOU
wish.
i kate to intrude business al this par
ticular time. but YOU remember the dia-
mcnd brooch that was stolen just before
you left by those women a. the Jerning-
ham. Well we've got q clew. and ODDLY
enough the women have been traced to
Manchester. Fraak Patterson. the de-
tectIve. is entitled to all the credit. Hes
doing fine work on the case and viii call
on you about the time you get this.
What l want TO ask is that You help
him all you can. You know you bought
the gems and chose the setting yourself,
and you're the very man TO identity them,
etc"
D the brooch growied Pringley.
4 suppose I'm expected 10 sit here now
till that fool detective comes.
And he did sit there till Corinne Bur
nett. his hancee. came driving along in
her dog cart with Fanny Galloway. her
chum and confdante, sitting beside her.
Got a secret for you. Corinne," laugh
ed Pringley, going down TO the cart.
Better let me drive Down 20 the post
Office" pOuted Miss Galloway, with 2
tess of her uncovered brown curls.
But you'll drive back for luncheon"
the man asked.
She grimaced saucitly at him. and drove
away as Corinns leaped lightly to the
ground. Pringley brought an easy chair
for Miss Burnett, and when they were
tete-a-tete in a corner of the veranca
showed her the letter. He expected her
to scold about it, but she was delighted.
''Itll be splendid she gurgled. Wen
all turn detective. You know / perfect
~ adore detectives-so mysterious, so
brave, so cunning. Do let me tell Fanny
about it. She's awfully cute and be-
tween US all maybe we can help Mr..
Patterson"
so the business which he had dread
60 became a new topic OF delight for the
lovers, and before noon they were posi-
lively longing for the arrival OF the
sleuth. Miss Galloway did not come back
for luncheon, and. fond as they were of
her, they rejoiced as lovers always do
under such circumstances. Toward even
ing they strolled toward the beach past
the cottage hotel where the girls lived.
routed Fanny from her letter writing and
donned their bathing garments. When
they had frolicked for a while in the surf
Pringley noticed a very handsome young
man, a newcomer, sitting in the sand,
more intent upon the bathers than upon
the sea or its vigorous sport
Cant be the detective" thought Pring-
ley, too high-toned for that
But a few moments later, when he
searched for the watcher. he was gone.
Pringley and his sweetheart parted much
earlier than usual that night, and when
he reached his hotel the decorous young
gentleman of the beach was sitting
smoking on the veranda.
Mr.. Pringley of Scott g. Pringley, I
believer" he said, softly.
Yes You're Mr.. Patterson" The
young merchant extended his friendly
hand, but the detective as he shook It
looked confused and said nothing. Lets
go TO my ROOM. said Pringley. leading
the way.
you know why I'm here" began Pat
terson, after he had locked the door,
and III begin by saping that I'm sorry
to he mixed in this case at ALL
''Why?"
LET me ask you one question first. Did
you tell Miss Burnett anything?"
7 did Why?''
There you made mistake; at least
from my point of view. Either she or
Miss Galloway stole"
stop" roared Pringley, getting purple
with anger.
"Sh-shl The thing is up to you You
are one Of the partners. If you say the
word I'll catch the next train for New
y
my best to catch the thief"
But for Gods sake, man, don't go so
fast. Miss Burnett is a perfect
She's an actress, or was, and so is
Miss Galloway. You never saw either OF
them until YOU came here two months
ago. did you? Well. I did. ! traced them
here from the birmingham, and know ex-
actly when they arrived, and"
And what?"
That the brooch is in Miss Getaways
trunk right now. I saw It this afternoon
while You were bathing"
Then it's Fanny
That's what ] think don't even say
they're accomplices / suspect though
that Miss Burnett knows hope 1t
turns out that way for your sake but
my duty is as plain as day"
What do you propose?"
''To arrest them both"
well. you mustn't Patterson" said
tringley, pale now and hesitating. Just
lay low, viii you? I'll get back the
brooch for YOU somehow, and you can
bring it back TO the store. Nobody need .
know how you got it."
But the thief2
Leave her TO me. III make IT right
with YOU, Patterson"
Has Miss Burnett told Miss Gala
way?"
NO. We were together all day. and
Fanny was asleep when Corinne got home
tonight
Then you must warn her right now
or the brooch and the brown-haired girl
sill lie gone in the morning
That's So It was a brown-haircd girl T
who bought the brooch, And my-Cor-
nne is as blonde as goldt'
Pringley chuckled at the thought, but
he hurried to Miss Burnett's hotel and
warned her to keep the secret. When he
got back the detective said. Then I'll
lands-of. Mr.. Pringiey?' And 50 it was
greed.
II hate to believe It. Raynie." Coriane
was saying through her sohs, when
ringley the next morning told her Of
The detectives suspicious. i've only
Known her six months, and We were at
he birmingham together but 7 cart be-
ieve she'd do such a hateful thing. 3
Has just getting so fond OF her"
Pringley comforted her. but insisted
hat she help him 10 recover the brooch.
he said the wedding must be post
'oned until this ugly business was over,
md he explained that II Fanny were re-
ally the thief it were best that they make
sure Of il before she compromised them.
and IL YOU get back the brooch, VIII
9ou let poor Fanny go free?' asked the
oval little friend.
u promise. Nobody but you ard ] and
Patterson shah know. And besides IH
Buy back the bauble for your wedding
lift
Then I'll try" SIZE said smiling, mot
because L want the brooch. out because
do want 20 save the poor dear.
Early the next morning Patterson.
cuusing IDLY along the sunlit road, ss~
Hiss Burnett In her dog cart driving turi-
iusiy 20 Priugley's hotel. An hour later
be saw her drive slowly awsg ard then
IL saulterea up "a Bayuies chair
I've Sot e. whispered Prilgley. beck
'ning him % fellow TO his room You're