Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-17
White Dress Suit
Short story BY ELLIOT WALKER.

"You haven't given out so soon. have you?''
NO." said he, "Til stick II out, I guess.
{ am enjoying It,"
The masqueraders surged up to them and
away as Gladys chartered brightly and
made guesses at random. Every little while
a gap in the immediate crowd would leave
an opportunity for more extended talk.
81 Am glad you did not wear your jewels
tonight, Gladys" he began.
why, Of course l wouldn't with this
costume" she responded. Imagine a
sheperdess decked out in my diamonds"
Il don't think much Of your present hid
ing place." he observed. A upper drawer
is no sort OF protection"
They are not in the upper drawer. l
put them in the third drawer What do
you mean, Sherman
why / certainly saw them in the upper
one tonight. I went in after a pin before
I left the house. / can't be mistaken"
You are" cried Gladys. II never put
them there"
well, / had them in my hand, and I
ought to know returned her companion.
you may have intended to have put them
somewhere else, and forgot it. l think l
would try a safer place, my dear"
His tone was SO convincing that Gladys
was quite upset for the. moment. The
crash Of the orchestra, the clamor Of many
voices. all tended to disturb her train OF
thought as she tried to recall the exact
circumstances of her last mysterious dis
posal.
Sherman Brooke" she said at last. Il
remember distinctly wrapping that cssket
in a silk petticoat and tucking 1t into the
left hand corner Of my third bureau drawer.
| 1haHn nAF1E, ~ a. vvau In Vha h,NNa-,
OF my brown trunk"
The man laughed softly.
well, let 1t CO. he added. Don't let
us bother about 1t. Only look when you
get home and make sure. Isn't that music
unusually good2 What orchestra is it,"
"Treadway's-it is hne,' answered his
victim. Where are you going?'
out for a breath Of air. Ny head aches.
I may go home soon after we unmask. You
will stay, l suppose"
yes, I'm going back with Mrs. Pruden.
1t may be 2 O'Clock, but don't you stay.
Sherman. I'll be all right, dear"
She watched the white figure push
through the laughing groups.
HE probably saw something covered up
and jumped at that conclusion she re-
hected. How foolish"
Another man wearing conventional even
ing dress and a black mask glided to the
vacated seat. The pretty shepherdess eyed
Know me. Mrs. Brooke?' he inquired
cody.
why, no. Who is it? How did you
recognize me?" a..
Her companion lifted his disguise and
smiled.
"chief Farley. Well, l declare!"
Rather of my beat, Ell? l Just dropped
in to see how things were running. By the
way, your friend In white is we'll got up
Isn't it fine. Sher- Oh, / forgot" She
clapped a finger to her lips in dismay. "Yor
dreadful man. You see, I think you know
us all. Now, I've let 1t out"
Farley laughed easily.
81 guessed it," he said. when / saw
you in such an argument 1 couldn't help it,.
"oh. deari Well. he was wrong"
"of course" lightly. You were so posi-.
tive"
Certainly I was. I know where I hide
my things" "
Things" ~
why, It's all right TO (eil you, Of course
My diamonds, you know. Mr.. Brooke is 81
set. I couldn't convince him that they wer'
not in my upper drawer. and they're not a
ALL" concluded Gladys cunningIy.
81 see. He knows now"
He ought to-
Farley rose slowly.
81 must be going, I'm afraid. / hop'
you'll stay late and enjoy II, Mrs. Brooke
SSH! I'm little Bo-peep. Goodbye"
Two minutes more and the officer leapeC
into a cab outside.
ITO the station, quick, Tom he said
He leaned back with a great sigh Of relief
80 that's why he has dogged Brooke. IL
take Perry along and get there first. TIL,
/ rascal is in the hall yet"
1t would have been well for Holley haC
he looked out the window before he opened
the door. As It was. he stood in the din
/ light with his hand on the lock, heard
! carriage stop, then careful steps.
"You, Ike1' l..t
yes" .-..
/ The door swung cautiously, inward. 4
sprinG. a strangling clutch, a flop.
"Handcuff and gag him, Perry" whis
! pered Farley, his wiry fingers on the vic
} TINS windpipe. mo noise. Wen TAX
J the others right here"
t II was not a long wait. The officers con
veyance disappeared at a whistle. Anothe
> rumbled up and stopped. The man in tn,
white dress suit and Brooke's inquisltiv,
client we're too surprised to offer much re
s~istance. The revolver muzzles were to-
cold.
A rapid trip TO the station with thei
2 prisoners, then Farley drove back to tn
house and fastened up the stairs.
Where am -" muttered Sherman, re
spending to a vigorous shake. ooh. yes
e All right, Holley! times up. I suppose
y Went sound asleep. didn't I? Well, I'll fee
better for a good nap. Why-why-Chiei
It isn't you? What In creation is it,"
He sat up wildly. pressing his achin
q head.
Nothing TO worry about" was the cheer
full reply. "only that a certain shepherdes
5 has been taking too freely with a chap /
d a white dress suit, and you will have to &c
a new butler. Lie down again. ! guess 70
= don't feel like going TO any masquerad
n ball"