The Cairo bulletin., 1905-08-23

Her husband"
He threw down his pencil.
Look here. this is no lark. young
woman, and you needn't trouble your
self TO weave any more fairy tales.
Mr. Ramsay is in a-he's very i'll. His
own wife hasn't seen him since that
night, SO you see you're lying use
lessly."
Really! So Edward didn't 60
back to Mrs. Gates that night Gutl
tut After his telephone message
tool"
Now. assuming your innocence Of
the theft. Miss olden, what is your
theory how do you account for the
presence Of that purse in your fiatg'
Now, you've hit the part OF it that
really puzzles me. How do you ae-
count for IT. what is your theory"
lie got TO his feet. pushing his chair
4 back sharply.
My theory, II you want to know 1t,
is that you stole the purse; that your
friend Obermuller believes you did:
that you got away with the three hum
] ulcu. VI Ilu IL away
And what stupid thief | must
be. then. TO leave the empty purse I'M
der my lonnge,"
How do you know it was empty?"
he demanded, sharply.
you said so. Well, you gave
me to understand that it was, then,
What difference does it make? 1t
would be a still stupider thief who'd
leave full purse instead Of an empty
one under his own lounge"
yes: and you're not stupid, Miss
Olden."
Thank you. I'm sorry can't say
as much for you"
couldn't help it. He was such a
stupid. The idea of telling me that
Fred Obermuller believed me guilty.!
The idea of thinking me such fool
as to believe that Such men as that
make criminals. They're so fat-wit-
ted you positively ache-they so tempt
you to pull the wool over their eyes.
o. Mag. If the Lord had only made
men cleverer, there'd be fewer Nancy
Oldens
The chief blew blast at his speak
ing tube that made his purple cheeks
seem about to burst. My shoulders
shoook as | watched him, he was 50
wfathy.
And | was still laughing when | fol-
lowed the detective out into the walt
ing room. where Obermuller was pac-
ing the floor. At the sight OF my
smiling face he came rushing to me
Nance he cried.
Orders are, Morris" came In bel
low from the chief at the door, that
no further communication be allowed
between the prisoner and"
Phew! All the pertness leaked out
of me- Oh, Mag, | don't like thai
word. 1t stings-it binds--it cuts.
don't know what | looked lik'
then: wasn't thinking OF me, wat
watching Obermuller's face. 1t scenes
to grow old and thin and haggard be
fore my eyes, as the blood drained gu
of it. He turned with an exclamation
to the chief and
And just then there came loni
ring at the telephone.
Why did | stand there? o, Mag
when you're on your way to the plac
! was bound for, when you know tina
before you'll set foot in this sam
bright room again, the hounds in hal
dozen cities viii have scratche,
clean every hiding place you've had
when your every act will be known
i 4 ~ Muu
you wait for anything anything Il
the world; even telephone call tina
Z may only be bringing In anothe
Q wretch like yourself; bound, lik
yourself, for the Tombs.
: The chief himself went to answer Il
what?" he growled. well
tell Long Distance to get busy, What
that? st. Francis that's the jal
= ward, isn't it? who is it? Who
{ Ramsay"
| caught Obermuller's hand.
~ don't hear you" the chief roared
a "Oh-yes? Yes, we've got the thief
but the money--no, we haven't go
the money. The deuce you say Too
It yourself? Out Of your wifes purs
2 yes. Yes But we've 60
:, the what? Don't remember wher
= you--"
d STEADY. Nance" whispered ObeI
e muller, grabbing my other hand.
i tried TO stand steady, but every
= thing swayed and | couldn't hear tn
e rest Of what the chief was saying
e thong all my life seemed eondense
10 into listening. But did hear whs
IL he TANNED the receiver on the hoo
and faced us.
well, they've got the money Ran
ut say took the purse himself, thinkin
1t wasn't safe there under the sprea
at where any servHnt might be tsinpte
SO who CHANGED to uncover 1t. You
err admit the thing looked shady. tn
TX reason Mrs. Ramsay didn't know OF
20 Is because the old mans just come
his senses In hospital and been not
fed that the purse was missing"
2" II want to apologize to you. chief
nj mumbled.
N, For thinking me stupid? Oh, v
b. we're both"