The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1905-06-16
Mrs. Bluebeard
. S it antique|'

~ S 1t antque|
il Suzanne trailed her fingers idly
over the piano keys in a little i'm.
promptu prelude of troublous chords
before she answered the query.
Il suppose it u.s." she said, GROSSLY
''Tm sure can't tell whether it's real
antique or not It looks old and dusty
and is all covered with heavy carvings
II you mean that sort Of thing. Why,
Bess," she turned to the questioner
with sudden energy, II wouldn't have
thought a thing about it If he had
shown it to me or even mentioned it
He told be about everything else in
the house, and I'd never have known q
thing about this If hadn't told Nora
to clean out that catch ALL as she calls
It, at the turn Of the garnet stairs.
There Is large windowless space over
the dining room wing. and it was in
there"
And locked" concluded Bess, posi-.
lively.
Every drawer. 1 asked Nora how
long it had been there, and she said II
had come with Bob's trunks from
home, while we were on our honey
moon. I'm not bit curious She
paused
''Of course not" assented Bess
warmly, ''or suspicious"
"Only Interested"
1T Is kind Of mysterious, Bob's not
telling you a word about it, and hiding
1t in there out Of sight, and then the
fact Of it being locked shows that some
one didn't want it opened"
AS she gave her conclusive point of
logic Bess rose. She was pretty and
petite, with decisive tilt to her chin,
and the confidence Of eighteen in her
blue eyes.
"Of course, you'll do as you please,
Sue. You always did. But If l had
only been married a month and had
found locked desk in my house that
knew nothing of, l know what I'd
do"
Young Mrs. Sheldon left the piano
with an impatient movement. She
was tall and slender beside her sister
and the 1ndefinable charm of bride
was visible IN her dainty negligee toll.
cite of white crepon.
II believe absolutely in Bob" she
declared.
Bess raised her eyebrows and smiled
mischievously.
"Of course you do. 1t may be only
some old love letters or souvenirs that
he doesn't care to part with. Do you
remember Adelaide Gifford?
THAT was two years ago.
Bess laughed.
"Good-by, sis. Believe in Bob all
you want to. He is q dear, and if II
were l, I'd hunt a locksmith. all the
same
Mrs. Sheldon stood at the window
and watched the small girlish figure
as it vanished down the street among
che fluttering snowfakes. It was
dusk. The room was unlighted as vet
and a sudden sense Of loneliness stole
over her in the semi-gloom. the first
wedding Of a month ago. If the ATTN.
lily OF moods and colors were true, she
was IN harmony with the soft velvet
gray OF the twilight tone that was
stealing over the world.
New Years eve. and Bob awav The
tears blinded her eyes. OF course. /,
was business, merely a flying trip tc
New York for the firm, made all the
more imperative by his neglect Of busi
ness during the honeymoon, but she
felt a vague rebellion in her hear
against even the separation Of q few
days.
And there was the locked desk.
Bess' words and arguments "a,
swiftly through her mind. Come t,
think, Bob had told her not to tir,
herself by rummaging while he wa
away. Rummaging! That meant hunt
Ing in the garnet and running the risl
OF discovering the desk.