The San Francisco call., 1908-10-04

rangements to give you some employ
ment for our family uses. | haven't
the remotest idea what 1T costs to make
a shirt waist and 1 suppose IL is neces-
sary to lay in the material nrst, puI
something in blue or pink. with meas
urements to be taken later, should De
popular in our household So II you
don't mind I'll leave the money for
part of it this afternoon and send the
subject around to be consulted and mt
ted tomorrow Please don't laugh at
me, but the fact is that I have always
wanted to get an opportunity TO dlc-
tate co1Ors 10 the women al home. ana
this is my first chance And please, he
added. imploringly. don't cry any
more: it is making me extremely ner-
vous. Everything is coming out all
right. I'm going TO the Pinckney house
to fix up this trifing matter and the
trouble is as good as adjusted already
He slipped a bill on the table and
started for the door. AS he turned TO
say goodby the woman still sat weep
ing in the chair with her face buried
in her hands.
Don't forget about the color" he
said, with forced attempt at ease.
Remember, either pink or blue. l
abominate yellow and I'm not very
strong for reds. Some of US will be
here tomorrow. and I hope you'll be
feeling much better Goodby. Take
my word for it. you've heard the last
of this little unpleasant business"
Which. perhaps. is more than I can
say for myself" Rankin soliloduized as
he walked down the street. How | am
20 get rid of this pocketbook. to say
nothing of that confounded butler, is
little more than l can figure out But
have always found that I can do my
most successful thinking in pinch, so
I'll stop worrying over it, just tumble
into the Pinckney house and trust to
luck"
Filkins opened the door in answer to
his ring and grinned eXpectantly. You
have got the pocketbook?" he whis-
pered Mrs. Pinckney is nightly out
of sorts and this will cheer her up
bit. 1 fancy"
What led you TO believe that I could
get the pocketbook?" replied Rankin
with an assumption of disgust "A
pretty chase you sent me on. 1 more
than half suspect that you have been
dreaming or trying to make fool
of me-"
The little mans face fell.
l know what l am talking about.
Mr.. Rankin he said doggedly. I tell
you that l saw the woman take the
pocketbook. and if she told you that
she didn't take it she was lying and
you were easily bluffed, that's ALL
We'll, whatever may be the facts.
and whether she was lying or not or
I was bIuffed. ii is now my cue to see
Mrs. Pfnckney and get the story from
her"
The little man eyed him suspieiously.
That won't do at all. Mr.. Rankin II
will only make matters worse. More
than that. she won't see you"
IF she won't see me it will certainly
N mo =
inclined to think she will AT least
I'm here to make the effort It's as
much to your interest as mine that
we should work every wire"
Mrs Pinckney is not a wire in this
affair"
Rankin laughed. Don't be too sure
of that" he said. she may be a good
deal more of a live wire than you
Imagine At least there's no harm I'm
hnding out exactly what she suspects.
So run along and tell her I'm here"
Just as you say" Filkins started
Tor the staircase, then wheeled abrupt
" around and came back. Look here
Mr.. Rankin" he said defiantly ARE
you playing fair with me? I don't
like the looks of this business and !
don't understand what you can gain by
trying to see Mrs. Pinckney."
My esteemed fellow conspirator," re-
turned Rankin lightly, you are entire
ly too suspicious for your own peace
of mind There are lots of things in
this world we cannot understand. and
/ don't mind telling you that / am not
sure l am wholly unmuddled myself
In this matter. But / have an idea
that Mrs. Pinckney is going to heIp us
In way that will prove most valuable
Kindly move along and save us as much
times as possible
The little man went out of the room
struggling his shoulders in a manner
that spoke his contempt for Rankin's
detective ability. Rankin took advan-
tage of his absence to take a sweepins
glance of the hall.
1t couldn't be easier" ne exclaimed
as he tiptoed TO the umbrella stand
1t is coming my way so rapidly that
/ am almost Sorry for Filkins. If
had prearranged everything as i wish
l could not have been more fortunate
Mrs. Ross, congratulate your
Mrs Pinckney was petulant and will
full. as became her high position in So
city. She appeared in answer to the
second appeal, but she hoped that Mr.
Rankin would be brief with his i'm
portant news as her time was precious
and her engagements were many
Perhaps my news may be more i'm
portant than you think" said the una
Dashed Rankin. but first ii is neces-
sary that l shall clearly understand
the situation. May 1 ask you. Mrs
Pinckney, where you think Won mi
your pocketbook yesterday afternoon? p
There is no thinking about it
The lady spoke peevishly II know
that I put it, as is my custom, on my
dresser
We are all subject to treacherous
memories" said Rankin. soothingIy. y
recall the great diamond mystery in
this house year ago"
Mrs. Pinckney WINGED under this gen
tie thrust. THAT was an unusual case
which probably could never be repeat
ed. Yet 1 could have taken my oatl
that put those diamonds in the secret
drawer where l had been in the habit
OF keeping them.
Instead of in the back of the little
writing desk where they were subse-
quently found. Exactly so. But this
lapse of memory may happen to the
surest OF US. 1 remember that my
mother upset the entire family with
the announcement that her modest Jew
elry had been stolen. and she after
ward found It safe and snug under
the piano strings. where she had de-