The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-07-02
THE
TANGLED
WEB
BY Ethel Watts-Mumford Grant
Author q ''Dupes,' "Whitewssh." ETC.
Copynahl, 1908. BY Benz. B. Hsmptoo
CHAPTER XVII.

CHAPTER XVII.
MT. Lawdon's hand was already
upon his check book, when his wife's
shrill voice arrested him.
''The idea! Where is the theft
Explain how this came into your pos
session."
strangely enough, you will say"
Collins's eyes were now upon Leavi-
son, who had drawn reluctantly
c'ose to the group. ''They were
concealed, wrapped in a handker-
chief from which the hem had been
torn, under the bridge by the auto
mobile entrance to the park, in about
a foot and half Of water"
A pause Of astonishment greeted
his statement.
"But how did you ever happen to
look there?" Wendham asked.
1T happened" continued the
sheriff, that Mrs. Collins bakes ex-
cellent pies; also, thatI was out very
late last night on important business.
and without dinner. Mrs. Collins
prepared a meal on my return at
1890. She heated pie, which was
so hot that to cool 1t quicker she
raised the back window Of the kitch-
en-, which was to leeward of the
blow, and set 1t out to cool. A few
minutes later when she got 1t, this
with plain pin-here is the pin"
He held out the slip Of paper with
its pasted words, over which Alice
and Stacy had expended their in
genuity.
Evelyn took the document and
read with evident bewilderment:
Returned in Brook, Under Bridge,
Motor Park Entrance"
Alice exploded with laughter. I'm
the pie!" she gurgled. "In the pie!
Oh. Mr.. Jack Horner Collins!"
%But that doesn't tell who the
uHGef vast" cried Mrs. Lawdon.
Her husband frowned. you have
'1 our jewels, Kate" he interposed
quickly. "They were returned evil,
IDENTIFY for conscience sake. Drop
the matter"
IT WON'T" she answered sharply.
"I want to know!"
Leavison was close behind Collins.
What traces did you find?" he
asked.
The sheriff looked him over scorn-
fully. mot a thing; rain washed
out everything. There's gutter and
rain barrel running over by that
window. and the yards young lake.
Go see for yourself. You seemed
good on clews."
But insist" cried Mrs. Lawdon
angrily.
For once her husband took COM
mand of the situation. "And I in
sist," he interrupted, that you take
your jewels and drop this matter.
Mr.. Collins, here is your check, and
many thanks"
Mrs. Lawdon rose, her eyes snap
ping. Don't give that man check.
He hasn't caught the theft"
Charlie turned his back upon her.
Evelyn, old man-and you, Patty,
have to apologize to you both. Our
stay has been fraught with misfor-
tute We will take the 40, If you
- will be good enough to give orders
for the motor. This incident is closed.
cannot thank you both enough for
your kindness and forbearance.
Kate, will you Gomez"
choked, and then moving awkwardly
forward, she swept her recovered
treasures into the lap Of her loose
morning gown. Her husband stepped
aside and followed her as she took
her agitated way across the room.
my check and my thanks, Col
lins." Evelyn laid second yellow
leaf upon the table.
The sheriff's red face expanded
with happiness and Importance. "It's
r great day!" he exclaimed, beam
Wendham had taken possession of
the invaluable adornment of Mrs.
j Collins's pie. Involuntarily his eyes
sought Alice. She was looking at
him, her mouth twitching humorous
ly. She colored and dropped her
lids as she met his glance. Wend-
ham recalled the clipping shears.
the tiny scraps Of paper sdhering to
the velvet Of the chair, Alice's early
arrival, her return Of the scissors
before she left the room, and the
significance of her words and look
"All's well that ends WE'LL" he
said. Alice, smiling, held out heI
hand.
The Joyous summer sunlight that
seems reserved for France alone
shone in through the long windows
opening from the Louis XVI. break.
fast room Of Ave villa to its justly
famous gardens, the loveliest In Fon'
tainebleau. Wendham and his wife
had just risen from the tiny tete-a'
tete table and had paused in con
femnlation of the rose bower vista