Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-27
CHAPTER XIV.
The Cinemafopranh.

time. / did not go to the Office.
wanted to walk. / thought fresh air and
exercise would drive away the blue
devils that had me BY the throat. Nc
Knight insisted on long day in his car
but 1 refused.
Il don't know why not he said. sulk-
lily. Il can't walk. I haven't walked
two consecutive blocks I'm three years.
Automobiles have made legs mere orna-
ments-afld some not even that. We
could have johnson out there chasing US
over the country at five dollars an hour!"
He can chase us just as well at Ave
miles an hour" / said. But what gets
me. Mcknight, is why 1 am under sur
yeillance at ALL How do the police know
l was accused of that thing?"
The young lady who sent the flowers
she isn't likely to talk, is she?"
NO. That is. I didn't say 1t was
lady ] groaned as 1 tried to get my
spllntered arm into coat. Anyhow.
she didn't tell 1 finished. with convic-
ton. and Mcknight laughed.
1t had rained in the early morning, and
Mrs. klopton predicted more showers. In
TACT, so firm was her belief and so de-
termined her eye that i took the UNI
brella she proffered me.
Never mind I said. I'VE can leave
It next door; have story to tell you.
Richey, and it requires proper setting"
Mcknight was puzzled, but he followed
me obediently around to the kitchen en-
| locked, as I had expected. While we
climbed to the upper floor / retailed the
events of the previous night.
It's the finest thing ! ever heard off,
and the trap. What a vaudeville skit
1t would make! Only you ought not to
have put your foot on her hand. They
don't do it in the best circles
l wheeled on him impatiently.
You don't understand the situation at
all. Richey!" ] exclaimed. What would
YOU say if tell you 1t was the hand Of
a lady? 1t was covered with rings
"A lady!' he repeated. why. I'd say
1t was a darned compromising situation,
and that the less you say of it the bet
ter. Look here. Lawrence, 1 think you
dreamed 1t. You've been in the house
too much I take it all back; you do
need exercise
"She escaped through this door. 1 sup
pose" l said. as patiently as / could.
Evidently down the back staircase We
might as well go down that way"
According to the best presidents in
| about here" he said as we started down.
But he was more impressed than he
cared to own. He examined the dusty
steps carefully, and once, when a bit Of
loose plaster fell just behind him. he
started like nervous woman.
What I don't understand is why you
let her 60" he said. stopping once. puz-
zled. You're not usually quixotic.''
When we get out into the country,
Richey.' 1 replied. gravely. 81 am going
to tell You another story. and If you
don't tell me I'm a fool and a craven. on
the strength of IT, YOU are no friend OF
mine.''
We stumbled through the twilight Of
suffered kitchen. The house had the
mOldy smell OF closed buildings; even on
that warm September morning it was
damp and chilly. AS We stepped into the
sunshine Mcknight gave a shiver.
Now that we are out" he said, Il
don't mind telling you that l have been
there before. Do you remember the night
you left and the face at the Window"
When you speak of it-yes."
well. / was curious about that thing"
he went on. as we started up the street
land l went back The street door was
unlocked, and ! examined every room
l was Mrs. Klopton's ghost that carried
a light and clumb.'
Did you find anything"
Only a clean place rubbed on the win
dow opposite your dressing room. Spleen
did view of an untidy interior. II that
house is ever occupied. you'd better put
As we turned the corner I glanced
back. Half a block behind us Johnson
was moving our way. slowly. When he
saw me he stopped and proceeded with
| 81 cat ucllDcl duOu " lSHl b Cigar. Dy
hurrying however. he caught the car
that we took. and stood unobtrusively on
the rear platform. He looked tagged.
and absent mindedly paid our fares, to
Meningitis delight.
1--WE will give him a run for his
money. he declared. as the car moved
countryward. Conductor. let us or at
the muddiest lane you can find
At 1 o'clock, after a six-mile ramble.
we entered a small country hotel. We
had nothing NJ InhnQnn half
hour. At that time he was a quarter
Of a mile behind us and losing rapidly.
Before We had finished our luncheon he
staggered into the inn. One of his boots
was under his arm. and his whole ap-
pearance was deplOrable. He was coated
with mud. streaked with perspiration and
he limped as he walked. He chose
table not far from us and ordered a
Scotch. Beyond touching his hat he paid
no attention to us.
I'm just getting my second wind"
Mcknight declared. How do you feel.
Mr.. Johnson? Six or eight miles more
son put down the glass he had raised
to his lips without replying.
The fact was. however. that l was like
Johnson. l was soft from my weeks in
action. and j was pretty we'll done up.
Mcknight. who was a well spring of vi
tally and high spirits. ordered strange
connection. made Of nearly everything In
the bar, and sent it over to the detec-
tive, but johnson refused ii.
Il hate that kind Of person.. Mcknight
said, pattishly. kind of a fellow that
thinks you're going to poison his dog
if you offer him a bone.
When we got back to the car line, with
Johnson a dragged and dropping tail to
the kite. / was in better spirits. / had
told Mcknight the story of the three
hours just after the wreck; l had not
named the girl. Of course: she had my
promise of secrecy. But / told him every
thing else 1t was a relief to have a
fresh mind on it; had puzzled SO much
over the incident at the farmhouse. and
the necklace in the gold bag, that / had
lost perspective.
He had been interested, but inclined
to be amused. until 1 came to the broken
chain Then he had whistled softly.
But there are tons Of fine gold chains
made every year. he said. "Why in the
world do you think that the-er-smeary
piece came from that necklace"
] had looked around. johnson was far
behind, scraping the mud off his feet
with piece of stick.
Il have the short end of the chain in
the sealskin bag" reminded him.
thought l would settle 1t, one way or the
/ had been doing. And-there's no doubt
about it, Rich: It's the same chain
We walked along In silence until we
caught the car back to town.
Well he said, finally. you know the
girl of course, and ! don't. But II you
like her-and l think myself you're rather
hard hit. old mani wouldn't give a
whoop about the chain in the gold purse
It's just one of the little condolences