The Washington times., 1909-08-20
GETTING RID OF LIZZIE

and barred against possible outside en-
"WeH." I told her, you can make up
your mind that the job was done by
some one inside this house and not out
But who could it be? Besides our
selves and our guests, all Of whom were
IN this room continually until Mrs. An
deTson and Miss Davidson went up
stairs and reused us. there vas only the
children. Myrtle. the cook. anr and
Lizzie"
"Pause-and IizzieP' I repeated. do
you think she was the thief?''
do your asked nay wife.
bit of the end Of a cigar before an
swering.
why should I?' I questioned eva
sively. Il don't like to harbor suspi-
cion against her-when I'm responsible
for her.
yet 1t looks very queer-very queer
indeed my wife rose-"that she should
be roaming about the house as she was
when the-the robbery occurred Be
sides that, Mrs. Anderson said she saw
some one coming out Of the nursery
ana who else would have gone IN there
but IdzZieT'
Lets rouse her from her SIT mber
Deep j suggested, and put her through
an imprOmptu third degree to ind out
what she knows Shall we?'
Il don'U know" said my wife re-
fectively- she ought to be questioned
surely. Yet we can't, of course, 80 at
her as e we knew she was guilty
Which" size added hastily, 7 hope
and sincerely trust, for the children
sake-she isn't"
] looked at my watch.
"One o'clock" 7 cried. well, Wen
postpone her cross-examinauon TIL
morning" / rose and moved to the
door. Let's 80 to bed and sleep on 1t.
Together we mounted the stairs.
III just peek in at the children.
My wife stopped before the bedroom
door. Il hope the excitement IN the
house hasn't walked them.
Gingerly she turned the knob.
Through the half-open door I looked
into the room over her shoulder.
And Immediately two points OF light,
set close together and shining brightly
out of the chambers gloom, drew my
gaze toward the bed / knew to be LIZ
Zle's. only for an instant-the baresJ
flicker Of an eyelid-did 1 see the eerie
lights. Then they abruptly went out
"IiZziei' called my wife In a care
ful whisper She. too. had seen the
open eyes Of the nurse-girl. "LizZie!'
she called again.
There was no answer from the room.
Only the even, quiet breathing OF the
children in their cribs broke the silence.
'Lizzie!" my wife took a step across
the threshold.
And her ear was greeted by a snore
from the bed.
with an impatient click OF her tongue.
she strobe silently into the chamber. /
waited by the door.
And then. at a gasp from within,
sour ling in my wife's voice, l has
tened forward.
Ny wife was standing beside the chair
upon which LiZZie's clothes had been
cast She had the garments in her
hands and was looking down at the dark
shadow Of something the clothing had
oRv-avaE
What is it?' I whispered close to
her ear.
Fo~ an instant she was silent. as Chloe
stirred restlessly "a her sleep.
Tfen, her hand on my shoulder bring
ing NY head down on level with her
lips she whispered back:
Pick uD that chair-carry Il with
You. quietly, out into the haill
Unable to question the reason Of her
strange request. for fear OF waking the
slumbering children, ] obeyed In silence.
Carefully I lifted the light, cene-bot-
toned chair and bore II outside Ny
wife Joined me in the han. Quietly she
| closed the bedroom door behind hsr.
Then. swapping on the lights. Of the
cluster above our heads. she pointed 70
the litter on the seat of the chair.
Look she exclaimed dramatically.
/ did so. And the next instant a
whistle Of surprise escaped my lips
On ton Of cOnglOmerate mass of
Z
! articles OF apparel lay-Afrs. Anderson s
| gold-mesh bag.
NV wife's arm shot out past me and
| picked the tTinket up.
Beneath It, forming its nest, was a
marabOu stole.
7 lifted the fluffy lump Of feathers
/ and stopped 10 pick up Miss Davidson
/ diamond brooch which had dropped
from II.
SIN, without disturbing tbs fasci-
mated silence which held us as gs bent
over the chair my wife lifted from II
/ a silver vanity bag
In my turn, I picked up a lady's veil
/ IT was heavy at one end. And In that
/ end a knot was tied around neet
/ little sum in loose silver and bills.
! The clicking of two gold hatpins II
( my Wife's hands attracted my atten.
/ ton from the morbid stare with which
! I favored the veil and its contents II
80 Lizzie was the thief. I whIs
I pered, after allt'
/ Ny wife turned toward the door be
/ hind us. laid my hand upon her arm
/ What are you going TO do?'' 1 asked
| fearsomely-
She turned 10 look into my staring
/ face before she shook loose my detain
/ ing hold
~ am going to wake Lizzie up.
/ she said firmly. from her feigned
/ slumber Deep
/ The Continuation of This story VIII
BE Found in TOmorroyv's
Issue OF The Times.