The Washington times., 1909-12-07

which he might have covered her pre-
vious confusion If he had said them in
stead Of the ones he had used.
Il coIdd hardly think that after the
way you brought back that necklace
and got the thief into jail" she replied.
'Oh, hang the necklace" Jarvis spoke
reckIessly. There were no melOdrama
heroics and no Sherlock Holmes tricks
were employed An older detective
would have done it much better, I don't
doubt"
She laughed again. Evidently she was
not distressed by having plain detec-
tive talke to her as though he belonged
to her own set
"Why, do you know" he went on,
quite forgetting himself IN the excite
rnent of hearing the music of her
laughter. Il have just recently made
two me st awful blunders In my work.
Dear me-WOuld you mind telling me
about them?" she asked, half banter
ingly-
man was guilty Of a crl-1e when he
really was only hiding the guilty
parties: the other-weii, I'm not abso-
lutely convinced yet that 1 was wholly
wrong there"
Tell me about that she urged, eYi-
IDENTIFY more interested
Really, 1 couldn't he answered in
He knew. now that It was too late.
that he had said more than he ought
'sWhv not7''
well. because-if I'm right every one
else is wrong. SO. it's quite probable
that I'm wrong and every one else Is
right You wouldn't want NE 70 say
something that would give away my
liabilities. would you?"
He was finding the conversanon
amazingly agreeable. He caught him
self hoping that Mr.. Heath would not
get down for a long time Their it
crossed his mind that he was forgetting
his place considerably in talking so
freely with a very wealth. young
woman.
For the first time in years he thought
rather longingly of the things that
might have been had his father been
a little wiser with investments. He
half wished that he had continued
to starve along a while longer in his
But. no. he didn't wish that. His
mother and sisters had been dependent
upon him And he had been able TO
the detective force. They were all per
ilously near the last dollar when he
Joined.
Yes. he was going wrong. Instead OF
standing out for his personal dignity
he ought to have stayed on his level
and waited for Mr.. Heath to present
the reward that would buy some new
gowns for his sisters.
Suddenly ne was recalled from his
thoughts. He became conscious that
Miss Alice Heath was talking to him.
Heavens" she was saying. do you
detectives all get to working out yolIr
clues in the midst OF conversation like
this2"
Il beg your pardon, Miss Heath ="
Jarvis spoke very humbly-
And I'll grant II only upon condi-
ton that you tell me what the case is
you're working on. I'll promise not 10
tell a soul"
81 wasn't working on case he re-
piled truthfully.
Very well: no pardon do you get
she said. averting her face.
Please, Miss Heath ne begged.
more earnestly than the occasion really
warranted.
Not until you tell me what the case
IS"
''Oh, well. then-I was thinking very
seriously about my own case. I'm
afraid have been forgetting some very
important things"
Perhaps she OWNED what he meant
Women are wonders at seeing through
things At any rate there came a
slight r0se tint into her cheeks again.
p forgive vOu." she said. And here's
father. I hope we shall see more Of
you"