The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-04-16

begun TO suspect. she seeks 10 know
You are a detective
She wishes me to solve the mys-
terry
1T is an honest mystery. Bound and
gagged as | am, l aVoW that much ]
glory in it," declared Miss Magruder
striking her bosom with as superb an
air as a tragic queen Go ahead. sir.
and do your worst You viii have
neither help nor hindrance from me.
After all, I am glad. yes. I am glad
that you are come. No man. however
base, could spy as she has spied. All,
my poor. worn heart,"
Unanimously Miss MagTuder left
the room CTOnk.te did not try to de-
tain her. Her words and manner had
told him that the trouble in which she
was involved was in no wise connected
with the loss of the diamonds.
He perceived that she was pledged to
secrecy and silence; that she was
pledged TO keep her place and endure.
He realized that a woman was her enc
my. was spying upon her: an unknown
woman. since Miss Niblock would have
told him had it been she. had she
known. Who. then. was this woman.
and what was the cause of her enmitN
against Miss Magruder2
Might not the solution Of this mys-
terry tend to make plain the mystery Of
the missing diamonds? All tn s and
more Cronkite asked himself, shrewdly
estimating the almost inevitable CORE
latiCn of events in the micrOcOsm of
home
All this. and more. Cronkite deducted
from Miss Magruder's response to his
admission. designediy vague. As he
took up the suit case the judge had
sent after him and prepared for dinner
he murmured to himself. 1T is love
that makes the world go wry-
A sOmbre meal for all Miss Niblock's
somewhat acrid vivacity. Cronkite him
self was a better listener than talker.
Miss Magruder was as unobtrusive as
a ghost. while Emily Nibiock was in
the April moods of a spoiled beauty.
a handsome girl, Emily, of the houri
type, with full form and lustrOus eyes.
She was Indifferent. almost insolently
so: she was distract, almost stupidity
so. until Cronkite reused her.
Where is my cousin Harold. of whom
have heard so much?' he asked. i
thought he lived here"
Harold lives where he happens to
be- answered Miss Niblock, and where
that has been for a week no one
knows"
Say no one tells rather. auntie,
snapped Emily. with swift glance at
Miss Magruder. not at all amiabie.
We'll. no one tells. then. That is the
single virtue of boon companions, ! be
teve they say"
"Oh. isn't it cruel to charge him with
dissipation when the honOrs he has won
by his writing. when the position that
he holds at the university unite for his
vindicatiOn. Oh, isn't it heartless to
make light of his absence, when remorse
and disgust for passing madness may
nave driven him to destroy himself,
may have melted his destruction"
1t was amazing to note how the gusts
of passion tore and twisted Emily Nib
lock, hardening and discoloring her
face. swelling the muscles in her throat
and arms, snatching away bloom like
veil from a viTagO-
What DO you mean. Emily" de
manded Miss NiblOCk You have said
too much not to say more. What do you
mean?f'
When was it you last saw Harold?"
asked Emily, sullenly.
1T was a week ago last night. He
left just after dinner"
Yes. but he came back again at mid
night"
Impossible His room wasn't oceu-
pied"
He came back, l say. was restless
and couldn't sleep. l thought l might
compose myself by reading, so 1 slipped
on my night shoes and robe and started
for the library. As 7 looked over the
baluster rail l saw Harold in the lower
hall. He came up one fight, two flights;
was going to call to him.
well. why didn't you?"
Look Kissed Emily, and she point
ed to Miss Magruder gliding, with
bowed head. from the room.