Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-25

me. More excitement out OF polo
pony, and as for the eternal matrimonial
chase, give me instead good stubble, a
fox, some decent hounds and a hunter.
and I'll show you the real joys of the
chase!"
For heavens sake, go down to the tele-
phone. you make my head ACHE said.
saw, gely.
l hardly know what prompted me to
take out the gold purse and look at It.
1t was an imbecile thing to do-call it inn
pulse. sentirnentality. what you wish. l
brought 1t out. one eye on the door. for
Mrs. Klopton has ready eye and
noiseless shoe. But the house was quiet.
the telephone central and there was an
odor of boneset tea In the air. think
Mrs. Klopton was fascinated out OF her
theories by the "boneset In connection
with the fractured arm.
Anyhow, / held up the bag and looked
at 1t. It must have been unfastened. for
the next instant there was an avalanche
on the snowfield of the counterpart
a tiny booklet with thin leaves, covered
with powdery substance-and neck
lace. l drew myself up slowly and stared
at the necklace.
It was one Of the semi-barbaric affairs
that women are wearing now. heavy
pendant of gold chains and carved
canoes. swung from a thin neck chain
of the same metal. The necklace was
broken-in three places the links were
pulled apart and the canoes swung loose
porting chain that held my eye and fas-
cinated with its sinister suggestion.
Three inches of it had been snapped on,
and as we'll as knew anything on earth.
l knew that the bit Of chain that the
amateur detective had found bloodstain
and all, belonged just there.
And there was no one I could talk to
about 1t. no one to tell me how hideously
absurd 1t was no one to give me slap
and tell me there are tons Of fine gold
chains made every year. or to point out
the long arm Of coincidence!
With my one useful hand l fumbled
the things back into the bag and thrust
it deep out of sight among the pillows
What connection had Alison West with
this crime? Why had she stared SO at
the gun-metal cigarette case that morn
ing on the train? What had alarmed
taken back to the gate? Why did she
wish she had not escaped from the wreck?
And last, In heavens name, how did
part of her necklace become torn on and
covered with blood?
Downstairs Mcknight was still at the
telephone, and amusing himself with Mrs.
Klopton in the interval OF waiting.
why did he come home in gray
suit, when he went away In a blue! ne
repeated. well. wrecks are queer things.
gray with fright. Or perhaps wrecks do
as queer stunts as lightning. Friend OF
mine was once struck by lightning; ne
and the caddy had taken refuge under
tree. After the flash, when they recov-
cred consciousness there was my friend
in the caddy's clothes. and the caddy In
his. And as my friend was large man
and the caddy a very small boy
the indignant slam Of the dining-room
door. He was Obliged to wait some time.
and even his eternal cheerfulness was
ebhing when he finally got the hospital.
Not there? Well can you tell me how
the patient Is whom DR.. Williams, from
Washington. operated on last night:
WE'LL I'm glad of that. Is she conscious!
Do you happen to know her name? Yes,
III hold the line
There was long pause, then Nc
knights voice:
"Hello-yes. Thank you very much.
Goodbye"
He came upstairs, two steps at time.
Look here he said. bursting into the
room. there may be something In your
theory. after all. The woman's name
it may be coincidence. but It's curious
her name Is Sullivan.
What did I tell your said. sitting
up suddenly in bed. she's probably a
sister of that scoundrel In lower seven.
and she was afraid of what he might
do"
well. I'll go there some day soon.
She's not conscious yet. In the mean
time. the only thing can do is to keep
an eye through a detective. on the peo-
pie who try to approach Bronson. Wen
have the case continued. anyhow. in the
hope that the stolen notes will sooner or
later turn up"
"Confound this ARM said, paying for
my energy with some excruciating
throbs. There's SO much to be looked
after, and here / am, bandaged. splinted
and generally useless. It's beastiy
shame
Don't forget that / am here" said
Mcknight. pompously. 'And another
thing, when you feel this way Just re-
member there are two less desirable
places where you might be. One is Jail
and the other is He strummed on
an imaginary harp, with devotional eyes:
But Meningitis light heartedness Jared
on me that morning. lay and frowned
under my helplessness. When by chance
/ touched the little gold bag 1t seemed to
scorch my fingers Richey; finding me
unresponstve. left to keep his luncheon
engagement with Alison West. AS he
clattered down the stairs turned my