Charlevoix county herald., 1910-11-26
CHAPTER XXI.
McKnlunt's Theory.

confess l was staggered. Inc
people at the surrounding tables, after
giancing curiously in my direction.
looked away again.
[ got my hat and went out in very
uncomfortable frame of mind. That
she would inform the police at once
of what she knew never doubted, un-
less possibly she would give day or
two's grace in the hope that l would
change my mind.
+ reviewed the situation as l waited
foi a car. Two passed me going IN
the opposite direction and on the hrst
one saw Bronson, his hat over his
eyes. his arms folded. looking moodily
ahead. Was it imagination? or was
the small man huddied in the corner
OF the rear seat Hotchkiss?
+ AS the car rolled on l found myself
smiling. The alert little man was for
all the world like terrier. ever on the
scent, and securing about in every d.
rection.
I found Mcknight at the Incubator,
with his coat off. working with enthu-
siasm and q manicure file over the
horn of his auto.
, WITS the worst horn l ever ran
acFoss," he groaned. without looking
I'D. as came IN Fhe blankety-
blank thing won't blow"
He punched it savagely, finally elic-
ling faint throaly croak.
I, "Sourds like Group" | suggested.
sNy sister-in-law uses camphor and
GOOSE grease for It; or how about a
spice poultice?"
But Mcknight never sees any jokes
hut his own. He flung the horn clat'
ter;ny into corner and collapsed
sulkily into a chair.
. "Now." said 'if you're through
msnicuring that horn. I'll tell you
about my talk with the lady in black"
whats wrong?" asked Mcknight,
ilnguidly. "Police watching her, too?"
"Not exactly. The fact is, Rich,
there's the mischief to pay"
Stogie came in, bringing few addi-
tfpns TO our comfort. When he went
out told my story.
~You must remember" | said, that
I had seen this woman before the
morning of the wreck She was buy
ihe her Pullman ticket when | did.
rf.en the next morning. when the muir
der was discovered. she grew hyster-
Nal and I gave her some whisky. The
ixird and last time I saw her, until
tb-night. was when she crouched be-
aide the road after the wreck"
Mcknight slid down in his chair un-
til his weight rested on the small of
his back and put his feet on the big
reading table.
"Tt's rather a facer." he said. tits
really too good a situation for a COM
usenplace lawyer. 1t ought to be
4amatized. You can't agree, OF
cpurse: and by refusing you run the
chance Of Jail. at least. and of having
Alison brought into publicity. which is
saIt Of the question. You say she was
VT the Pullman window when you
were?"
yves; bought her ticket for her.
Gave her lower eleven
"And you took tenY'
"Lower ten"
Mcknight Strengthened up and
tdOked at me.
"Then she thought yox we're in
fdwer ten"
Il suppose she did. IL she thought
at AN"
Y 'But listen. man" Mcknight was
esowing excited. What DO you figure
snt of this? The Conway woman
knows yoa have taken the notes to
p9bsburg. The probabilities are that
che follows you there. on the chance
VI an opportunity to got them, either
fsr Bronson or herself.
Nothing doing during the trip over
or during the day in Pittsburg; but
she learns the number Of your berth
as you buy It at the Pullman ticket
Office in Pittsburg and she thinks she
sees her chance. No one could have
f,reseen that that drunken fellow
would have crawled into your berth.
"Now. figure II out this way: She
wanted those notes desperately-does
,tIli-not for Bronson, bat to hold over