The Columbus journal., 1910-09-28
CHAPTER xiI-Continued,

CHAPTER xII-continued.
Hnd there was no one I could tall
10 about it, no one to tell me how
hidcouSly absurd il WAS. no one 4
give me a slap and tell Tie there ar
TOYS Of fine gold chains made ever,
year. or to point out the long arm c
coiuc idence,
With my one useful hand fun
h'sd the things back into the bag ant
thrust Il deep out of sight among tn,
pillows Then | lay back in col,
prrsp!ratiOn. What connection hat
Alison West with this crime? VIII,
had she stared so at the gun-lnetal Gig
arctic case that morning on the train
What had alarmed her so at the farm
house? What had she taken back Il
the gate? Why cid she wish she hat
not escaped from the wreck? AND
last. in heavens name. how did a par
al bel necklace become torn off anC
covered with blood?
Downstairs Mcknight was still a,
the telephone. and amusing himself
with Mrs. klcptou in the interval OF
waiting.
My die ne come hone in a gray
suit, wh"n he vert away in b,ue?'
rs repeated. Well. wrecks are guee,
tninss. Mrs. kiOrton. Tie suit may
have turned gray with fright. Or per
haps wrecks do as queer stunts as
nf
struck by lightning: he and the caddy
had takcr refuge under = tree. After
:te fash. when they recovered con
sciOusness, there was my friend ia the
raddy's clothes and the caddy i'm his
And az My friend was large man
ard the caddy ii very small boy"
MckniSht's story was interrupted
by the indignant Slam o! the dining
room door. He was obliged To wait
sem" tiiac. and even his eternal cheer,
fumes Vas eLbing when be finally got
,kc hospital.
is DR.. Van Kirk there he asked.
Not there? Well. can you tell me
how 'ac rat:cnt is whom d. Williams.
from Washington. operated on last
night? Well. I'm glad OF hat Is she
conscious" DO you happen To know
her naGic" Yes. iii hold the line
There MAS q long pause, then Nc
knights voice:
lie lio-yss. Thank jon very much
tiuod by"
si' "":!e upstairs. two steps at a
time
LOOK here. he said. b;Irs; Ing into
the roora. there mag bc something
In your theory. after all The wo,ran's
name-it may be a coincidence. bat
Its curious-her name is Sulli, an
"Nf'at did | tell you?" said. sitting
ny suddenly in bed She's probably
sister OF that scoundrel in lower
seven and she MAS afraid of what he
might do"
C"n'oand this arm" I said. paying
for my energy with some excrnciating
throbs There's SO much 20 be look
ed after. and here | am. bandased.
sr:!ntered. and generally useless. Its
a beastiy shame
Don't forget that I am here" said
Mcknight pomrouS!y. And another
thing. when you feel this way just re-
member there are two less desirable
places were you might be. One is
ja!i. and the other is" He strummed
on an imaginary harp. with devotional
eyes.
Put Meningitis Iight-heartedness
Jared on me that morning | lay and
irowned under my helpIessness. When
by chance I touched the little gold
bag. it seemed to scorch my fingers.
Richey. finding me unresponsive, left
to keep his luncheon engagement with
Alison West AS he clattered down
the stairs. I turned my back to the
morning sunshine and abandoned my
self to misery. BY what strain On her
fraved nerves was Alison West keep
ing up. wondered?
t'ut Mcknight had not gone. after
all I heard him coming back, his
voice preceding him. and l groaned
with irritation.
Wake up" he called. Somebody's
sent, you lot of flowers. Please hold
the box, Mrs: kloptOn: I'm going out
TO be run down ~ an automobile"
reused to feeble interest. Nv
brothers wife is punctilious about
such things; all the new babies in the
family have silver rattles, and all the
sick people flowers.
Mcknight pulled up an armful of
roses, and held them Out to me.
Wonder who they're FROM" he
SAID, iumbling in the oox for a card.
There's no name-yes. here's one
He held it up and read it with ex-
Isrerating slowness
Best wishes for an early recovery.
A COMPANION IN MISFORTUNE.'
We'll. what do you know about
that" he exclaimed. That's some
thing you didn't tell me. Lollie."
1t was hardly worth mentioning"
said mendaciously, with my heart