Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1910-05-27

game. Wasn't that girl a sumner,
though? And cid you notice too, what
a dead match that her hair was for
the color of the pelt on the beast?"
Now every man at the table had
noted just that point 1t was so OBJ
vious a point that 1t was startling.
Each had been loath to launch an opin-
lon on it. But Johnny had a way
with him of pumping all you knew by
bold plays. Each man took counsel
with himself wondering what johnny
would do next. For ten years these
boys and Johnny had met every Mon
day night, and the crowd had learned
when to give him rope.
But just now Johnny and his bowl
OF rice and milk relapsed into silence
while his companions ranged far in
wild theories of who III" was, what
part he had played in the life and
death of Cerisse Wayne, whether she
was wife, widow, murdered or simply
another victim of the suicide list.
By and by Johnny dug down into
one of the ever bulging pockets of his
always baggy trousers. The by-word
was that Johnny always looked so
much like burglar that he never had
any trouble gaining the confidence of
the rather reticent people of that pro-
fession.
Hunting for a quarter, Johnny, or a
toothpick?" questioned Larry Morris.
Here, look at this" answered john
ny.
Into their midst he twirled the some-
thing he had drawn from his pocket.
1t was mans garter of lavender silk
elastic, the buckle hand wrought from
rose gold set round with amethysts
and on the face the initial III" worked
out In emeralds and amethysts of ex-
cessive smallness but exceedingly great
brilliancy.
Where did you get that7" came the
chorus.
WELL" said Johnny. listen. pick
ed this up In the Desterle house about
an hour ago. Say, everybody about
that house has got stage fright. They
are all moving out An earthquake
couldn't move them quicker than they
are going. The death watch has got
its grip on the whole thirty five board
ers. More than half of them are speed
ing away to spend the night with
hand-baggage only. Great show, too.
to watch them hustle out I'm going
to sleep up there tonight l picked
this garter up in the closet where 1t
had rolled down behind little shelf
Now women, you know. don't wear
garters like this"
Might" beloved Hank Smith.
Saw telegraph story the other day
that they had taken to wearing half
hose in New York"
But here's the question" continued
Johnny, mo man In the house knew
Mrs. Wayne nor anything about her.
Why the only decent word any one
Of those curious passed about her was
that no one had come to see her since
she arrived, and that she had appeared
embarrassed when her fellow boarders
OF the sex masculine attempted to pay
her any attention"
I'll just wager that she was some
poor. sweet little girl who had mar
ried some old fool for his money" in
terposed Philip Hartley, whose SYM
pathetic heart beat for all the mis-
treated women in the world. She's
found him unbearable, and refused to
live with him, and he's just bounded
her to death. That H may have stood
for Hubby" in the letter that had the
threat to kill her. believe she's been
taking slow poison, and came here
where she wasn't known to snuff 1t off
quietly"
How about the Man-Aperilla 2"
|
Verne II. Why don't you 20 farther.
and have 1t a trained ape sent carrier
pigeon. bloodhound fashion by the
ogre-husband, to choke her to death ?"
Because she wasn't choked," con-
tended Hartley. Heavens, what q
woman she must have been"
"Oh. to kill from jealousy" added
Hank Smith. why, halo; here's Bet
ty Lancey at this hour of the morning.
Betty, don't you ever get through
work? And you're all out of breath.
What's wrong. Mamie, get her some
tea. What Is the matter, Betty?"
Betty, white as print paper, sunk on
a chair. Her big blue eyes were OPEN
ed wide. Boys" she said Come
with me; come quick, don't say a word.
put tell me, am l crazed or dreaming:
has 1t really happened or am I hav-
Ions? Oh, no! don't stop to finish eat
Ing; come quick or 1t will be too late.
l am afraid to stop alone in that aw-
full room. You know missed my train
home and stopped at the hotel to-
night, and. oh, 1t startled me So"
Whats up, anyhow" asked john
ny. Tell the rest of them, Betty.
I'm going up to get chummy with the
mystery, sleeping all night in the Des-
terle house. Maybe I'll have visi-
tation, seeing as how my own head Ia
some reddish. 'Tisn't like you to have
stage fright, Betty"
Il haven't got It," she snapped.
But just as I started to get into bed
and went over to raise the shade
/ I<.~I rA1 L.