The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-26

those Internal reporters TO do something
useful for once. Max suggested. But rs
was Indignantly hushed- We would have
starved first. jim was peerlng into the
transmitter and knocking the receiver
against his hand like watch that had
stopped. But nothing happened. Elan
nigan reported a box Of breakfast food,
two lemons, and a pineapple cheese. a
combination that didn't seem to lend
itself to anything
We went back 70 the dinlng-room from
sheer force Of habit and sat around the
table and looked at the lemonade Elan
nigan had made. Anne would talk about
the salad her last cook had concocted,
and Max told about little town In Con-
necticut where the retaurant keeper
smokes a corn-eob pipe while he cuoks
the most luscious fried clans In America.
And Aunt Selma related that In her fam
fly they had a recipe for chicken smoth-
cred in cream. And then we sipred the
weak lemonade and nibbled at the cheese.
To change this gridiron martyr toni"
Dallas said finally. where's HARRISON?
Still looking for his watch?'
Watch" Everybody said it in dill
ferent tone
Sure. he responded. Says his watch
was taken last night from the studio.
Better get him down to take a squirt at
the telephone Likely he can fix it,"
Flanagan was beside me with the
cheese. And at that moment l felt Mr..
Harbison's stolen watch slip out OF my
girdle. slide greasIly across my lap. and
clatter to the floor. Flanagan stopped,
but luckily 1t had gone under the table
TIC have had 1t picked up. TO have had 10
explain how / got it, TO see them try 20
ignore my picture pasted IN it--oh. IL was
impossible! ! put my foot over IT.
Drop something's Dallas asked per-
functorily rising. Flanagan was still
half kneeling.
"A fork" I said. as easily as could,
and the conversation went on. But Flan-
nigan knew, and I knew he knew. He
watched my every movement like a hawk
after that, standing just behind my chair.
! dropped my useless napkin, to have 1t
whirled up before il reached the floor. I
said to Betty that my shoe buckle was
loose, and actually got the watch In my
hand, only TO let 1t slip at the critical
moment. Then they all got up and went
sadly back % the library, and Flanagan
and l faced each other.
Flanagan was not a handsome man at
any time. though Up to then he had at
least looked amiable. But now as I
stood with my hand on the back OF my
chair his face grew suddenly menacIng.
The silence was absolute. I was the
guiltiest wretch alive, and opposite me
the law lowered and glowered and held
the yellow remnant OF a pineapple
cheese! And in the silence that wrelched
watch lay and licked and licked and
licked. Then Flanagan creaked over
and closed the door Into the hall. came
back, picked up the watch, and looked
at IT,
You're unlucky. I'm thinkin'." he said
hnally. You've got the nerve all right,
but you Amt cute enough"
i don't know what you mean" I qua.
vered- Give ne that watch to return
10 Mr.. HARRISON
mot on your life.' he retorted easily.
i give it back myself. like I did the
bracelet, and-like I'm going TO give back
the necklace. If you'll act like a sensible
little girl
I could only choke.
It's foolish, any way you look at it,
he persisted. Here you are, lots OF
friends. folks that think you're all right
Why's l reckon there isn't one OF them
that wouldn't lend you money II you
needed It so bad"
"Will you be still?" I said furiously.
Mr. HARRISON left that watch-with me
An hour ago. Get him and he viii tell
you so himself"
"of course he would" Flanagan con-
oeded, looking al me with grudging ap-
prevail He wouldn't be what think he
is If he didn't lie up and down for you"
There were voices in the hall. Flanni-
gan came closer AN hour ago, you say
And he told me II was gone this morn
ing It's a losing game. miss. I'll give
you twenty-fouT hours and then-the
necklace, II you please, miss"