Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1910-12-09
CHAPTER XIV.
The cinematooraut..

The Cinematograpt.
On Monday l went out for the first
time. | did not go to the Office.
wanted to walk. / thought fresh air
and exercise would drive away the
blue devils that had me by the throat
Mcknight insisted on long day in
! his car, but refused.
I don't know why not" he said
sulkily. II can't walk. / haven't
walked two consecutive blocks in
three years. Automobiles have made
legs mere ornaments-and some not
| even that. We could have johnson
out there chasing us over the country
| at SIS an hour!"
He can chase US just as we'll at Ave
miles an hour" l said. But what
| gets me, Mcknight, is why / am I'm.
der surveillance at all. How do the
police know / was accused of that
thing?"
THE young lady who sent the flow
ers--she isn't likely to talk. Is she?"
No. That is, l didn't say it was
lady" l groaned as tried to get my
I, splintered arm into coat. Anyhow,
she didn't tell" / finished with con-
viction, and Mcknight laughed
1t had rained in the early morning,
and Mrs. Klopton predicted more
showers. In fact, so firm was her be-
lief and SO determined her eye that
took the umbrella she proffered me.
Never mind" l said. eve can
leave it next door,! I have story to
tell you, Richey, and it requires proper
| setting"
Mcknight was puzzled, but he fol-
lowed me obediently around to the
kitchen entrance Of the empty house.
1t was unlocked, as / had expected.
While we climbed to the upper floor
/ retailed the events of the previous
night
Its the finest thing ] ever heard
Of" Mcknight said, staring up at the
ladder and the trap. What vaude.
vile skit it would make! Only you
| ought not to have put your foot on
her hand. They don't do 1t in the
best circles"
l wheeled on him impatiently.
''You don't understand the situation
at all, Richey!" / exclaimed. what
would you say if 1 tell you it was the
hand Of lady? It was covered with
rings"
"a lady!" he repeated. why, I'd
say it was darned compromising sit
utation, and that the less you say Of
| it the better Look here, Lawrence,
think you dreamed 1t. You've been
in the house too much. l take it all
back; you do need exercise"
."She escaped through this door,
suppose" I said as patiently as /
could Evidently down the back stair
case We might as well go down that
way"
According to the best proceed ents
| in these affairs, we should find a glove
| about here" he said as we started
down. But he was more impressed
than he cared to own. He examined
the dusty steps carefully, and once,
when a bit of loose plaster fell just
| behind him, he started like nervous
| woman.
What I don't understand is why
you let her CO." he said, stopping
once, puzzled You're not usually
| quixotic."
when we get out into the country,
Richey," I replied gravely, Il am go
ing to tell you another story, and II
you don't tell me I'm a fool and a
craven, on the strength of it, you are
| no friend of mine"
We stumbled through the twilight
of staircase into the blackness of the
! shattered kitchen. The house had
the moldy smell of closed buildings;
even on that warm September morn
ing it was damp and chilly. AS we
stepped into the sunshine Mcknight
gave shiver.
| NOV that we are out" he said, Il
! don't mind telling you that | have
been there before. Do you remember
| the night you left, and the face at
the Window"
when you speak Of it-yes."
| We'll, I was curious about that
thing" he went on, as we started up
the street, "and / went back. The
street door was unlocked, and / e1-
amined every room. was Mrs. Klop-
! tons ghost that carried light, and
| clumb"
| Did you find anythinG?'
| "Only a clean place rubbed on the
window opposite your dressing room.
Splendid view of an untidy interior.
| If that house is ever occupied. you'd
better put stained glass In that win
dow of yours"