The Jackson herald., 1910-11-17
CHAPTER XXI.
Mcknight's Theory.

I confess I was staggered. Inc
people at the surrounding tables, after
glanclng 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 I never doubted. I'M
less possibly she would give n day or
two's grace In the hope that would
change my mind.
I reviewed the situation as | waited
for a car. Two passed me going in
the opposite direction and on the hrst
one I saw Bronson, his hat over his
eyes. his arms folded. looking moodily
ahead. Was II imagination? or was
the small man huddled In the corner
OF the rear seat Hotchkiss?
As the car rolled on found myself
smiling. The alert little, man was for
all the world like a terrier. ever on the
scent, and securing about In every d.
rection.
found Mcknight at the Incubator,
with his coat of, working with enthu-
slasm and manicure file over the
horn of his auto.
TITS the worst horn I ever ran
across" he groaned. without looking
up. as came in. "The blankety-
blank thing won't blow"
He punched It savagely, finally elic-
iting a faint throaty croak.
Sounds like Group" ! suggested.
MY sister-in-iaw uses camphor and
goose grease for It: or how about a
spice poultice?"
But Mcknight never sees any jokes
but his own. He flung the horn clat-
tering into corner and collapsed
sulkily into a chair.
Now" said. III you're through
manicuring that horn. I'll tell you
about my talk with the lady in black"
whats wrong?" asked Mcknight,
languidly. Police watching her, too?"
mot exactly. The fact Is, Rich,
there's the mischief TO pay"
Stogie came in, bringing few addi-
tions to our comfort. When he went
out told my story.
"You must remember" ] said that
had seen this woman before the
morning of the wreck. She was buy
ing her Pullman ticket when ] did.
Then the next morning, when the muir
der was discovered. she grew hyster-
ical and gave her some whisky. The
third and last time ! saw her, until
tonight, was when she crouchcd be-
side the road. after the wreck"
Mcknight slid down in his chair un-
I'll his weight rested on the small of
his back and put his feet on the big
reading table.
ITS rather n facer." he said. IT'S
really too good n situation for com
monplace lawyer. 1t ought to be
dramatized. You can't agree. of
course; and by refusing you run the
chance of Jail >at least. and of having
Alison brought into publicity, which is
out OF the question. You say she was
at the Pullman window when you
were?"
''Yes; bought her ticket for her.
Gave her lower eleven"
And you took ten?"
Lower ten"
Mcknight Strengthened up and
looked at me.
"Then she thought you were in
lower Ten.
II suppose she did. If she thought
at ALL"
But listen, man." Mcknight was
growing excited. what do you figure
QUO of this? The Conway woman
knows you have taken the notes to
Plttsburg. The probabilities are that
she follows you there. on the chance
of an opportunity to get them, either
for Bronson or herself.
Nothing doing during the trip over
or during the day in Pitts0urg: 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
foreseen that that drunken fellow
would have crawled into your berth.
"Now, l figure IL out this way: She
wanted those notes desperately-does
stnN-no for BraAson, but to hold over