The Huttig news., 1910-05-07

TOT Ute, sHe LOOK neF empty tdp oA~ went out muttering.
 "The Pirates crazy about me. isn't she?" Mcknight said to the closing door Then he swung around and held out his hand
 By love" he said, I've been lay ing you out all day. lilies on the door bell, black gloves, everything. If you had had the sense of mosquito in snowstorm, you would have telephoned me"
 T never even thought of it." l was filled with remorse. Upon my word, Rich, l hadn't an idea beyond getting away from that place. If you had seen what I saw
 Mcknight stopped me "seen it! Why you lunatic, I've been digging for you all day in the ruins. I'ye lunched and dined on horrors. Give me something to rinse them down, Lollie"
 He had fished the key of the cal larette from it's hiding place in my shoe bag and was mixing himself what he called Bernard Shaw-a founda- tion of brandy and soda, with little of everything else in sight to give it snap. Now that saw him clearly, he looked weary and grimy. l hated to tell him what knew he was waiting to hear, but there was no use wading l over
 The notes are gone. Rich I said, as quietly as could Tn spite of him. self his face fell.
 "I-of course I expected it." he said "But--Mrs Klopton said over the telephone that you had brought home a grip and I hoped-well. Lord knows we ought not to complain. You're here. damaged but here" He lifted his glass. Happy days, old man!'
 If you will give me that black bot tie and teaspoon. I'll drink that in arnica, or whatever the stuff is; Rich--the notes were gone before the wreck"
 He wheeled and stared at me, the bottle In his hand Lost. strayed or stolen?" he queried with forced light ness.
 Stolen. although I believe the theft was incidental to something else"
 Mrs. Klopton came in at that mo- ment. with an egg-nog in her hand. She glanced at the clock and. with out addressing any one in particular. she intimated that it was time for self respecting folks to be at home in bed. Mcknight, who could never resist a fling at her back, spoke to me in a stage whisper.
 "Is she talking still? or again?" he asked just before the door closed. There was seconds indecision with the knob. then, judging discretion the better part, Mrs. Klopton went away.
 Now. then,' Mcknight said, set ting himself in a chair beside the bed. spit it out. Not the wreck-I know all 1 want about that. But the theft l can tell you beforehand tlat it was a woman
 had crawled painful.y out of had. and was in the act of pouring the egss nog down the pipe of the washstand 1 paused. with the glass in the air.
 "A woman." I repeated startled What makes you think that ?"
 You don't know the first principles of a good detective yarn" he said scornfully. "Of course, 1t was the woman in the empty house nest door. You said it was brass pipes, you will remember. Well-on with the dance; let joy be unconfined''
 Sol told the story: had told it so many times that day that I did it all tomatically. And 1 told about the girl with the bronze hair, and my suspic- ions. But l did not mention Alison West Mcknight listened to the end without interruption. When l had finished he drew long breath.
 Welt" he said That's something l prove your mild and childlike dispo- sitlon, they couldn't hold you for the murder-which is a regular ten-twent- thirt crime. anyhow. Bue.he notes that's different. They are not burned, anyhow. Your man wasn't on the 1 train-therefore. he wasn't in the wreck. If he didn't know what he was taking, as you seem to think, he prob ably reads the papers. and unless he
 
 i to what he's got He'll try to sell i them to Bronson, probably"
 "Or to us put in.
 We said nothing for few minutes. Mcknight smoked a cigarette and stared at photograph of Candida over the mantel Candida is the best pony for heavy mount in seven states.
 T didn't go to Richmond. he ob- 1 served finally. The remark followed my own thoughts so closely that started. Miss West is not home yet 1 from Seal Harbor.'
 Receiving no response. he lagsed again into thoughtful silence Mrs. i Kiopton came in just as the clock struck one. and made preparation for 1 the night by putting large gsudy comfortable into an arm chair in tho l dressing room. with a smaller. stiff backed chair for her feet She WAS wonderfully attired in dressing gown ] that wac remipisoppf> in pa,.fc ny II