Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1910-12-09
CHAPTER XlI-Continued.


And there was no one I could talk
10 about it, no one to tell me how
hideously absurd it was, no one to
give me a slap and tell me there are
tops of fine gold chains made every
year, or to point out the long arm of
coincidence!
With my one useful hand I FUN
bled the things back into the bag and
thrust it deep cut Of sight among the
pillows. Then l lay back in cold
Derspiration. What connection had
Alison West with this crime? Why
had she stared so at the gun-metal Gig
arctic case that morning on the train?
What had alarmed her so at the farm
house? What had she taken back to
the gate? Why did she wish she had
not escaped from the wreck? And
last, in heavens name, how did part
of her necklace become torn off and
covered with blood?
Downstairs Mcknight was still at
the telephone, and amusing himself
with Mrs Klopton in the interval of
waiting.
Why did he come home in a gray
suit, when he went away in a blue?"
he repeated. We'll, wrecks are queer
things, Mrs. Klopton. The suit may
have turned gray with fright. Or per-
haps wrecks do as queer stunts as
lightning. Friend of mine once was
struck by lightning; he and the caddy
had taken refuge under a tree. After
the fash, when they recovered con-
sCIousness, there was my friend in the
caddys clothes, and the caddy in his.
And as my friend was a large man
and the caddy very small boy"
Meningitis story was interrupted
by the indignant slam of the dining
room door. He was obliged to wait
some time, and even his eternal cheer
fuIness was ebbing when he finally got
the hospital.
IS Dr. Van Kirk there?" he asked.
Not there? Well, can you tell me
no" the patient is whom DIR. Williams,
from Washington, operated on last
night? Well, I'm glad Of that. Is she
conscious? Do you happen to know
her name? Yes, I'll hold the line"
There was a long pause, then Nc
knights voice:
Hello-yes. Thank you very much.
Good-by."
he came upstairs, two steps at
time.
Look here" he said, bursting into
tne room, there may be something
IN Your theory, after all. The woman's
name-lt may be a coincidence, but
us curious-her name is Sullivan"
What did tell your" I said, sitting
up suddenly in bed shes probably
sister of that scoundrel in lower
seven, and she was afraid Of what he
might do"
tontound this ARM" I said, paying
lor my energy with some excruciating
"foos. There's SO much to be look
Su after, and here I am, bandaged,
Sp,lhtered, and generally useless. It's
oe2stly shame"
Oont forget that 1 am here" said
mehnlght pompously "And another
W1ng' when you feel this way just re-
member there are two less desirable
tiaces were you might be. One is
JAIL and the other is" He strummed
eyes.
But Meningitis ight-heartedness
Jared On me that morning. lay and
1o"ned under my helplessness. When
cnance l touched the little gold
oas, It seemed to scorch my fingers.
HCney' finding me unresponsive, left
W keep his luncheon engagement with
..liSon West AS he clattered down
sus stairs, turned my back to the
.11inlng sunshine and abandoned my
sen 10 misery. By what strain on her
dyed nerves was Alison West keep
aug up, wondered?
but Mcknight had not gone, after
al al heard him coming back, his
I'VE preceding him. and / groaned
with irritation.
wake up" he called. Somebody's
s ssD' You lot of flowers. Please hold
ne oox' Mrs. Klopton; I'm going out
We run down by an automobile.
reused to feeble interest, My
aoHlef wife is punctilious about
'hlngs; all the new babies in the