Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-05-22


Did you notify the poce?" asked
sharply.
"Policew she shifted Police! 1t was
the police that did 1.-TWO detectives with
a search warrant IL wouldn't dare tell
you over the telephone what one of them
said when he found the whisky and rock
candy for my cough"
Did they take anything" l demanded.
every nerve on edge,
"They took the cough medicine" she re-
turned Indignantly, "and they said"
"Confound the cough medicine!" 1 was
frantic. Did they take anything else?
Were they in my dressing roomT'
Yes. ! threatened to sue them, and I
told them what you would do when you
came back. But they wouldn't listen. They
took away that black sealskin bag You
brought home from Pittsburg with you!"
knew then that my hours of freedom
were numbered To have found Sullivan
and then, in support Of my case against
him, to have produced the bag, minus the
bit of chain, had been my intention. But
the police had the bag, and, beyond know
ing something of Sullivan's history, 1 was
practically no nearer his discovery than
before. Hotchkiss hoped he had his man
in the house off Washington Circle, but
on the very night he had seen him Jennie
claimed that Sullivan had tried to enter
the Laurels. Then-suppose We found Sui
Ivan and proved the satchel and Its con-
tents were his? Since the police had the
bit of chain II might mean involving Alison
in the story. / sat down and buried my
face in my hands There was no escape.
/ figured 1t out despondlngly.
Against me was the evidence of the sur
vlvors Of the Ontario that had been ac-
cused of the murder at the time. There
had been blood stains on my pillow and
a hidden dagger. Into the bargain, in my
possession had been found a travelling bag
containing the dead mans pocketbook.
In my own favor was Meningitis theory
against Mrs. Conway. She had motive for
, wishing to secure the notes, she believed
1 was In lower ten, and she had collapsed
at the discovery OF the crime in the morn
ing.
Against both Of these theories, I accuse
/ a purely chimerical person named Sullivan
} who was not seen by any of the survivors
, save one. Alison, whom could not bring
into the case 1 could find motive fol-
his numbering his father-in-law, whom he
hated, but again-I would have to drag in
the girl.
And not one of the theories explained
r the telegram and the broken necklace.
, Outside the office force was arriving
They were comfortably ignorant of my
presence, and over the transom floateo
: scraps of dialogue and the stenographer's
: gurgling laugh. Mcknight had a relative
! who was reading law with him, in the
= intervals between calling up the youuC
women Of his acquaintance. He came in
singing, and the office boy Joined In with
the uncertainty of voice of 15 l smiled
, grimly. 1 was too busy with my owl
; troubles to find any JOY in opening the
, door and startling them into silence.
even heard, without resentment, Blobs Of
r the uncertain voice inquire when Blake
would be back
Y hoped Mcknight would arrive before
4 the arrest occurred. There were many
3 things to arrange. But when at last. i'm
: patient OF his delay, 1 telephoned, founS
h he had been gone for more than an hour
Clearly he was not coming directly to tn
= office, and with such resignation as
Q could muster paced tho floor and waited
= l felt more alone than I have ever fel
1 in my life. Born an orphan" as Richie!
said, had made my own way, carved GU
n myself such success as had been mine.
5 had built up my house Of life on the prop
g OF law and order. and now some unknown
}. hand had withdrawn the supports, and
" stood among ruins.
suppose It is the maternal in a woma
1 that makes a man turn TO her when every
J. thing else falls The eternal boy in hir
o goes to have mis- wounded pride bandagec
l. his tattered self-respect repaired. II h
e loves the woman, he wants her TO kiss tn
hurt.
The longing to see Alison. always wit
r. me. was stronger than / was that morn
10 ing. II might be that l would not see he
y again. 1 had nothing to say to her saw
y one thing, and that, uTder the cloud tina
;: hung over me, / did not dare to say. Blu
/ wanted to see her, TO touch her hand