Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1910-09-22
CHAPTER xxX.-Continued. ,


He would probably be accused of
the crime. SO, although the
wreck occurred / supposed everyone
connected with the affair had been
Killed, there was a chance that you
had survived. I've not been of much
account, but I didn't want a man to
swing because | left him in my place.
Besides, | began to have a theory of
my own
CAS- we entered the car a tall, dark
woman passed us, with a glass of wa
ter in her hand, and | vaguely remem-
lbered her. She was amazingly like
blanche Conway.
'If she, too, thought the man with
the notes was in lower ten, 1t ex-
plained lot, including that piece of
a woman's necklace. She was a fury,
blanche Conway, capable of any
thing"
Then why did you countermand
that message?' | asked curiously.
when | got to the Carter house,
and got to bed had sprained my
lankle in the jump went through
the alligator bag | had taken from
lower nine. When found your name.
j sent the first message. Then. soon
after, | came across the notes. 1t
seemed too good to be true, and I was
crazy for fear the message had gone.
AT first / was going to send them
to Bronson; then ] began to see what
the possession of the notes meant to
me. 1t meant power over Bronson.
money, influence, everything, lie was
a devil. that man"
well, he's at home now" said Nc
Knight, and we were glad to laugh
and relieve the tension.
Alison put her hand over her eyes,
las if to shut out the sight of the man
she had so nearly married, and | fur
lively touched one Of the soft little
curls that nestled at the back of her
neck.
when | was able to walk" went on
the sullen voice, 81 came at once to
Washington. ! tried to sell the notes
to Bronson, but he was almost at the
end of his rope Not even my threat
to send them back to you, Mr.. Blake
ley, could make him meet my figure.
He didn't have the money"
Mcknight was triumphant.
81 think you gentlemen will see rea-
son in my theory now" he said Mrs.
Conway wanted the notes to force a
legal marriage, | SUPPOSE"
yes"
The detective with the small pack
age carefully rolled off the rubber
band, and unwrapped It, | held my
breath as he took out, first, the Russia
leather wallet.
"These things, Mr. Blakeley, we
found in the sealskin bag Mr.. Sullivan
says he left you. This wallet, Mr. Sui
livan-is this the one you found on the
floor of the carr"
Sullivan opened it, and, CHANGING at
the name inside, "Simon Harrington"
nodded affirmatively.
And this" went on the detective
this is a piece of gold chain?'
ut seems to be- said Sullivan, re-
coiling at the blood-stained end
This, believe, is the dagger" He
held 1t up, and Alison gave a faint
cry of establishment and dismay Sui
llvan's face grew CHASTITY. and he sat
down weakly on the nearest chair.
The detective looked at him shrewd-
ly, then at Alisons agitated face
where have you seen this dagger
before, young LADY," he asked, kindly
enough.
"Oh, don't ask me!' she gasped,
breathlessly, her eyes turned on Sui
Ivan. "It's-it's too terrible!"
Tell him." l advised, leaning over
to her. 1T will be found out later,
anyhow"
ASK him." she said, nodding toward
Sullivan.
The detective unwrapped the small
box Alison had brought. disclosing the
trampled necklace and broken chain
With clumsy fingers he spread it on
the table and fitted into place the bit
of chain. There could be no doubt
that 1t belonged there.