Charlevoix county herald., 1910-10-22
~ CHAPTER xiI-Contlrued.


And there was no one I could talk
10 about it, no one to tell me how
hi6eously absurd it was, no one to
give me a slap and tell me there are
tons 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 out of sight among the
pillows. Then i lay back in cold
perspiration. 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 a 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 q gray
suit, when he went away in blue? 2,
he rei.eated. "Well wrecks are queer
y 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 lightningt he and the caddy
had taken refuge under a tree. After
the flash, when they recovered con-
sciousness. there was my friend in the
caddy's clothes. and the caddy in his.
And as my friend was a large man
and the caddy a 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
faness was ebbng when he finally got
the hospital.
rs DIR. Van Kirk there?" he asked.
mot there? Well, can you tell me
how the patient is whom DR.. 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 long pause, then Nc
Knights voice:
"Hell0-yes. Thank you very much.
Goodlby"
He came upstairs, two steps at
NmA
Look here" he said, bursting into
the room, there may be something
in your theory, after all. The woman's
name-it may be a coincidence. but
it's curious-her name is Sullivan"
What did I tell you?" / said, sitting
up suddenly in bed. she's probably
seyenk and she was afraid of what he
&onfound this arm," said. paying
for my energy with some excruciating
throbs There's so much to be look
ed after, and here / am, bandaged.
splintered, and generally useless. It's
a beastly shame"
Don't forget that l am here" said
Mcknight pompously. "And another
thing, when you feel this way just re-
member there are two less desirable
places were you might be. One is
Jail, and the other is" He strummed
on an imaginary harp, with devotional
eyes.
Put Meningitis light-heartedness
Jared on me that morning. | lay and
frowned under my helplessness. When
by dhanoe | touched the little gold
bagJSt seemed to scorch my fingers.
Riciiey, finding me unresponsive. left
to keep his luncheon engagement with
Alison West As he clattered down
the stairs, I turned my back to tbs
morning sunshine and abandoned my
self TO misery. BY what strain on her
Euyed nerves was Alison West keep
ing up, I wondered?
But Mcknight had not gone, after
ALI. heard him coming back. his
voice preceding him. and ] groaned
with. irritation.
Wake up!" he called. Somebody's
sent you lot of flowers. Please hold
the box. Mrs. Klopton: I'm going out
60 be run down by an automobile"
reused to feeble interest. My
brothers wife is puncthIeus about
such things; all the new babies In the