Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-03

romantic nonsense Of very young women"
Il never said anything OF the sort"
retorted furiously.
There is more satisfaction TO be had
out Of a good saddle horseg he quoted
ne More excitement out Of a polo pony,
ana as for the eternal matrimonial chase
give me instead q good stubble a fox,
some decent hounds and a hunter, and
I'll show you the real Joys OF the ehasev q"
For heavens sake, go down 10 the tele-
phone, you make my head ache" I said
sRvagely.
hardly know what prompted me to take
out the gold purse and look at H. II was
an imbecile thing to do-cau il impulse
sentmentality. what you wish / brought
1t out, one eye on the door for Mrs. Klop-
ton has ready eye ard a noiscless shoe.
But the house was quiet. Downstairs Nc
knight was flirting with the telephone
central and there was an odor Of boneset
tea in the air I think Mrs. Klopton was
fascinated out Of her theories by the bone
set in connection with the fractured arm.
Anyhow, ] held up the bag and looked
al f. But II must have been unfastened
for the next instant there was an avail
anche on the snow field Of the counterpans
some money, a wisp OF a handkerchief
a tiny booklet with thin leaves covered
with powdery substance-and a necklace
] drew myself up slowly and stared at the
necklace.
| II was one Of the semi affairs
that women are wearing now, & heavy pen.
dsnt Of gold chains and carved canoes
swung from q thin neck chain Of the same
metal The necklace was broken: in three
places the links were pulled apart and the
canoes swung loose and partly detached
But It was the supporting chain that held
my eve and fascinated with its sinister sug.
! gestion, Three inches OF Il had beer
snapped off, and as well as ] knew any.
thing on earth, knew that the bit Of
/ chain that the amateur detective had found
/ blood stain and all, belonged just there.
! And there was no one 7 could talk &c
/ about IT, no one TO teu me now hideously
absurd It was, no one to give me a slsr
/ snd tell me there are tons Of fine gold
chains made every year, or 20 point out
/ the long arm OF concidencsl
With my one useful hand Z funbled the
things back into the bag and thrust II
deep out Of sight among the pillows Their
! lay back IN a cold perspirauon. What
connection had Alison West with this
1 crime? Why had she stared SO a. the
gun metal cigarette case that morning or
the train? What had alarmed her so al
the farm house? What had she taker
back 10 the gate? Why did she wish she
had not escaped from the wreck7 And las,
IN heavens name. how aid a part Of hel
necklace become torn off and covered witt
/ blood?
Downstairs Mcknight was stlH a. the
/ telephone, and amusing himself with Mrs
. Klopton IN the interval OF waiting
7 Why did he come home iu a gray suit
when he went away "a a blucy' he re-
pested Wen, wrecks are queer thinFs
Mrs. Klopion. The suit may have tarnst
gray with fright or perhaps wrecks DO q,
queer stunts a. lshtninE. Friend OF mln,
once was struck by lightning. hs and "a,
caddy had taken refuge under a tree
After the flash when they recovered con
scionsncss, there was my friend In th,
clddys clothes, and the caddy IN his An
as ms friend vas a large man and IN,
caody a small boy"
McKniEhts story vaE interrupted ~
tae Indignant slam of ths dining room
door ne Was obliged 20 sait some time
ard even his eternal cheerfuineas va
sbblnE when ~ finally Eot TIE hospital
Ia pr Van Kirk thersF' hs asked Ne
thsref Wen you ear tel me- how th,
pausnt b whom pr wIulaIns frum Waah.
inHlon oper1tsd en- last niEhtq Well To
gisd % that u shs oonscieusi ~ yog