The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-11-04
CHAPTER XXI.
Mckniqht's Theory.


confess was staggered. h
people at the surrounding tables, after
glancing curiously in my direction,
looked away again,
| got my hat and went out in a very
uncomfortable frame of mind, Ihat
she would inform the police at once
Of what she knew | never doubted, un-
less possibly she would give a day or
two's grace in the hope that ! would
change my mind.
reviewed the situation as | waited
for a car. Two passed me going In
the opposite direction and on the first
one I saw Bronson, his hat over his
eyes, his arms folded, looking moOdily
ahead. Was It Imagination? or was
the small man huddled in the corner
of the real seat Hotchkiss?
As the car rolled on | found myself
smiling. The alert little mar was for
all the world like a terrier, ever on the
scent, and securing about in every di'
rection.
found Mcknight at the Incubator,
with his coat of, working with enthu-
siasm and a manicure file over the
horn of his auto.
Its the worst horn ! ever ran
across" he groaned, without looking
up, as / came in. "The blankety-
blank thing won't blow"
He punched it savagely, finally elic'
iting a faint throaty croak.
Sounds like Group" / suggested.
"My sister-in-law uses camphor and
goose grease for 1t; or how about a
spice p~oultice?"
But Mcknight never sees any jokes
but his own. He flung the horn clat-
tering into a corner and collapsed
sulkily into a chair.
Nov" / said, IF you're through
manicuring that horn, I'll tell you
about my talk with the lady in black"
What's wrong?" asked Mcknight,
ianguidly. Police watching her. too?'
"Not exactly. The fact is, Rich,
there's the mischief to pay"
Stogie came in, bringing a few addi-
tons to our comfort. When he went
put | told my story.
"You must remember" ] said, that
I had seer this woman before the
morning of the wreck. She was buy
ing her Pullman ticket when | did.
Then the next morning. when the muir
der was discovered, she grew hyster-
lcal and | gave her some whisky. The
third and last time | saw her, until
tonight, was when she crouched be-
side the road. after the wreck"
Mcknight slid down in his chair I'M
I'll his weight rested on the small of
his back and put his feet on the big
reading table.
Its rather a facer." he said. tits
really too good a situation for a COM
monplace lawyer. 1t ought to be
dramatized. You cant agree, of
course: and by refusing you u the
chance of Jail. at least. and of having
Alison brought into publicity, which is
Ii of the question. You say she was
at the Pullman window when you
were?"
Yes. bought her ticket for her
Gave her lower eleven"
And you took ten?"
Lower ten
Mcknight Strengthened up and
looked at me
Then she thought you we're in
lower ten
Il suppose she did, if she thought
at all"
But listen. nan" Mcknight was
growing excited. What do you figure
out Of this? The Conway woman
knows you have taken the notes to
Pittsburg. The probabilities are that
she follows you there, on the chance
Of an opportunity to, get them. either
for Bronson or herself.
Nothing doing during the trip over
or during the day in P~lttsburg; but
she learns the number of your berth
as you buy 1t at the Pullman ticket
Office in Pittsburg and she thinks she
sees her chance. No one could have ,
foreseen that that drunken fellow
would have crawled into your berth.
Now. ! figure 1t out this way: She
waAted those notes desperately-does
stlli-nct for Bronson. but to hold owe.