The Montgomery tribune., 1910-11-04
CHAPTER XXI.
McknIaht's Theory.


confess I was staggered. The
people at the surrounding tables, after
glancing curiously in my direction
looked away again.
I got my hat and went out In very
uncomfortable frame Of mind. That
she would inform the police at once
of what she knew I never doubted, un-
less possibly she would give day or
two's grace in the hope that / would
change my mind.
reviewed the situation as i waited
for a car. Two passed me going In
the opposite direction and on the first
one l saw Bronson, his hat over his
eyes, his arms folded, looking moodily
ahead. Was 1t imagination? or was
the small man huddled in the corner
of the rear seat Hotchkiss?
AS the car rolled on I found myself
smiling. The alert little man was for
all the world like terrier. ever on the
scent, and securing about in every d.
rection.
found Mcknight at the Incubator,
with his coat off, working with enthu-
siasm and manicure file over the
horn of his auto.
"It's the worst horn I 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 faint throaty croak.
Sounds like Group" suggested.
"My sister-in-law uses camphor and
goose grease for it; or how about a
spice poultice?"
But Mcknight never sees any Jokes
but his own. He flung the horn clat-
tering into corner and collapsed
sulkily into chair
"Now," / said, "if you're through
manicuring that horn, I'll tell you
about my talk with the lady in black
whats wrong?" asked Mcknight,
languidly. police watching her, too?'
"Not exactly. The fact is, Rich,
there's the mischief to pay"
Stogie came in, bringing few addi-
tions to our comfort. When he went
out told my story.
"You must remember" / said, that
] had seen this woman before the
morning of the wreck She was buy.
ing her Pullman ticket when l did
Then the next morning, when the mur-
der was discovered, she grew hyster
I ical 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 un
til his weight rested on the small OF
his back and put his feet on the bic
reading table.
'It's rather a facer." he said. "It's
really too good situation for com
monplace lawyer. 1t ought to be
dramat;zed. You cant agree, OF
course; and by refusing you run the
chance of Jail, at least, and of having
Alison brought into publicity, which IL
out 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 ant
looked at me.
"Then she thought you were IL
lower ten"
Il suppose she did, If she thought
at ALL"
"But listen, man." Mcknight wa.
growing excited. what do you figure
out of this? The Conway woman
knows you have taken the notes t
Pittsburg. The probabilities are tha
she follows you there. on the chance
of an opportunity to get them. eithel
for Bronson or herself.
Nothing dong during the trip owe
or during the day in Pittsburg; bu
she learns the number of your bertl
as you buy It at the Pullman ticke
office In Pittsburg and she thinks sh'
sees her chance. No one could hav'
foreseon that that drunken fellow
would have crawled into your berth
Nov. figure It out this way; Sh'
wanted those notes desperately doe
still-not FOL Bronson. but to hold ove