The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-06-22

to answer gave a sort of screech and
said:
"Oh, I've left my bag in the cab"
With that she turned and numbered
downstairs again, and he followed,
reaching the first landing just as
she went out the front door. There
he paused and waited to see if she
would come back, not knowing Just
what was expected of him. Sure
enough, she did come back, and he
heard her interviewing Mrs. Stubs,
evidently in a state of great excite
ment; he also heard Mrs. Stubs prof
fering the public telephone in the
lower hall, and instructing her as to
which door Oh the upper landing led
to Starts room.
Casey said that at this point he
%retreated, stepping softly that the
stairs might not creak. He heard
them creaking loudly, however, a
little later, and a knock at Starts
door; he also heard the door open and
shut and a murmur of voices. Being,
as he said, a person who always at
tended strictly to his own business,
thank God, he had heard moi more.
He had gone alone to the vaudeville
and had come home, expecting we
should all drop in as usual, but in
stead found the house in an uproar
and our rooms swarming with police.
And" he continued, when I read
the morning paper and saw that H.
D. Casey had been arrested as an
accomplice, I knew right away it was
one Of you and came to see which."\
where is Starr" I asked.
ct don't know; I wish I did. I'm
troubled, Billy, and 1 think you've
all lost your wits. The old lady went
into his room, that's certain. I might
hope I was mistaken, but one glove
was on the table and a feather on the
floor"
"A feather?"
Eyes, a white one. From her bon
net. they said"
cts preposterous," I said. "Why,
Tie NSly luSd-
eyes,. agreed Casey; 'of course.
But why doesn't he show up? He
must have seen the papers. I know
it's preposterous-but it's queer"
It was; l could not deny it. We
sat in silence a moment, then my own
unpleasant predicament became up
permost in my mind, and I preached
the subject Of bail.
"No co." said Casey.
"Why not?"
"They won't accept it. You see,
you're mixed up with this thing also,
on account of the cab and the black
bag. And I must say, Billy, accord
ing to your own story, you've been a
precious fool, to say the least. What
do you want to &C %cavorting around
in cabs and clipping with strange wo-
men for?"
I answered this question by an
other, as the least embarrassing mode
of reply.
What does Randy think about it
all? You haven't mentioned him"
4 don't know" returned Casey.
Hes missing too"
"What?"
Casey threw up his hands with a
gesture of despair.
ooh, yes" he said; you're all
missing, and you've all gone clean
crazy, as far as l can see. You and
Starr mixed up in a police row, and
Randy gone-vanished and left no
sign. I'm not sure that I I'm not
about ready for a lunatic asylum my
self"
The opening of the door prevented
my replying. and a rustic of skirts
caused us both to rise i~nvoluntarily.
My heart went down into my boots,
and l felt the blood mounting uncom-
fortably to M: face, as Mrs. Joseph
Robinson confronted us with majestic
scorn. Aunt Josephine had no need
thought, for it was written large
all over her. Nevertheless, she
spoke, and. to my establishment, she
ignored me completely ana addressed
J Casey.
$50 here you are" she said.
He could not contradict so obvious
a fact, so he merely bowed. Casey
was not graceful; apparently he sim
ply undid a hinge in his back and let
himself down, then closed it up again.
Mrs. Robinson continued.
II shall not at present tell you my
opinion of your conduct, nor what !
think of your shameless abuse of my
hospitality. For shameless it is"
Again Casey undid the hinge. He
has since told me that it was the
only thing he could think of at the
time, so he did it at intervals during
the conversation and felt like a joint
ed doll.
"No," said Mrs. Robinson; "this
is no place for me to linger, although
under the circumstances, it seems to
be most suitable for you. I have
come to demand my niece"
My knees suddenly gave way, and
I collapsed upon the nearest chair
quite unnoticed, for Casey bowed
again and Mrs. Robinson glared
~fercely.
Il have come" she repeated, etc
demand my niece"