The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1911-05-18

hour, with the dinner or 1t Anyhow,
Max was searching the house syste
matically, armed with a copy Of Poe's
"Purloined Letter" and Gaboriau's
Monsieur Lecoq." He went through
the seats Of the chairs with hatpins
tore up the beds, and lifted rugs, until
the house was In a state Of confusion,
And the next day, the fourth, he
found something-not much, but II
was curious. He had been in the
studio, poking around behind the dusty
pictures, with Jimmy expostulating
every time he moved anything and
the rest standing around watching
him.
Max was strutting.
I'VE get it by eliminations," he
said, Importantly. THE pearls be.
ing nowhere else in the house, they
must be here in the studio. Three
parts Of the studio having yielded
nothing, they must be in the fourth.
Ladies' and gentlemen, let me have
your attention for one moment. | tap
this canvas with my wand-there Is
nothing up my sleeve. Then | pre-
pare to move the canvas-so. And I
put my hand In the pocket of this dis.
reputable velvet coat. SO Behold"
Then he gave a low exclamation and
looked at something he held In his
hand. Every one stepped forward,
and on his palm was the small diamond
CLASH from AnDp'S ~c0Ilarf
Jimmy was apologize. He tried to
smile, but no one else did.
We'll. I'll be 1abbergasted!" he
said, Il say, you people, you don't
think for a minute that | put that
thing there? Why, I haven't worn
that coat for a month. lists a
trick of yours, Max"
But Max shook his head; he looked
%stupef1ed, and stood gazing from the
clasp to the pocket Of the old painting
coat. Betty dropped on a folding
stool, that promptly collapsed with
her and created a welcome diversion,
while Anne bounced on the clasp
greedily, with a little cry.
1--WE will find 1t all now" she said,
excitedly. did you look in the other
pockets, Maxi"
Then, for the first time, l was con-
scious of an air of constraint among
the men. Dallas was whistling softly,
and Mr.. HARRISON, having rescued
Betty, was standing silent and aloof,
watching the scene with non-commit-
tai eyes. 1t was Max who spoke first,
after a hurried inventory of the other
pockets.
Nothing else" he said, constrained
ly. 'Ill move the rest of the can
vases"
But Jim interfered, to every ones
surprise.
Il wouldn't If I were you. Max.
There's nothing back there. l had
'em out yesterday" He was quite
pale.
Nonsense" Max said gruffy. "Tf
it's a practical joke, Jim, why don't
you Tess up? Anne has worried
enough"
THE pearls are not there, / tell
you." Jim began. Although the studio
was cold, there were little fine beads
of moisture on his face. 81 must ask
you not to move those pictures" And
then Aunt Selma came to the .escue;
she stalked yer and stood with her
back against the stack of
"As far as / understand this" she
acclaimed, "You gentlemen are trying
to intimate that James knows some
thing Of that young woman's jewelry,
because you found a part of it in his
pocket. Certainly you will not move
the pictures. How do you know that
the young gentleman who said he
found 1t there didn't have 1t up his
~sleeve?"
She looked around triumphantly.
and Max glowered. Dallas soothed
her. however.
Exactly So" he said. How do we
know that Max didn't have the clasp
up his sleeve? My dear lady, neither
my wife o l care anything for the
pearls. as compared with the priceless
pearl of peace. I suggest tea on the
roof; those In favor? My arm, Miss
Caruthers."
1t was all well enough for Jim to
say later that he didn't dare to have
the v moved, for he had stuck
behind them all sorts Of chorus girl
photographs and life-class crayons
that were not for Aunt Selina's eye.
besides four empty siphons, two full
ones. and three bottles Of whisky. Not
a soul believed him; there was a new
element Of suspicion and discord In
the house.