The Winslow mail., 1911-02-25

| the chair-seatS, and had shaken out
DaPs shoes Che said people often hid
things and then forgot about it), he
made proposition.
eff you will take that Internal fur
mace from around my neck, I'll under
take either to find the jewels or to
| show up the thief" he said quietly.
And, of course, with all the people in
the house under suspicion. every one
had to hail the suggestion with joy,
and to offer his assistance. and Jimmy
had to take Max's share of the fur
mace. (Yes, l had broken the police
man to them gently. Of course, Anne
said at once that he was the thief,
but they found him tucked in and
sound asleep with his back against
the furnace)
''In the first place Max said. stand
ing Importantly in the middle of the
room, I'VE retired between two and
three-nearer three. So the theft oc-
Cured between three and five. when
Anne woke up. Was your door locked,
DalT
mo. The door into the hall was,
but the door into the dressing room
was open this morning"
From three until five" Max re-
peated. WAS any one out of his room
during that time?"
II was" said Tom HARRISON prompt
ly, from the foot of the bed. 'I was
prowling all around somewhere about
four, searching glanced at me-
! for drink of water. But as I don't
know pearl from glass bead,
hope you exonerate me-"
Everybody laughed and said, "Of
course" and Sure, old man." and
changed the subject quickly. While
that excitement was on, l got Jim to
one side and told him about Bella.
His good-natured face was radiant at
first.
II suppose she did come to see
Takahiro, eh, Kit?" he asked delicate
ly. "She didn't say anything about
me?"
Nothing good. She said the house
was in disgraceful condition." l said
heartlessly. "And her diamond brace
let was stolen while she took nap on
the kitchen table"-he groaned-"and
oh, Jim, you are such a goose. If I
could only manage my own affairs the
way l could my friends! She's too
sure of you, Jimmy. She knows you
adore her, and-how brutal could you
be, Jim?"
Fair" he said. 81 may have un-
discovered depths of brutality that
| have never had occasion to use How
ever, might try. Why?"
Listen, Jim," l urged 1T was al
ways Bella who did things here: She
managed the house, she tryrannized
over her friends, and she bullied you.
Yes, she did. Now she's here, without
your invitation, and she has to stay.
It's your turn to bully, to dictate
terms, to be coldly civil or politely
rude. Make her furious at you. If
she is jealous, SO much the better"
How far would you sacrifice your
self on the altar of friendship" he
asked
You may pay me all the attention
you like, in public" l replied, and
after we shook hands we went to-
gether to Bella
There was an ominous pause when
we went into the den. Bella was sit
ting by the register, with her furs on,
and after one glance over her shoul-
der at US, she looked away again with
out speaking.
Bella" Jim said appealingly. And
then l pinched his arm, and he drew
himself up and looked properly out
ragged
Bella" he said, coldly this time, II
can't imagine why you have put your
self in this ridiculous position, but
since you have"
Put myself in this position!" She
was frantic It's a plot, wretched
trick of yours, this quarantine, to keep
me here"
Jim gasped, but gave him warn
ing glance, and he swallowed hard.
"On the contrary" he said, with
maddening quiet, 81 would be the last
person in the world to wish to per-
petuate an indiscretion of yours. For
it was hardly discreet, was it, to visit
a bachelor establishment alone at ten
o'clock at night? AS far as my plot
ting to keep you here is concerned,
assure you that nothing could be fur
ther from my mind Our paths were
to be two parallel lines that never
touch" He looked at me for ap-
proval, and Bella was choking.
You are worse than l ever thought
you," she stormed. Il thought you
for a brute!"
CTO BE CONTINUED.)