The Winslow mail., 1911-05-27
CHAPTER XVIII.
It's All NV Fault,

It's All My Fault.
l didn't go to the drawing room
again. l went into my own room and
sat in the dark, and tried to be furi-
ously angry, and only succeeded In
feeling queer and tingly One thing
was absolutely certain: Not the same
man, but two different men had kissed
me on the stairs to the roof It sounds
rather horrid and discriminating, but
there was Fall the difference In the
world
But then-who had? And for whom
had Mr.. HARRISON been waiting on the
roof? "Did you know that l nearly
choked you to death a few minutes
ago?" Then he rather expected to
finish somebody in that way! Who?
Jim, probably. It was strange, too,
but suddenly realized that no mat
ter how many suspicious things I
mustered up against him-and there
were plenty-down in my heart I
didn't believe him guilty of anything,
except this last and unforgivable Of
fense. Whoever was trying to leave
the house had taken the necklace,
that seemed clear, unless Max was
still foolishly trying to break quar-
antine and create one of the sensa-
tions he so dearly loves. This was
new idea, and some things upheld it,
but Max had been playing bridge
when I was kissed on the stairs, and
there was still left that ridiculous
Incident of the comfort.
Bella came up after l had gone to
bed, and turned on the light to brush
her hair.
eff l don't leave this mausoleum
soon, I'll be carried out" she de-
clared "You in bed, Lollie Mercer
and Dal flirting, Anne hysterical, and
Jim making his will in the den! You
will have to take Aunt Selma tonight,
Kit; I'm all in"
''If you'll put her to bed, I'll keep
her there" I conceded, after some
parley.
You're a dear" Bella came back
from the door. Look here Kit, you
know Jim pretty we'll Don't you
think he looks i'll? Thinner?"
Hes a wreck" l said soberly
''You have lot to answer for, Bella"
Bella went over to the cheval glass
and looked in it. 81 avoid him all I
can," she said, posing. Hes awfully
funny; he's so afraid I'll think he's
serious about you. He can't realize
that for me he simply doesn't exist"
Well, took Aunt Selma, and about
two o'clock, while I was in my first
sleep, l woke to find her standing be-
side me, tugging at my arm.
There's somebody in the house."
she whispered. "Thieves!"
"If they're in they'll not get out to-
night l said.
81 tell you, l saw man skulking
on the stairs" she insisted
l got up ungraciously enough, and
put on my dressing gown. Aunt Sc
lima, who had her hair in crimps, tied
went to the head of the stairs Aunt
Selma leaned far over and peered
down.
Hes in the library" she whisper
ed. 81 can see light"
The lust of battle was in Aunt Sc
lina's eye. She girded her robe about
her and began to descend the stairs
cautiously We went through the hall
was empty, but from the den beyond
came a hum of voices and the cheer
full glow of freight. l realized the
situation then, but it was too late.
"Then why did you kiss her in the
dining room?" Bella was saying in
her clear, high tones "You did, didn't
you?"
'Tt was only her hand" Jim, des-
perately explaining. I've got to pay
her some attention, under the circum-
stances. And l give you my word,
1 was thinking of you when I did it."
The wretch!
Aunt Selma drew her breath in sud-
denly.
81 am thinking of marrying Reggie
Wolfe" This was Bella, of course.
"He wants me to. He's a dear boy"
eff you do, will kill him.
81 am so very lonely" Bella sighed.
We could hear the creak of Jim's
shirt bosom that showed that he had
sighed also. Aunt Selma had gripped
me by the arm, and I could hear her
breathing hard beside me-
(TO BE CONTINUED)