Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1911-05-17
CHAPTER vi.
A Mighty Poor Joke.

A Mighty Poor Joke.
OF course, one knows that there are
people who in different grade of so
.iety would be shoplifters and pick
pockets. When they are restrained
by obligation or environment they be-
come little overkeen at bridge, or
lake the wrong sables, or stuff a gold
backed brush into muff at recep-
ton. You remember the ivory dress
Ing set that Theodore Bucknell had,
fastened with fine gold chains? And
the sensation it caused at the Buck
nell cotilIion when Mrs. Van Zire went
sweeping to her carriage with two
leet OF gold chain hanging from the
front of her wrap?
But Anne's pearl collar was differ
ent. In the first place, instead OF
three or four hundred people, the sus-
picion had to be divided among ten.
And of those ten, at least eight Of us
were friends, and the other two had
been vouched for by the Browns and
Jimmy. 1t was horrible mix-up. For
the necklace was gone-there couldn't
be any doubt Of that-and although,
as Dallas said, it couldn't get out OF
the house, STILL there were plenty Of
places to hide the thing.
F The worst Of our trouble really
originated with Max Reed, after all.
For it was Max who made the silly
wager over the telephone, with Dick
Baglcy. He bet five hundred even
that one of us, at least, would break
quarantine within the. next "a hours,
and, of course, that settled 1t. Dick
told It around the club as joke, and
man who owns a newspaper heard
him and called up the paper. Then
the paper called up the health office,
after setting up a flaming scare.head,
"Will Money Free Them? Board Of
Health versus Millionaire"
1t was almost three when the house
settled down-nobody mad any night
clothes. although finally, through Dal-
las, who gave them to Anne, who gave
them to the rest, we got some things
of Jimmy's-and l was still dressed.
The house was perfectly quiet, and
after listening carefully, went SLOW
ly down the stairs. There was a light
in the hall, and another back in the
dining room, and got along without
any trouble. But the pantry, where
the stairs led down, was dark. and the
wretched swinging door would not
stay open.
caught my skirt In the door as 1
went through, and / had to stop to
loosen it. And in that awful minute
I heard some one breathing just be-
side me. l had stopped to my gown,
and l turned my head without
Strengthening couldn't have raised
myself to an erect posture, for my
knees were giving way under me-
and just at my feet lay the still glow.
ing end of a match!
had to swallow twice before !
could speak. Then / said sharply:
Who's there?"
The man was so close It is a
wonder had not walked into him; his
voice was right at my ear.
II am sorry l startled you," he said
quietly. "I was afraid to speak sud-
denly, or move, for fear l would do
what / have done"
1t was Mr. HARRISON.
"T-I thought you were-it is very
late" / managed to say, with dry
lipes. do you know where the elec-
trio switch is?"
Mrs. Wilscn!" 1t was clear he had
not known me before. why, no;
don't your
81 am all confused" muttered, and
beat a retreat into the dining room.
There, in the friendly light, we could
ut least jsee each other, and l think
he was as much impressed by the fact
that l had not undressed as I was by
the fact that he had, partly. He wore
a hideous dressing gown Of Jimmys,
much too small, and his hair, parted
and pIastered down in the early even
ing, stood up in sort OF brown brush
all over his head. He was trying to
fiatten It with his hands.
1T must be three o'clock" he said,
with polite surprise" and the house
is like barn. You ought not to be
run ming around with your arms un'
covered, Mrs. Wilson. Surely you
could have called some of US"
II didn't wish to disturb any one,'
said, with distinct truth.
81 suppose you are like me-" he
said, "The novelty of the situation
and everything got to thinking
thin gs over, and then / realized the
studio was getting cold, so thought
would come down and take look al
he dr-naca. didn't suppose any one
lse wo.ld think Of It. But | lost my