Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-16
III. SCHEFFEL HALL
THE STORY OF THE DEAD
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I collapsed-t had been too y
much l reused out of -
sort of stupor by finding myself
slipping to the floor as we sued
round a corner. When tried to
get up my feet struck something
the suitcase and bag. Do you ~
see? We had been so worked E y. -
up the thing, excited, so f:>. !
nervous, that had forgotten
to leave Gordon's luggage at the ..'t,fs.
house Both of us had forgot *.;.t~
ten. God knows we had enough
else to think about! 1t isn't ~
strange we forgot. Well, thought . -
it wouldn't matter much about
the things-only clothes.
"Then, passed an electric light, l happened to
look down at my feet. The small bag had become
fastened in way, and the whole floor of the cab
was covered with jewels. l didn't know how valuable
they were-hundreds of thousands of dollars anyway.
You've them too-on the floor. You know how
must have felt. gathered them up and stuffed them
into the bag At the next street lamp looked, and
found in the corners, and still 1t seemed
if I'd never find them all. First thought I'd stop
Harry Hay and tell him; but waited till got my
house. then told him.
what to do? We couldn't take them back.
It too late then; for the police had undoubtedly
been notified. There would be officers there, and the
Coroner's men. Harry Hay getting nervous about
the cab driver and anxious to return the carriage He
told that should have to about the jewels; told
to telephone Flint and what could be done to
return them safely, that would know they had
been taken 1t tremendous responsibility for me;
but, to save Gordon's honor consented to do it.
him. He awfully excited, and said he had found
the safe door open and had suspected the theft. He
proposed that should carry the jewels up to his broth
ers house in Harlem, where, as soon as he could get
away, he would meet me. Then he would return them
to the safe and lock the combination. No would
ever know But, owing to the Coroner, he couldn't
get away till late tonight promised to come
+ TRIED to sleep today but how could l forget?
q. After had concealed the suitcase my mind went
over and over the horror of it all, and l thought
should forenoon
the afternoon worse.
GAS trying to eat my dinner the bell rang.
Eliza came back grinning, to say a wanted to
speak to me. l couldn't understand why she was
laughing. Them when l him, for moment my
heart stopped beating. l thought it Harry Hay, in
the claimants coat and top hat again. 1t was if
believe my sight. 1t was the cab drlver-he had horr-
bic cross eyes.
"He began with horrible, sneerng grin, to tell me
that my friend had damaged the cab. denied know
ing anything about it, but he said he had followed
Harry, and had watched at the corner. He had seen
us coming out-with Gordon. Think of it! For
moment couldn't tell how much he knew, and l
tempted to kill him then and there. l almost wish
had! Then he spoke of my friend with the jag, and
thing queer had happened. He said he wanted hun
dred dollars gave it to him. and told him to go away.
Wasn't fool?
"Of course it was fatal thing to do. The moment
had done it was in despair. He would be some
thing wrong had happened He would again
and again He would find out. went wild.
Il didn't dare stay at home any longer them and so,
putting all the jewels loose into velvet bag hid that
in large mink muff and went out, didn't know where.
decided to 60 to some restaurant or to theater-
anywhere to be in crowd, safe-and wait until Flint
could take the things.
u had scarcely turned from 33dst into Fourth-ave.,
when saw a cab driving up slowly behind me. was
afraid it was the man; but not walked hur
redy along. He followed like horrible. creeping
thing aWbv didn't 7 take car, Oh don't know, u.s
Copyright 1911. by Burgess.