Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1911-07-12
CHAPTER XII. (conslnued.)

'T wish you would all go out" said
wearily. "If every man in the house
says he didn't try to get over to the
next roof last night well and good.
But you might look and see If the
board Is still lying where 1t fell"
4 There was an instantaneous rush
for the window, and seconds pause.
Then Jimmy's voice, incredulous.
xwed:
well. I'll be-blessed! There's the
ooard!"
I stayed in my room all that day
Ny head really ached and then, too,
did not care to meet Mr.. HARRISON. It
would have to come; realized that
a meeting was inevitable, but 1 want
ed time to think how I would meet
him. 1t would be impossible to cut
him, without rousing the curiosity of
the others to fever pitch; and it was
equally impossible to ignore the dis
graceful episode on the stairs. AS it
happened, however, ] need not have
worried went down to dinner, Ian
guidly, when every one was seated,
and found Max at my right, and Mr..
HARRISON moved over beside Bella.
Every one was talking at once, for
Flanagan, ambling around the table
rs airily as he walked his beat. had
presented Bella with her bracelet on
= salad plate, garnished with romaine.
He had found it in the furnace room,
he said, where she must have dropped
t. And he looked at me stealthily, to
approve his mendacity!
Every one was famished, and as
they ate they discussed the board in
Hhe area-way, and pretended to deride
It as a clever bit of press work, to re-
=ive a dying sensation. No one was
deceived: Annes pearls and the at
sempt at escape, coming just after,
pointed only to one thing. I looked
Sround the table, dazed. Flanagan,
almost the only unknown quantity,
might have tried to escape the night
before, but he would not have been
in dress clothes. Besides, he must
be eliminated as far as the pearls
were concerned, having beer locked
In the furnace room the night they
were stolen. There was DO one among
the girls to suspect The Mercer girls
had stunning pearls, and could secure
all they wanted legitimately; and
Bella disliked them. Oh, there was no
question about it, 1 decided: Dallas
and Anne had taken wolf to their
bosom-or is 1t viper?-and the
HARRISON man was the creature. Al
IL ough I must say that, looking over
tie table, at Jimmy's breadth and not
worry imposing personality. at Max's
Jean length, sallow skin and bold
dark eyes, at Dallas, blond, growing
bald and fiorid, and then at the Harbi-
son boy, tall, muscular, clear-eyed and
s,lnburned, one would have taken Max
4 at first choice as the villain, with Dal
7,ncxt, Jim third, and the HARRISON boy
! not In the running.
1t was just after dinner that the
surprise was sprung on me. Mr.. Har-
4b son came around to ME grayely,
4 and asked me If l felt able to go up on
It tl.e roof. On the roof, after last
/ n ght! I had to gather myself togeth-
e.; luckily, the others were pushing
back their chairs. showing Flanagan
4 the liqueur glasses to take up, and
lighting cigars.
T do not care to co." said icily.
"The others are coming" he per-
sisted, "aai II could give you an
arm up the stairs"
3 T believe you are good at that" /
said, looking at him steadily. Max,
will you help me to the roof?'
Mr.. HARRISON really turned rather
white. Then he bowed tremendously
and left me.
Max got me wrap, and every one
except Mr.. HARRISON and Bella, who
was taking a mass Of indigestibles to
Aunt Selma, went to the roof.
Where is Tom?" Anne asked. as
I'VE reached the foot of the stairs.
Gone ahead to FIX things" was the
fanswer. But he was not there. At
i&he top of the last fight l stopped,
dumb with amazement; the roof had
abeen transformed, enchanted. Il was
!. fairy-land of lights and foliage and
olors. l had to stop and rub my
l. 80 T1ro,,, %ha -s,IooGnaos of q rim