Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-03-18
CHAPTER VI.

CHAPTER VI.
a MiStty Peer Joke.
OF course. ono knows that there arc
people who IN Q different grade IT so
ciety would be shoplifters and pick
pockets. When they are restrained
By Obligation or environment they BE-
come . little overkeen at bridge. or
take the wrong sables. or stun gold
backed brush into mu1 ct rocep-
ton. You remember the ivory dress
ing set that Theodore Bucknell had.
fastened with me gold chains? And
the sensation Il caused at the Buck
nell eotiliioa when Hrs. Van Tire went
swesping to her carriage with two
feet IL goaA 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 ton.
And OF those ten, ut least eight Of US
were friends. and the other two had
been vouchod 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,
% Dallas said. It couldn't get out OF
the house, still, there were plenty Of
places TO hide the thing.
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
Bagley. He bet ave hundred even
that one of us, Ut least. would break
quarantine within the next "a hours.
ana, Of course, that settled 1t. Dick
told It around the club - q Joke. and
q man who owns . Newspaper heard
him and called up the paper. Then
the paper called up the health ONCE.
after setting up flaming scare.head.
"WM Money FREQ Them? Board Of
Health versus Millionaire"
Il was almost three when the house
settled down-nobody mad any night
clothes, although finally. through Dali
ias, Who gave them to Anne, who gave
them to the rest, We got some things
of Jimmy's-and I was still dressed.
The house was perfectly quiet. ana
after listening carefully. went slow
" down the stairs. There was . 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
-retched swinging door would not
y-open.
caught ny skirt In the door a. I
mt through, and I had to stop to
loosen IL. And In that awful minute
/ heard some one breathing Just be-
side me. l had stopped to my gown.
anl turned NY head without
straishtening-I couldn't have raised
myss6 to IN erect posture. for my
knses were giving way under me-
ing end of match!
had to swallow twice before I
could speak. Then said sharply: .
Who's there?'
Tn man was 50 close II 10 a
wonler had not walked into him; his
voice was right at my ear.
Il am sorry I startled you" he said
quietly. Il was afraid to speak sud
denly. or move, for fear would do
What have done.'
It was Mr.. HARRISON.
"-I thought you were-it is very
late." managed to say. with dry
lipes. "Do you know where the cleo
trio switch is?"
MRS. Wilson!" It was clear he had
not known me before. why. no:
don't you?"
II am all confused I muttered, and
beat . retreat into the dining room.
There. In the friendly light, we could
ct least see each other, and think
he was as much impressed by the fact
that had not undressed - was By
the fact that he had, partly. He wore
Aldeous dressing gown Of Jimmy's.
much too small, ana his hair. parted
and plastered down In the early even
Ing. stood up In sort Of brown brush
Ill over his head. He WAS trying to
1atten II with his hands.
TT must b three o'clock" he said.
WITH polite surprise" and the house
y Ike Q barn. You ought not to DO
running around with your arms IN.
covered. Nm. Wil1on. Surely you
could have called some of u.s."
OA04 = Well " 0ADSO1O Guy OAASe
I said. with distinct truth.
II suppose you are like me-" hs
SAID 1.-THE novelty Of the situation
md everything. got to thinking
''linss over. and then realized the
all was getting cold, 30 thought
:. ould come down and take look at
he furnace. I didn't suppose any one
else would think Of it. But lost my
-. .~~s.s::2 Tia: pantry. stumbled a5a:ns:
Q hair@>en drawer. and nearly went
down the dumb-waiter." And, as II
In Judgment on mo. at that instant
came two rather terrific thumps from
somewhere below, and inarticulate
words, shouted rather than spoken. It
was uncanny, Of course. coming - It
did through the register At our feet.
Mr.. HARRISON looked startled.
~Oh, BY the way" said 40 careless
y % I could. I'm the excitement,
forgot 20 mention It. There IL q police
man asleep in the furnace room. IL
suppose we will have to keep him
new" I finished ~ airily ~ possible.
,.Oh, . policeman-in the cellar" ho
repeated, staring 1t me. and he moved
toward the pantry door.
"You needn't 90 down." said fever