The Raymer enterprise., 1911-02-23

felt over the rug with his hands, and
raised the edges. and tried to lift out
the chair-seats. and had shaken out
Dal's shoes (he said people often bid
things and then forgot about iU. he
made proposition.
III you will take that Internal fur
mace from around my neck, I'll under.
take either to find the jewels or to
show up the thief" he said quietly.
And. Of course. with all the people In
the house under suspicion, every one
had to hall the suggestion with icy.
and to offer his assistance. and Jimmy
had to take Max's share OF the fur.
mace. (Yes. l had broken the police
man to them gently. or course, Anne
said at once that he was the thief.
but they found him tucked In and
sound asleep with his back against
the furnace.)
IN the first place" Max said. stand
Ing Importantly in the middle OF the
room. I'VE retired between two and
three-nearer three. So the theft oc-
CURED between three and Ave. when
Anne woke up. Was your door locked.
Dal!'
mo. The door into the hall was,
but the door into the dressing room
was open this morning"
From three until fve," Max re.
peated. Was any one out OF his room
during that timer"
II was" said Tom HARRISON prompt
ly, from the foot Of the bed. 81 was
prowling all around somewhere about
four, searching"-he glanced at me
for drink OF water. But as don't
know pearl from a glass bead. !
hope you exonerate me"
Everybody laughed and said. "Of
course" and Sure, old man." and
changed the subject quickly. While
that excitement was on, got Jim to
one side and told him about Bella.
His good-natured face was radiant at
first.
Il suppose she did come to sec
Takahiro. eh. Kit?" he asked delicate.
ly. she didn't say anything about
me?"
Nothing good. She said the house
was in q disgraceful condition" | said
heartlessly. And her diamond brace
let was stolen while she took a nap on
the kitchen table"-he groaned-"and
oh, Jim. you are such a goose. II
could only manage my own affairs the
way could my friends. She's too
sure Of you. Jimmy She knows you
adore her. and-how brutal could you
be. JIM"
Fair" he said. II may have un.
discovered depths Of brutality that
have never had occasion to use. How.
ever. ! might try. Why?"
Listen. Jim." urged. 1T was al.
ways Bella who did things here: She
managed the house. she tryrannized
over her friends, and she bullied you.
Yes. she did. Now she's here, without
your invitation, and she has to stay.
It's your turn to bully. to dictate
terms. to be coldly civil or politely
rude Make her furious at you. II
she Is jealous. SO much the better"
How far would you sacrifice your.
self on the altar OF friendship" he
asked.
You may pay me all the attention
you like. in public" replied. and
after we shook hands We went to.
gether to Bella.
There was an ominous pause when
we went into the den. Bella was sit
ting by the register. with her fura on.
and after one glance over her shoul.
der at us. she looked away again with.
out speaking.
Bella" Jim said appealingly. And
then pinched his arm. and he drew
himself up and looked properly out
ragged
Bella" he said. coldly this time. II
can't imagine why you have put your.
self In this ridiculous position. but
since you have"
Put myself In this postion!" She
was frantic. IT'S a plot, wretched
trick OF yours. this quarantine. to keep
me here"
Jim gasped, but gave him warn.
ing glance. and he swallowed hard.
"On the contrary" he said, with
maddening quiet. Il would be the last
person In the world to wish to per.
petuate an indiscretion Of yours. For
1t was hardly discreet, was It. to visit
a bachelor establishment alone at ten
o'clock at night? AS far as my plot.
ting to keep you here is concerned, l
assure you that nothing could be fur.
ther from my mind. Our paths were
to be two parallel lines that never
touch He looked at me for ap
proyal. and Bella was choking
You are worse than ever thought
you" she stormed. II thought you
were only "a fool. Now know you
for n brute"