The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1911-02-02
CHAPTER xV.-Continued.


AS We turned the corner | glanced
back. Half a block behind us John
son was moving our way slowly.
When he saw me he stopped and pro-
ceeded with great deliberation to light
a cigar. BY hurrying, however, he
caught the car that we took, and stood
unobtrusively on the rear platform.
He looked tagged, and absent-minded-
" paid our fares, to Meningitis de-
light
1--WE will give him run for his
money" he declared, as the car moved
countryward. Conductor, let us of
at the muddiest lane you can find"
At one o'clock, after six-mile ram
BILE. we entered a small country hotel.
We had seen nothing Of Johnson for q
half hour. At that time he was a
quarter of mile behind us, and losing
rapidly. Before we had finished our
luncheon he staggered into the inn.
One of his boots was under his arm,
and his whole appearance was deplor-
able He was coated with mud, streak
ed with perspiration, and he limped
as he walked. He chose table not
far from us and ordered Scotch. Be-
yond touching his hat he paid no at
tention to us.
I'm just getting my second wind,
Mcknight declared How do you feel,
Mr.. Johnson? Six or eight miles more
and we'll all enjoy our dinners" john
son put down the glass he had raised
to his lips without replying.
The fact was, however, that | was
like Johnson | was soft from my
weeks inaction, and / was pretty well
Gone up. Mcknight, who was we'll
spring of vitality and high spirits, or
dered a strange concoction, made OF
nearly everything in the bar, and sent
1t over to the detective, but Johnson
refused it.
"T hate that kind of person., Nc
Knight said pettishly. Kind OF fell
low that thinks you're going to poison
his dog if you offer him bone
When we got to the car line, with
Johnson a draggled and dropping tail
to the kite, l was In better spirits.
had told Mcknight the story of the
three hours just after the wreck;
had not named the girl, of course; she
had my promise of secrecy But / told
him everything else. 1t was relief
to have a fresh mind on it: had puz-
zled so much over the incident at the
farmhouse, and the necklace in the
gold bag, that | had lost perspective.
He had been interested, but inclined
to be amused, until / came to the
broken chain Then he had whistled
softly
But there are tons of fine gold
chains made every year," he said.
"Why in the world do you think that
he-er-smeary piece came from
that necklace?"
had looked around. Johnson was
far behind, scraping the mud of his
feet with piece of stick.
81 have the short end of the chain
In the sealskin bag" / reminded him.
when couldn't sleep this morning
thought would settle it, one way or
the other. 1t was hell to go along the
way had been doing. And-there's
no doubt about it, Rich. It's the same
chain"
We walked along in silence until
we caught the car back to town.
WELL" he said finally, you know
the girl, of course, and don't. But
II you like her-and I think myself
you're rather hard hit, old mani
wouldn't give whoop about the chain
In the gold purse. It's just one of the
little condolences that hang people
now and then And as for last night
If she's the kind of girl you say
she is, and you think she had any
thing to do with that, you-you're
added, that's all. You can depend
on 1t, the lady of the empty house last
week is the lady of last night. And
yet your train acquaintance was In
Altoona at th2t time"
Just before we got off the car. re
verted 20 the subject again 1t was
never far back In my mind.
About the-young lady of the train
Rich," / said, with what suppose was
elaborate carelessness, Il don't want
you to get wrong impression. | am
rather unlikely to see her again, but
even If ! do, Fri believe she Is al
ready bespoke or next thing to It,
He made no reply. but as I opened
the door with my latch-key BIZ
stood looking up at me from the pave
ment witE hts quizzicsl smile.
~L>ove Il LIE the measles, he orat