The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1911-03-16
CHAPTER XXI.
McKniqht's Theory.

confess l was staggered. The
people at the surrounding tables, after
glancing curiously in my direction,
looked away again.
got my hat and went out in very
uncomfortable frame of mind. That
she would inform the police at once
of what she knew l never doubted I'M
less possibly she would give day or
twos grace in the hope that | would
uI"'' sc my mind.
10 sac >v,~A the situation as | waited
TOOK ltlie trouble esed me going in
edge on the subject and on the first
fects Of alcohol On this hat over his
tried to pass the knf. looking modify
That people oftengination? or was
ness to listen to anIled in the corner
| ject seems to proyetchkiss?
moderate inuulganc' on I found myself
taken a hold upon little man was for
/ shrink from castinterrior, ever on the
| learned to like it, a about in every ill
narcotising powers
of doing without 1T at the Incubator,
one. They are the rorking with enthu-
the momentary ericure eie over the
its ultimate co.
large numt worst horn d ever ran
taken tbAe groaued. without looking
ject, ha came iu ''the blankety-
/ alcoho'hing won't blow
exce'punched it sagatc'y finally clio
its < d faint throaty 'croak
sounds Ike cro,1p." suggested.
My sistcriulaw uses camphor and
goose grease for it; OF how about
spice pouuce2"
But Mcknight never sees any jokes
but his own He flung the horn clat-
tering into a corner and collapsed
sulkily into a chair
Now" ! said. "i1 you're through
manicuring that horn. I'll tell you
about my talk with the lady in black"
What's wrong?" asked Mcknight,
languidly. Police watching her, too"
Not exactly. The fact is, Rich,
there's the mischief to pay"
Stogie came in, bringing a few addi-
tons to our comfort. When he went
out l told my story.
you must remember" | said. that
had seen this woman before the
morning of the wreck. She was buy
ing her Pullman ticket when ! did.
Then the next morning, when the muir
der was discovered she grew hyster-
ical and I gave her some whisky. The
third and last time ! saw her, until
tonight, was when she crouched be-
side the road, after the wreck"
Mcknight slid down in his chair I'M
til his weight rested on the small of
his back and put his feet on the big
reading table
ITS rather a facer," he said. IT'S
really too good a situation for a com
monplace lawyer 1t ought to be
dramatized You can't agree. of
course; and by refusing you run the
chance of jail. at least. and of having
Alison brought into publicity which is
out Of the question. You say she was
at the Pullman window when you
were?"
Yes; I bought her ticket for her
Gave her lower eleven"
"And you took ten?"
Lower ten"
Mcknight Strengthened up and
looked at me.
Then she thought you were in
lower ten"
Il suppose she did, if she thought
at all"
But listen, man" Mcknight was
growing excited. What do you figure
out Of this? The Conway woman
knows you have taken the notes to
Plttsburg. The probabilities are that
she follows you there, on the chance
Of an opportunity to get them either
for Bronson or herself.
Nothing doing during the trip over
or during the day in Pittsburg; but
she learns the number of your berth
as you buy it at the Pullman ticket
office in Pittsburg and she thinks she
sees her chance. No one could have
foreseen that that drunken fellow
would have crawled into your berth.
Now, | figure it out this way: She
wanted those notes desperately-doer
still-not for Bronson. but to hold owe,