Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-02-16
CHAPTER vi.
A Mighty Poor Joke.


Of course. one knows that there are
people who in different grade of 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 sabIes, or stuff a gold
backed brush into a muff at a recep-
ton. You remember the ivory dress
ing set that Theodore Bucknell had,
fastened with fine gold chains? And
the sensation it caused at the Buck
nell cotillion when Mrs. Van Zire went
sweeping to her carriage with two
feet of gold chain hanging from the
front of her wrap?
But Annes pearl collar was differ
ent. In the first place, instead of
three or four hundred people, the sus-
picion had to be divided among ten.
And of those ten, at least eight of US
were friends, and the other two had
been Vouched for by the Browns and
Jimmy. 1t was a horrible mix-up. For
the necklace was gone-there couldn't
be any doubt of that-and although,
as 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 five hundred even
that one of us, at least, would break
quarantine within the next "a hours,
and, of course, that settled it. Dick
told it around the club as joke, and
q man who owns a newspaper heard
him and called up the paper Thea
the paper called up the health office,
after setting up a flaming scare-head,
''Will Money Free Them? Board of
Health versus Millionaire"
1t was almost three when the house
settled down-nobody mad any night
clothes, although finally, through Dali
las, who gave them to Anne, who gave
them to the rest, we got some things
of Jimmy's-and l was still dressed.
The house was perfectly quiet, and
after listening carefully, l went slow
ly down the stairs. There was a light
in the hall, and another back in the
dining room, and l got along without
any trouble. But the pantry, where
the stairs led down, was dark, and the
wretched swinging door would not
stay open.
l caught my skirt In the door as 1
went through, and l had to stop to
loosen 1t. And in that awful minute
I heard some one breathing Just be-
side me. I had stopped to my gown,
and l turned my head without
straightening-I couldn't have raised
myself to an erect posture for my
knees were giving way under me-
and just at my feet lay the still glow
ing end of match!
I had to swallow twice before
could speak Then / said sharply:
who's thcre?"
The man was so close it Is a
wonder l had not walked into him; his
voice was right at my ear.
Il am sorry startled you" he said
quietly. Il was afraid to speak sud
Genly, or move, for fear would do
what have done"
1t was Mr. HARRISON.
II thought you were-it is very
fate" l 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?"
I am all confused" I muttered, and
beat a retreat into the dining room.
There. in the friendly light, we could
at least see each other, and I think
ne was as much impressed by the fact
that had not undressed as was by
the fact that he had, partly. He wore
a hideous dressing gown of Jimmy's,
much too small, and his hair, parted
and plastered down in the early even
ing, stood up in a sort of brown brush
all over his head He was trying to
fatten it with his hands.
1T must be three o'clock" he said,
with polite surprise" and the house
is like barn. You ought not to be
running around with your arms I'M
covered, Mrs. Wilson. Surely you
could have called some of us"
Il didn't wish to disturb any one. "
] said with distinct truth
Il suppose you are like me-" he
said. THE novelty of the situation
and everything. / got to thinking
things over, and then I realized the
studio was getting cold, so | thought
would come down and take look at
the furnace. l didn't suppose any one
else would think of It. But l lost my