Dewey County advocate. [volume] (Timber Lake, S.D.) 1910-1913, 1911-05-26

halfway mp from ne Kitchen, Tor q
hour. with the dinner on Il Anyhow
Max was searching tho house systs
matically. armed with . copy OF Poe's
"Purloined Letter" and 0aboriau's
Monsieur LecoQ." He went through
tho seats Of the chairs with hatpins
tore up the beds. and lifted rugs, until
the house was in = state Of confusion
And the next day. the fourth, he
found something-not much, but II
was curious. He had besn In the
studio. poking around behind tho dusty
pictures, with Jimmy expostulatina
every time he moved anything and
the rest standing around watching
him.
Max was strutting.
I'VE get it BY eliminations," he
said. importantly. THE pearls be.
ing nowhere else in the house, they
must be here in the studio. Three
parts Of the studio having yielded
nothing, they must DO in the fourth.
Ladies' and gentlemen. let me have
your attention for one moment. tap
this canvas with my wand-there Il
nothing up my sleeve. Then / pre-
pare to move the canvas-so. And I
put my hand in the pocket Of this dis
reputable velvet coat. SO. Behold!"
Then he gave low exclamation and
looked at something he held In his
hand. Every one stepped forward,
and on his palm was the small diamond
clasp from Anne's collar!
Jimmy was apologize. He tried to
smile, but no one else did.
We'll. I'll be flabbergasted!" he
said. Il say. you people. you don't
think for a minute that 1 put that
thing there? Why, haven't worn
that coat for month. lists !
trick Of yours, Max"
But Max shook his head; he looked
stupefied, and stood gazing from the
clasp to the pocket Of the old painting
coat. Betty dropped on q folding
stool. that promptly collapsed with
her and created welcome diversion.
while Anne bounced ON the clasp
greedily, with little cry.
I'VE will ind it all now" she said.
excitedly. did you look in tho other
pockets, Maxi!
Then, for the nrst time. l was con-
scious Of an air Of constraint among
the men. Dallas was whistling softly.
and Mr.. HARRISON, having rescued
Betty, was standing silent and aloo1,
watching the scene with non-commit-
tai eyes. 1t was Max who spoke first,
after hurried inventory Of the other
pockets.
Nothing else," he said, constrained
ly. I'll move the rest OF the can
vases"
But Jim interfered. to every ones
surprise.
Il wouldn't II were you. Max.
There's nothing back there. I had
'em out yesterday" He was quite
pale.
"Nonsense!" Max said grufny. III
it's practical joke. Jim. why don't
you Tess up? Anne has worried
1.-THE pearls are not there, l tell
you," Jim began. Although the studio
was cold, there were little fine beads
Of moisture on his face. Il must ask
you not to move those pictures" And
then Aunt Selma came to the rescue:
she stalked over and stood with her
back against the stack of canvasses.
LAS far as l understand this" she
detained, You gentlemen are trying
to intimate that James knows some
thing of that young woman's jewelry.
because you found a part of it in his
pocket. Certainly you will not move
the pictures. How do you know that
the young gentleman who said he
found it there didn't have it up his
sleeve?"
She looked around triumphantly.
and Max glowered. Dallas soothed
her, however.
Exactly So" he said. How do We
know that Max didn't have the clasp
up his sleeve? My dear lady. neither
my wife nor care anything for the
pearls, as compared with tho priceless
pearl Of peace. suggest tea on the
roof; those in favor? My arm, Miss
It was all well enough for Jim to
say later that he didn't dare to have
the canvases moved. for he had stuck
behind them all sorts of chorus girl
and life-class crayons
that were not for Aunt Selinas eye,
besides four empty siphons. two full
ones, and three bottles of whisky. Not
> soul believed him; there was new
element of suspicion and discord In
The house.
(TO BE CONTINUED)