The Detroit times., 1912-10-22
CHAPTER XVII.
(ContInuea.y

I'm sorry" whispered the Water
melon In Billy's ear.
Billy laughed. I'VE have more cars
at home." said She Ut doesn't both
er me at all. That's the trouble OF
J. being rich, you can't be robbed and
feel badly about Il"
Bachelor. you say that you were
mp until after eleven" said the gen
eral feeling that the occasion called
for intelligence. Ibid you see Al
phonse go out?"
-No." said the Watermelon.
= The landlord says. however that
he must have gone before twelve
went on the general. Then don't you
see how Alphonse could not have
stolen the money? Those thefts were
not committed until after twelve"
Il don't see how you work that out,
said Henrietta, puzzling over IL with
KNIT brows.
Don't you see. Henrietta, that II
Alphonse stolo our money after
twelve, he could not have gone out
In the car before eleven. SO IL he
went out In the car before twelve, he
lid not, steal the money. He either
stole the money or the car"
Maybe he didn't take the money,
said Henrietta, feeling vaguely and
disappointedly that she was not a per
son with detective-like instincts.
"You see," said the general, III Al
phonse took the car. he did not take
the money; II he took the money, ne
did not take the car"
Is "He certainly did take the money,
g.
"And my car" added Bartlett
angrily.
"He could not have taken both." de-
clared the general.
"You were robbed last night,
weren't your" demanded the FARMER
Well, then?"
"And my car is gone. isn't it," de-
manded Bartlett.
-Yes, yes," acknowledged the gen.
eral, feeling that every word he said
only made the other two angrter, but
still clinging to his deductions as TO
his life's principles. Yes. OF course;
but Alphonse could not have done
both. He went on with the car be-
fore eleven, so he could not have
robbed us after twelve
~ Sir" interrupted the farmer with
a quiet dignity that was impressive,
do you accuse any Of US OF stealing!
mo, no." protested the general, now
hopelessly ratified. But IL Alphonse
stole the money
.Alphonse swipsd BOTH" said the
watermelon, and tnat settled 1t as far
az the general was concerned, for the
general had boundless faith In the
young mans deductive abilities. 1
went in about eleven. He took the
car out, ran II down the road bit
and then came back and sneaked our
things"
Certainly" said Bartlett, who could
not help feeling irritated with the
general for the fault OF his man.
Billy laughed. "AIl this bother
\ about nothing" said she. Dad. what's
one car, more or less?"
"A car Is a car, Billy" said Bart
lett coldly, refusing to be comforted
FOR the ruin Of his plan to keep Batch
elor away from the city over Satur
day.
Yes agreed Henrietta sympathet-
ically, "any one hates to lose car.
"a But when you have seven" object
ed Billy.
eve haven't got them here, have
me?- asked Bartlett
~No, but we have one, and that's
enough for Ave." declared Billy. find
ing the usual dificulty In persuading
people to count their blessings. we
didn't need two, anyway"
"Yes. we did" said the Watermelon,
thinking OF the tonneau with only
BiIiy and him, the general In front
completely absorbed with the car.
"Why?" asked Billy.
seWhy." stammered the Watermelon,
who no longer cared to fiirt with Billy
and who had spoken without think
mg. why, SO the general and your
cSather could each run a car" ne ex-
plaIned weakly.
"oh, yes" chirped Billy What
will they do now?"
The Watermelon turned and glanced
out of the wide doors, down the tree
shaded road, and thought pityingly OF
the unfortunate Alphonse, gone on at
the wrong time, with the whole coun-
try-side on the watch for lone youth
I'm a big red touring car. That the
car was OF different make from the
one they we're hunting for would not
impress the sheriffs SO forcibly as the
fact that the youth also carried
time-piece as big as q clock. along
with a cigarette case, cuff links and
stick pin, all marked plainly and be
vond question. with the damning In
itials, w. III. b.
!. The Watermelon laughed softly, and
glancing at Billy. laughed again. With
Bartlett going directly back to the
city, he would not have to confess to
make things right. He could leave
them at the telegraph ONCE and drift
away on some pretext or another,
leaving Billy gaily, head up. as be-
came a successful financier, not stink
away like q whipped dog. with only
the scorn and loathing In her eyes to
remember, 10 obliterate all the other
memories OF that one nearly perfect
week
CHAPTER XVIII.
oh, for Horse.