The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1912-07-12
The DISH and the SPOON
By ARTHUR STRINGER

holder could understand the OF triumph in th'
retort
And you're sure OF him in every way;'
"Of course we're sure OF him. He's been Gil
raltar OF dependability"
Where did you get him fromS
Prom Morrstown. He was at the Whippen
Club out there before he came to us.
The Whippeny Club! cried. for the nam
struck like bullet the metal of memory.
Don't you think, the voice over the wire wa
saying that you'd better up for dinner TO
night and inspect the paragon at close range; An
you might talk TO us little, between whiles."
I'D love TO-" my very prompt reply.
Then do, said Beatrice Van Tuyl. "A little afte
seven
And little after seven duly rang the Van Tyyls
door bell and duly admitted to that ordery vi anC
well-appointed Seventy third Street house.
AS ! surrendered my hat and coat began to bt
oppressed by new and disturbing sense of respon
sbility II would be light matter, began 10 see
explode bomb OF dissenson in that principally
of almost arrogant aloofness.
suddenly remembered there was nothing in
which | could be positive nothing in which could
with certainty rely. And my inward dsquiet in
creased if anything, by the calm and blithely con
tented glance that Beatrice Van Tuyl leyeled at ME
And what's all this mystery about our man Viii
sex.
Won't you let me answer that question little
later in the evening"
But, my dear Witter, that's hardly fair' she
protested as she held lighted match for her hus-
bands cigarette DO you know, actually believe
you've spotted some you want to suppiant Will
kins with
"Please-
sor did ne spill soup on you some time when we
Il imagine he's split bit of soup in his day." I
answered, remembering what had overheard to
the safe wedge And as spoke realized that my
one hope lay in the possibility OF getting glimpse
of the mark which that wedge had left
You can't shake my faith In Wilkins" said the
hlneeyed woman in the blue silk dinner gown. "Jim
tall rx.hat L;v,a l1,,. l.
Jim whose thought was heavy ordnance beside his
wifes flying column of humof, turned the matter
solen1nly over in his mind.
He's remarkably good man." admitted the stolid
and evitical Jim remarkably good"
And you've seen him yourself, time and time
again. concurred his wife,
But I've been particularly interested in
servants, you know was my self f-de;ensive retort.
Then why, in the face of the Immortal Ironies,
are you putting my butler under the microscope"
was the return shot that came from the flying cell
unn.
Look here" | suddenly demanded, shave either
of you missed anything valuable about here lately?"
'Of course not retorted the woman in the dinner
gown. Not thngP
And you know you have everything intact alI
your jewelry, your plate your pocketboolss, the
trinkets sneak thief might call it worth while to
round up?"
"Of course we have"
But are you certain of tiis? Could you verify 1t
at moments notice"
"My dear Witter, we wouldn't need TO. mean
we're doing it every day of our lives It's instinc-
the closets and cobwebs out of the corners"
What's making you ask all this?" demanded the
leavy artillery.
I'm asking all this" l replied because have
good reason to believe this paragon you call Wilkins
is not only criminal, but has come into this house
tor criminal purposes"
For what criminal purposes"
For the sake of robbing H."
What proof have you got of that?" demanded
lin.
I've no proof" had to confess.
Then what evidence have your?
I've not even any evidence yet. But Pm not
trring up this sort of thing without good reason"
BIT what want to know" went on the heavier
artillery is what your reasons are y 1t seems
,ny right we should inquire what yoFve got sin
he shape Of evidence"
1T wouldn't be admitted as evidence" | con-
essed
Then what do you expect us to do7"
u don't expect you TO do anything. All / ask
: that you let me try to justify this course I've
AIKEN that the three of us dine quietly together
and unless I'm greatly mistaken before that din
er is over think ! can show you that this
/ saw Beatrice Van Tuyl suddenly iTft fore
niger to her lip Into the doorway stepped figure
y black, calm and slow-moving and altogether
Dinner is served" intoned this sober parsonage,
With curatelike solemnty all his own.
had no wish TO cape at the man. but that first
limpse OF mine was sharp one for | knew that
was wilkins himself that was confronting
Then looked at the man closely. He
7ore the conventional dress livery of twilled
Forsted with an extremely high-wnged collar and
n extremely small lawn tie He seemed re
1arkably solid figure OF man, and his height was
OF insignificant Any impression of fragity of
edentary bloodlessness which might have been
lven out by his quite paid face, was sharply contra
icted by the muscular heayiness of his limbs His
air Kyrle- -Bellewish gray over the temples was
ut short The close shaven face was blush white
long the jowls, like priests The poise of the
gure, whether natural or simulated was one marked
1r serYitude.
Yet had to admit to myself, as we filed out and
own to the dining room that the man was not with
Ut his pretended sense of dignity. He seemed
either arrogant obsequious
J. had TO nfess. as | watched his deft and sub !
ued movements about that china-strewn oblong of
amask which seemed his ht and rightful domain, \
lat he in way wanting in the part-the /
My thing that puzzled the futility of that 1
art There was authority. too in his merest finger
ovement and eye shift, as from time to time he
gnaled 10 the footman who helped him in his
aties.
watched for his hands every course as sat there
liking against time-and Heaven knows what |
liked of But about those hands there was nothing
discover In the first thing of importance | had
et with disappointment For the cuffs that pro-
eted from the edges OF the livery sleeves covered
lch large boned wrist. In the actual department OF
e man there nothing which 10 base
scent suspicion.
But the dinner progressed grew more and