The Detroit times., 1912-10-22
CHAPTER XVII.
(Contfnued.p

I'm sorry, whispered the Water
melon In Billy's ear.
Billy laughed. I'VE have more cars
at home" said she. III doesn't both
er me at all. That's the trouble OF
being rich, you can't be robbed and
feel badly about IT.
"Batchelor. you say that you were
up until after eleven" said the gen.
eral. feeling that the occasion. called
for intelligence. did 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 1t with
knit brows.
Don't you see, Henrietta, that II
Alphonse stole our money after
twelve, he could not have gone out
In the car before eleven, so II 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 per
son with detective-like instincts.
You see," said the general, "if Al
phonse took the car, he did not take
the money; II he took the money, he
did not take the car"
"He certainly did take the money
snapped the farmer.
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, them
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 angrier, but
still clinging TO his deductions as to
his life's principles. Yes. OF course;
both. He went of 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 II Alphonss
stole the money"
"Alphonse swip:d both" said the
Watermelon, and tnat settled 1t as far
as the general was concerned, for the
general had boundless faith. Ia the
young mans deductive abilities. u
went In about eleven. He took the
car out, ran 1t 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. "All 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-
icaily, "any one hates to lose car"
But when you have seysn." object
ed Billy.
I'VE haven't got them here, have
me?" asked Bartlett.
mo. but We have one. and that's
enough for five" declared Billy. find.
Ing the usual difficulty in persuading
people to count their blessings. I'VE
didn't need two. anyway"
"Yes, we did" said the Watermelon,
thinking OF the touneau with only
Billy and him, the general In front
completely absorbed with the car.
Why" asked Billy.
Why" stammered the Watermelon,
who no longer cared to flirt with Billy
and who had spoken without think.
ing. why, so the general and your
father could each run a car" he ex.
planned 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 of at
the wrong time, with the whole coun.
try-side on the watch for lone youth
In a big red touring car. That the
car was Of q 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 a
time-piece as big as a clock. along
with a cigarette case. cuff links and
stick pin, all marked plainly and be
yond question. with the damning In
itiels, w. II. 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 successful financier. not stink
away like a whipped dog, with only
tine scorn and loathing In her eyes to
remember, 70 obliterate all the other
memories OF that one nearly perfect
week.