Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1912-04-05
By ANNA
KATHARINE
GREEN
Copyright. 1910.
BY Anna Katharine RohlfS
CHAPTER VII.

tering. he plodded up the road. his
insignificant figure an unpromising
break in the monotonouS white OF the
wintry landscape. Under ordinary cir
cumstances Sweetwater would have
met not more than half dozen carts
or sledges between the clubhouse gates
and the city streets. But today the
road was full OF teams carrying all
sorts Of incongruous people. eager for
q sight Of the spot made forever no.
torious by a mysterious crime. He
noted them all-the faces Of the men.
the gestures of the women-but he did
not show any special interest till he
came to that portion Of the road where
the long line of half buried fences
began to give way to few scattered
houses. Then his spirit woke, and he
became quick. alert and persuasive.
He entered houses; he talked with the
people. Though evidently not a dis
sipated man. he stopped at several
saloons, taking his time with his glass
and encouraging the chatter Of all
who chose to meet his advances. He
was a natural talker and welcomed
every topic. but his eye sparkled at one
only. This he never introduced him
self: he did not need to. Some one
was always ready with the great
theme, and once it was started he
did not let the conversation languish
till every one present had given bis or
her quota of hearsay or opinion to the
general fund.
1t seemed a great waste Of time, for
nobody had anything to say worth
the breath expended on 1t.
He had left the country road behind
and had entered upon the tumble Of
sheds, shops and streets which marked
the beginnings of the town in this d.
rection when his quick and expert
enced eye fell on a woman standing
with uncovered head in an open door
way. peering up the street In anxious
expectation of some one not yet in
sight. A second survey Of the wo-
mans face convinced him that his or
binary loquaciousness would not serve
him here. There was a refinement in
her aspect quite out Of keeping with
the locality in which she lived. and
he was hesitating how to proceed
when fortune favored him by driving
against his knees q small lad on an
I'll directed sled. bringing him almost
to the ground and upsetting the child,
who began to scream vociferously.
1t was the woman's child. for she
made instantly for the gate. which. for
some reason. she found difnculty in
opening. Sweetwater was at his best
with children. and. catching the little
fellow up. he soothed and fondled him
and finally brought him with q merry
air Of triumph straight to his mothers
arms.
He had in his pocket an ingenious
little invention which he had exhibited
all along the road as an indispensable
article in every well kept house. He
wanted to show It to her. but It was
too cold day for her to stop outside.
Wouldn't she allow him to step in and
explain how her work could be mn.
terially lessened and her labor turned
to play by q contrivance 30 simple that
q child could run It?
It was all 20 ridiculous In face Of
this woman's quiet intelligence that
he laughed at his own words, and this
laughter. echoed by the child and in
another instant by the mother. made
everything so pleasant for the moment
that she insensibly drew back while
he pulled open the gate. only remark.
ing as she led the way In:
II was looking for my husband. He
may come any minute. and I'm afraid
he won't care much about contrivances
to save me work-that Is. II they cost
very much"
Sweetwater, whose hand was in his
pocket. drew it hastily out.
You were watching for your hus-
band7 Do you often stand In the open
doorway looking for himr
Her surprised eyes met his with .
stare that would have embarrassed the
most venturesome book agent, but this
man was Of another fix.
If you d." he went on imperturb-
ably, ''how much I would give II you
had been standing there last Tuesday
night when q certain cutter and horse
went by on its way up the hill"
She was q self contained woman,
this wife Of q master mechanic in one
Of the great shops hard BY. but her
Jaw fell at this, and she forgot to
chide or resist her child when he be-
gan to pull her toward the open kitch-
en- door.
you were looking out" ventured
sweetwater. "And you did see that
horse and cutter. What luck! It may
save q mans ufe."
'Save!" she repeated, staggering back
a few steps and dragging the child
with her. "Save a mans life! What
do you mean by thatr'
mot much II 1t was any cutter and
any horse and at any hour. But II it
was the horse and cutter which left the
whispering Pines at 10 or half past 10
that night then It may mean life or
death to the man now in Jail under
the dreadful charge Of murder"
Catching up her child. she slid into
the kitchen and sat down with It in
the first chair she came to. Sweetwa-
ter. following her, took up his stand in
the doorway. unobtruslve, but patient
~ waiting for her to speak.
"Who are you" she asked at length.
"You have not told me your real busi-
ness"
II am a detective on the lookout for
evidence in the case I have Just men
toned. l have a theory that a most
important witness In the same drove
by here at the hour and on the night I
have named. 1 want to substantiate
that theory. Can you help me?"
Il can help you some. You make 1t
my duty. and I have never shrunk
from duty. A horse and cutter did
60 by here on its way uphill last Tues
day night at about II O'Clock. I re-
member the hour because I was ex.
pecting my husband every minute. just
as am now. He had some extra work
on hand that night which he expected
to detain him till II or a quarter after.
n