The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-09-29
CHAPTER XvU-Continued.

Alphonse, the quiet, the blase, peer
less Aiphonse? Could it be he! That
Alphonse had gone for an early morn
ing spin lured by the dew on the clover
fields. by the sweet chorus of awaken.
ing birds, borne by the indispensable
desire to see the shy, sweet advent Of
q new day creeping up the flushed and
rosy sky. was wholly out of the CUES.
ton Alphonse's soul, in the early
morning hours, was filled only with the
beauty and glory of bed The general
had always been forced to. arouse hi:
serving man and the process had often
been painful. calling for sternness and
suppressed wrath on the generals part
Alphonse. thief was more believable
than Alphonse getting out of bed I'M
called,
Billy was the first to speak.
The car" she whispered.
ooh, yes" said the landlady hastily
not quite sure what had happened or
was to happen by the expression on the
facss before her. "Oh, yes" reassuring-
~, he took the car My husband wasn't
mp when he went"
The general rose, his face red with
anger. "lf he has taken my car" he
Numbered, 4 shall have him prosecuted
whether Henrietta likes it or not"
It's an outrage" sympathized Bart
lett. We can telegraph the police"
oh, moaned Henrietta, II did love
that car"
The landlady sought to reassure them
IN a calm, placid manner that savored
of a big, gentle-eyed COW. why, he
has only gone for a ride. He went"
The general paused in the doorway.
He went last night, madam" said he
coldly, and slightly dramatically, for
the general never believed in spelling a
good story by mild delivery. "And he
took not only the car, but all our
money"
Led by the general and followed BY
the landlady, they made for the barn.
There, in the middle of the floor where
last night two cars had stood side by
side, red and blue, was now only
one, big, blue Packard. A few hens
stepped daintily here and there, around
and under it, while the cat cleaned her
paws contentediy from her seat on the
running board
The general stopped in the doorway
and stared. His car? and such wave
of thanksgiving rushed over him that
If was not his, car that was missing
that he felt he owed Alphonse a debt of
gratitude, and forgave him Immediately.
My car" said he, and chuckled with
relief
Where's .mine?" demanded Bartlett,
growing red and angry.
Where's Alphonse?" suggested the
Watermelon significantly.
Henrietta launched with ooeitiye graf
itude to her erstwhile serving man.
why" she cried, he left US ours"
"Alphonse was very fond of me-" said
the general with some little pride, as
he patted his car tenderly"
Yes" agreed Bartlett, 81 can see
that. He demonstrated it fully. l am
glad he didn't love you or he might have
killed Billy and me-"
The landlord, followed by the slat-
ternly maid-servant and the shifty-eyed
stable boy, trailed into the barn.
Man gone off with your carr" asked
the landlord Il locked up last night
about twelve. He must have left be-
fore then
THE generals man did," said Bart
lett, who felt that the general was in
some way to blame
He has taken all Our money" added
Henrietta.
A thief. eh?' said the landlord.
Can't we follow the car by the
tracks," asked Henrietta She went to
the door and peered eagerly at the
many wheel tracks in the dust of the
drive
The general waved the suggestion
scornfully aside. You can't tell |
whether the tracks are coming or 60
ing" said he.
"All detectives do" said Billy, fol-
lowing Henrietta to the door.
I'm sorry" whispered the Water
melon in Billy's ear.
Billy laughed We have more cars
at home" said she. 1T doesn't bother
me at all That's the trouble of being
rich, you can't be robbed and feel
badly about it."
Bachelor, you say that you were
up until after eleven" said the general,
feeling that the occasion called for in
telligence. Did you see Alphonse 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 commit
ted until after twelve -
81 don't see how you work that out"
said Henrietta, pulling over it with
knit brows.
Don't you see, Henrietta, that if
Alphonse stole our money after twelve,
he could not have gone out in the car
before eleven. so if he went out in the
car before twelve, he did not steal the
money. He either stole the money or
the car"
Maybe he didn't take the money"
said Henrietta. feeling vaguely and dis
appointedly that she was not person
with detective-like instincts.
You see," said the general, "if Al
phonse took the car, he did not take