The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1912-09-06
ery Fleming over the border!and.

It seemed to me everything pointed
in one direction to a malignity again
Fleming that extended itself t" th'
daughter thought of what TIE wo-
man who claimed to be the dead mans
second wife had said the day before.
If the staircase she had spoken CT
opened into the room where Fleming
was shot. and If Schwartz was in town
at the time. then. in view of her story
that he had already tried once 70 kill
him. the likelihood was that Schwartz
was at least implicated.
If Wardrop knew that why had he
not denounced him?
Granting that Schwartz had killed
Fleming-then who was the woman
with Wardrop the night he was rob-
bed? Why did he take the pearls and
sell them? How did the number elev-
en- twenty-five come into Aunt James
possession? How did the leather bag
get to Boston? Who had chloroform-
ed Margeryn Who had been using the
Fleming house while it was closed?
Most important of all nowhere was
Aunt Jane?
The house at Bellwood looked al
most cheerful In the May sunshine as
1 went up the walk. When stood
once more in the straight hall listen
ed involuntarily for the tap Of Miss
James small feet Oh the stairs. In
stead. came Bella's heavy tread and
request from Miss Letitia that l go
upstairs.
The old lady was sitting by win
dow Of her bedroom. She did not ap-
pear to be feeble. The only change
noticed was relaxation in the severe
tidiness of her dress. guessed that
Miss James exquisite neatness had
been responsible for the white ruch-
ings, the soft caps and the spotless
their latter years.
"You've taken your own time about
coming. haven't you?" Miss Letitia
asked sourly. IF it hadn't been for
that cousin of yours you sent here.
Burton. I'd have been driven to send
ing for Amelia Miles, and when l send
for Amelia Miles for company I'm in a
bad way"
Il have had a great deal to attend
to-" said as loud as could. II came
some days ago to tell you Mr.. Elem
ing was dead. After that we had to
bury him and close the house. It's
been very sad
"Did he leave anythingy' she inter-
vupted. ut isn't sad at all unless he
didn't leave anything"
"He left very little. The house, per-
haps, and l regret to have to tell you
that woman came to me yesterday
who claims to be a second wife,"
''Then," she said. with a snap.
there's one other woman in the world
as big fool as my sister Martha was.
What do you hear about JaneY'
"The last time l was here" I shout
ed, you thought she was dead. Have
you changed your mindY'
"The last time. you were here" she
said. with dignity. 81 thought a good
many things that were wrong. l
thought l had lost some of the pearls.
but hadn't"
"Whatw | exclaimed incredulously.
She put her hands on the arms of her
chair and. leaning forward. shot the
words at me viciOusly.
II said had lost some of the pearls
Well, haven't"
She didn't expect me to believe her
any more than she believed it herself
Every WELL" | said: I'm glad to
know it was mistake. Now. the next
thing is to find Miss Jane''
I'VE have found her," she said tart
~. THAT'S what sent for you about"
Found her. What on earth do you
mean, Miss Letitia? We've been
securing the country for her."
To be Continued