The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1912-08-02

surprised and startled. was Margery
Fleming.
What is the matter?" she asked un-
certainly. Il heard such queer noises. !"
"Mr. Wardrop was trying to break
in" l explained. land I came down.
On the way had bloody encounter
with an open door,"
l don't think she quite believed me-
She looked from my swollen head to
the open bag and then to Wardrop's
pale face. Then. think. womanlike.
she remembered the two great braids
that hung over her shoulders and the
dressing gown she wore. for she back
ed precipitately into the hall.
1T is only half past two" | said.
glancing at my watch. I'VE might
look around outside"
Reticent as he was. his feverish ex
element made me think that some
thing vital hung on the recovery of the
contents Of that Russia leather bag
But we found nothing.
AS look back on that night the key
to what had passed and to much that
was coming was so simple. so direct
and yet we miss ed it entirely. 1t was
some time before we learned the true
inwardness Of the events of that night
l was almost unrecogniZable when
looked at myself in the mirror the next
morning. preparatory to dressing for
breakfast My nose boasted new
arch like the back of an angry cat.
making my profile Roman and fero-
ciouS. and the lump on my forehead
from the chair was swollen. CLASSY and
purple | turned my back to the mir
ror and. dressed in wrathful irritation
and my yesterdays linen.
Miss Fleming was in the breakfast
room. have carried with me during all
the months since that time a mental pic
ture of her as she stood there in pink
morning frock of some sort But only
the other day. having mentioned this to
her. she assured me that the frock was
blue. So | amend this Miss Fleming
In a blue frock was facing the door
when ! went into the breakfast room.
OF one thing am Ger lain. she held out
her hand
Good morning." she said. what a
terrible face.:'
1T isn't mine."l replied meekly. my
own face is beneath these excrescences
| tried to cover the bump on my fore
lead with French chalk. but it only ac-
centuated the thing. like snow on d
mountain top"
1.-The purple peaks of Darien,'" she
quoted. pouring me my coffee. DO you
know. l feel so much better since you
have taken hold of things. Aunt Lett
tia thinks you are wonderful"
l thought ruefully of the failure of
my first attempt to play the sleuth,
and | disclaimed any right to Miss Le-
titia's high opinion of me.
Before any one comes down. Miss
Fleming" said. Il want to ask a
question or two. What was the name
of the maid who helped you search the
house that night?"
Annie
what other maids did you say there
were?"
Della and Rose"
DO you know anything about them
Where they came from or where they
went?'
She smiled little.
what does one know about new
servants?' she responded. ''They
bring you references. but references
ara tho Drica moct UOmop nov to rrot
rid of their servants without a fuss
Rose was fat and old. but Della was
pretty. | thought she rather liked
Carter"
Carter as we'll as Shields, the police
man. I put Miss Della down as a
f1irt.
And you have no idea where Carter
went?"'
None"
Wardrop came in then. The two
elderly ladies'. it seemed. had tea and
toast in their rooms when they waken-
ed Wardrop looked haggard and
worn. avoided Miss Flemings eyes.
and. after ordering eggs instead of his
chop. looked at his watch.
Il want to get the $50. Margie," he
said. II may not be out to dinner
Tell Miss Letitia, will you?" He turn
ed to go. but came back to me and
held out his hand
IL may not see you again." he began.
mot if see you first" interrupted
He glanced at my mutilated features
and smiled.
Il have made you a Maitland" he
said II didn't think that anything
but prodigal nature could duplicate
Miss Letitia's nose. I'm honestly sorry.
Mr.. Knox. and if you do not want
Miss Jane at that bump with a cold
silver knife and some butter. you'd
better duck before she comes down
Goodby. Margie."
think the girl was as much baff1ed
as was by the change in his manner
when he spoke to her. His smile fad
ed and he hardly met her eyes.
thought that his aloofness puzzled ra-
ther than hurt her. When the house
door had closed behind him. she drop
ped Ter chin in her hand and looked
across the table.
you did not tell me the truth last