The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1912-07-26


night. and | had occasion once to test
the strength of his long arms when ne
helped to thrust me through the tran
som at the White Cat. but | never met
him without a recurrence of the sheep
ish feeling with which watched n'n
swagger mp to the night sergeant and
fall into easy conversation with the
man behind the desk
Two or three rOundSmen were sitting
against the wall lazily. helmets of and
coats open against the warmth OF the
early spring night. In back room
others were playing checkers and dis
putting noisily. Davidson's voice came
distinctly through the open windows.
THE house is closed" be reported.
"but one of the basement windows
isn't shattered, and the lock is bad. !
couldn't find Shields He'd better keep
an eye on it," He stopped and tishrd
in his pockets with grin. This Was
tied to the knob of the kitchen door
he said. raising his voice for the benz
fit Of the room and holding aIoft piece
of paper. For Shields" he explained
"and signed Della"
The men gathered around him. Even
the sergeant got up and leaned for
ward. his elbows on his desk.
"Read it." he said lazily. "Shields
has got a wife, and her name amt
Della"
Dear Tom," Davidson read IN a
mincing falsetto. I'VE are closing mp
unexpected, so won't be here tonight
I am going to Mamie Brennan's. and if
you want to talk to me you can get me
by calling up Anderson's drug store
The clerk is gentleman friend OF
mine Mr.. Carter, the butler. told ne
before he left he would get me place
as parlor maid, so I'll have another sit
uation soon Della
The sergeant scowled. I'm goiD' to
talk to Tom," he said. reaching out for
the note. Hes got nice family. and
things like that're bad for the force"
l lighted the cigar. which had been
my excuse for lettering on the pave
ment and went on. 1t sounded involv
ed for a novice, but If could find An
derson's drugstore could find Mamie
Brennan. Through Mamie Brennan |
would get Della and through Della |
might find Carter. and so made the
first note in my new business of man
hunter
It was late when I reached the cor
ner of Chestnut and Union streets.
where Fred had said Allan Fleming
had come to grief in a cab But the
corner man had gone. and the night
man on the beat knew nothing. of
course. of any particular collision
! went home to bed. had made no
Roadway. had lost conceit with my
self and a day and evening at the Of
fee. and | had gained the certainty
that Margery Fleming was safe IN
Bellwood and the uncertain address Of
a servant who might know something
about Mr. Fleming
was still awake at / O'clock and
consulted the telephone directory
There were twelve Andersons in the
city who conducted drugstores
When | finally went to sleep dream
ed that was driving Margery Flem
ing along a street in broken taxicab
and that all the buildings were phar-
macies and numbered eleven twenty
two
After such a night slept late Edith
had gone out with Fred when | came
downstairs. have a great admiration
for Edith. for her tolerance with my
uncertain hours. for her CHEEKY break
fast room and the smiling good nature
OF the servants she engages have a
theory that. show me sullen servant
and | will show you sullen mistress.
although Edith herself disclaims all
responsibility and lays credit for the
smile with which Katie brings in my
eggs and coffee to largess on my part
On that particular morning Katie
brought me letter. and recognized
the cramped and rather uncertain
writing of Miss Jane Maitland.
Dear Mr.. Knox-Sister Letitia wishes
me to ask you If you can dine with US
tonight informally. She has changed her
mind In regard to the Colored Orphans
homo and would like to consult you about
It. Very truly yours.
SUSAN JANE MAITLAND
1t was very commonplace note. |
had had one like it after every board
meeting of the orphans home. Miss
Maitland being on principle an aggres
sive minority; also. having considera
BILE mind. changing 1t became almost
as ponderous an operation as moving
q barn.
! came across Miss James letter the
other day when l was gathering the
material for this narrative. and | sat
for time with it In my hand think
Ing over again the chain of events 10
which it had been the first link. q Sc
ries of strange happenings that began
with my acceptance of the Invitation.
and that led through ways as dark
and tricks as vain as Bret Hartes
Heather Chinee ever dreamed of to
the final scene at the White Cat
With the letter had filed away a
half dozen articles. and ranged
them all on the desk in front OF me-
the letter. the bit of paper with elev
en- twenty two Cd It that Margery gave