The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1912-09-27
CHAPTER XVIII.
Wardrop's Story.

against white undergar-
ments for colored children Margery
and he had half hour alone together.
| had known. Of course. that 1t must
come. but under the circumstances.
with my whole future existence at
stake was vague as to whether it
was colored undergarments on white
orphans or the other way round.
When l got away at last found Bel
Ia waiting for me in the hall Her
eyes were red with crying. and she had
crumpled newspaper in her hand
She broke down when she tried to
speak. but l got the newspaper from
her, and she pointed with one work
hardened finger to column on the
first page. 1t was the announcement
Of Mrs. Buffers tragic accident and
the mystery that surrounded it There
was no mention Of Schwartz.
Bella told me that she had lived with
Mrs. Butler since she was sixteen and
had only left when the husbands sui
eide had broken up the home. / could
get nothing else out of her. but grad
ually Bella's share in the mystery was
coming to light.
Wardrop was looking better that aft
ernoon than he had when l saw him
before, but the news of Mrs. Buffers
approaching death and the manner Of
her injury affected him strangely. He
had seen the paper, like Bella. and he
turned on me almost fiercely when 1
entered the library. Margery was at
the window.
rs she conscious?" Wardrop asked
eagerly. indicating the article in the
paper
mo. not now: at least. it is not like
~"
He looked relieved. Then he paced
the room nervously His next action
showed the development of resolu-
ZION. for he pushed forward two chairs
for Margery and myself.
Sit down. both of you," he directed.
I've got lot to say. and l want you
both to listen When Margery has
heard the whole story she probably
Will despiSe me for the rest of her life.
can't help it. I've got to tell all !
Know. and it isn't so much after all.
You didn't fool me yesterday. Knox:
! knew what that doctor was after.
But he couldn't make me tell who
Killed Mr.. Fleming because. before God.
didn't know
i have to go back to the night Miss
Jane disappeared-and that's another
tnlng that has driven me desperate.
VIII you tell me why l should be sus-
pected Of having hand in that when
sne mad been mother to me? If she
IS dead she can't eXonerate me; if she
Is living and we find her she Will tell
You what tell you-that know
nothing of the whole terrible business"
i am quite certain of that. War
drop,' l interposed. Besides, think
| have got to the bottom Of that mys-
terry"
Margery looked at me quickly. but
shook my head 1t was too early to
&c" NY suspicious.
The things that looked black against
me We're bad enough, but they had
aotnlng to do with Miss Jane. ! will
ua'e to go back to before the night
sue went away. back to the time Mr..
outier was the state treasurer and
your rather. Margery, was his cashier.
Butler was not a business man.
ne let too much responsibility lie with
us subordinates. and then. according
W the story, he couldn't do much any
no" against Schwartz. The cashier
was entirely under machine control.
ana Butler was neglectful. You re-
aember. Knox. the crash when three
oanks. rotten to the core. went under
ano 1t was found large amount OF
stste money had gone. too? It was
'Smlng who did 1t. am sorry,
Margery, but this is no time to mince
words. 1t was Fleming who deposit
Gu The money in the wrecked banks,
A :. what would happen. When
Tue crash came Buffers sureties to
save themselves confiscated every dol
UT ne had in the world. Butler went