The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-02-05

The House of the
Whispering
Pines

and finally brought him with n merry
M OF triumph straight TO his mothers
arms.
He had In his pocket an ingenious
little invention which he had exhibited
all along the road as an indispensable
article In every well kept house. He
wanted TO show Ii TO her, but Il was
too cold day for her to stop outside.
wouldn't she allow him TO step in and
explain how her work could be ma.
terially lessened and her labor turned
TO play by contrivance so simple that
child could run it?
1t was all so ridiculous in face OF
this woman's quiet intelligence that
he laughed at his own words, and this
laughter. echoed by the child and I'm
another instant by the mother, made
everything so pleasant for the moment
that she insensibly drew back while
he pulled open the gate. only remark
Ing as she led the way in:
III was looking for my husband. He
may come any minute, and I'm afraid
he won't care much about contrivances
TO save me work-that is, If they cost
very mlch."
Sweetwater, whose hand was I'm his
pocket, drew it hastily out.
"You were watching for your hus-
band? Do you often stand in the open
doorway looking for hlm?"
Her surprised eyes met his with q
stare that would have embarrassed the
most venturesome book agent. but this
man was OF another fix.
IF you do" he went on imperturb.
ably. "how much would give If you
had been standing there last Tuesday
night when certain cutter and horse
went by on its way up the hill"
She was self contained woman,
this wife of master mechanic in one
of the great shops hard by. but her
jaw fell at this. and she forgot TO
chide or resist her child when be be-
gan to pull her toward the open kitch-
en- door.
"You were looking out" ventured
Sweetwater "And you did see that
horse and cutter. What lucki 1t may
save a mans life"
saver she repeated. staggering back
a few steps and dragging the child
with her. Save a mans life! What
do you mean by thatT
''Not much If 1t was any cutter and
any horse and at any hour But If it
was the horse and cutter which left the
Whispering Pines at 10 or half past 10
that night then it may mean life or
death TO the man now I'm jail under
the dreadful charge of murder"
Catching up her child. she slid into
the kitchen and sat down with it In
the first chair she came to- Sweetwa.
ter, following her, took up his stand in
the doorway. unobtrusive, but patient
ly waiting for her TO speak
"Who are your she asked at length
"You have not told me your real bust
ness"
III am a detective on the lookout for
evidence in the case have Just men.
toned. ! have theory that a most
important witness I'm the same drove
by here at the hour and on the night
have named. ! want to substantiate
that theory. Can you help me?"
II can help you some. You make II
my duty. and ! have never shrunk
from duty. A horse and cutter did
go by here on its way uphill last Tues
day night at about IL O'Clock. re-
member the hour because I was ex.
pectlng my husband every minute. just
as am now. He had some extra work
on hand that night which he expected
to detain him till IL or a quarter after
Supper was to be ready at a quarter
after. I heard the clock strike the
hour and ran to the front door to
look out. 1t was showing very hard.
and the road looked white and empty,
but as stood there a horse and cutter
came in sight, which, as IL reached the
gate, drew up in a great hurry as II |
was the matter. Fright |
ened. because I'm always thinking Of
harm to my husband. whose work is
very dangerous, ! ran out bareheaded |