The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-09-05

apology. Ii she mad only conf1ded IN
me then, what lot of trouble would
have been averted!
That night came Winthrop's arrest.
and finally the red-headed reporter,
who took her to the police station.
where she identified Winthrop's emer-
aid bracelet as her own. That threw
everything into confusion again. No
wonder Natalie kept her suspicious to
herself!
| had talk with 10 when John
and Detective Thomas went away to
town to bring from the safety deposit
the dukes loot. tried to point out
to her how perfectly silly it was for
us to break out hearts just because
two men who loved US had entirely
too much money, while We only had
an interest In a mine that might give
US just enough to buy two wedding
gowns.
She sat with her hands clasped
loosely before her for a while, then
her eyelashes swept her cheeks.
ut just had to happen, Louie"
she said softly at last. He's SO per.
feCtly dear!"
They always are!'" l quoted.
went down on my knees, seized
her hand, and made her look at me.
You're going to marry john" ] in
sisted.
Yes" she answered. Then: ~
can't help it. dear. He would not
have listened If I had said no, so
didn't. We've both been going to our
doom for the last month--and we
knew 1t. Louie, do you think any
woman can be sure of herself In a
month";"
1t seemed so odd, 10 asking my
advice, that l stared at her with my
mouth open in the way I'll never,
never get over.
Il think woman knows her mind
In five minutes" l said, grossly exag.
gerating. And 10 believed it!
don't know who told Mrs. Hazard;
| guess she's wise enough to know
things without being told. She came
in and perched on the side of a chair
hardly proportional to her short legs
and held in on that chuckle Of hers.
Il don't see how I'm ever going to
stand three weddings" she said,
but"
Three weddings!" echoed. Then
Winthrop"
"Yes, dear, it's settled. When a
man moons around under a girls win.
dow at three in the morning it's time
- After all, what business have l to
interfere with them? l married the
man loved without the interference
of anybody. Winthrop is dear boy,
even If he does grow vegetables"
I'm sorry / failed you," l told her.
"Failed?" she repeated. Good
heavens, what have you failed in?"
Everything" l answered, except
getting Hap on the right track, and
even then you never intended that he
was to turn around and look at me-
Il should have intended it," she
said. Il ought to have had enough
foresight to see exactly what was 50.
ing to happen. I'm Codman-mad my.
self. and was from the very begh
ming" She chuckled, then she went
over and drew JOS head against her
motherly bosom. my dear, be sure
to pour the coffee for John every
morning, and you have my blessing =
And them may just as we'll admit
tive all cried.
When John and Detective Thomas
came back they brought a suit case
which they insisted upon carrying up.
stairs themselves, right under the un.
suspecting noses of the newspaper
men scattered about the terrace. John
opened 1t and spread the glittering
bewildering contents on Mrs. Hazard
desk. Jewels! Great goodness! The
kings ransom we have read about
We stood and looked at them amazed
and the most awful part of It was
that neither John, nor Detective
Thomas knew to whom at least q
third Of them belonged. They were In
a series of little channels cases. John
unfolded them one by one. Laura and
Natalie recognized Mrs. Dykeman's