The Marshall republican., 1913-03-07

I knew that in the same, thought I
suspected her, and | remembered
Laura's argument that Minette was
not at the reception in town, or the
! Abercrombies'. Also that at the very
minute the ruby Was stcion Ni'9 70
was giviry Natalie a massage. Min
etc distinctly was innocent.
mo, | shall not tell It." Natalie pur-
sued. mot yet, anyhow. it's too ab.
surd. Ana | shall rely upon your die.
erection, my dear. When we see what
happens TO Mr.. Abbott. them"
I came to my feet with an exclama-
ton.
you believe Mr.. Abbott guilty."
IL refuse to believe anything she
replied coolly.
~ beg our pardon." I said, "but I
thought you once told me you were
sure Mr.. Abbott was not a thief"
That was before | knew aboIt the
emerald bracelet. My Gear, ! cant
reasonably believe he's innocent now.
There Isn't another emerald bracelet
like that In the world. Detectives
found IL in MIR. Abbott's possession.
he doesn't deny t.; he can't"
but they didn't find the ruby, and
whatever il was you lost at the Aber
comJies,'" I protested.
"a sapphire and a diamond brace
let" she sighed.
And before that7 He's shielding
some one" I burst out. II know II; l
feel sure of It."
"Who?"
I shook my head. Every time ]
tried to conjecture ] brought up
against a blank wall.
mir. Crowninshie'd will surrey
make him tcll--will ind q woy." I de.
clared. That's what n lawyer is for.
Anyhow, he didn't haye anything to
do with the ruby" | chung to that
tenaciously. "He was at home. Laura
telephoned. and he answered"
81 don't want 20 think o. &c my
more" Natalie drawlod. ~ dcut
ders;aud e and I'm O trying TO. la
rot going 10 sleep touirht II I can
help Il. J shall sit here all night with
The light on. my remaining trlnkots In
ny lap. grasped nrmly-eol In the
morning shall 20 TO town and lock
them in Y safety deposit; then I'm 30.
ing TO Europe. unless | have 10 stay
here about the trial. When tho dc.
tcctive comes tomorrow ha can look
after everything else. lie wont have
TO bother about me-
"T1l sit M with you" / told her. I
went toward 'tc door. "Tll bo bqck
presently when my sister il asleep.
and we can muse ourselves with
double dummy. / don't mind sitting
up"
"You haven't such n thing as n re-
volyer?" she asked.
40 has" I replied. "Sho carries
one In the car. but | wouldn't pull the
trigger for an empire. I'll bring II,
thcrgh, n YOU want H."
"Ering &C." she said.
didn't tell Jo tho whole truth. I
taid Natalie didn't loze anything when
she tainted, ard shc didn't. when 10
was asleep I went back 90 Natalie and
too' the revolver. We played double
dummy with .he wicked little weapon
on tho table, and talked about every.
thing except THIEVES, until two O'Clock.
Nothing happened. a little slice OF
the dying moon hung IN the west. but
Il cast only a pallid liGht outside. /
couldn't keep IRON %yawGiag. Both Ma.
talio and were growing stupid. Fin
ally she suggested that I get somc
| sleep. and she would read. She wasn't
afraid with tho revolver, for she said
she could shost and shoot straight, hut
Pc haps she. too, would go 10 bed.
Tho scage petered ONT as the morn,
irg %fdvanccd; our nlght vigil began
| 10 look n BIT Wild ard absurd.
! .e7neC goodnight and went. !
! ~ --s before I touchai
10 led. dreamed, ard the dreams
We're not pleHsaat. | saw Winthrop.
his arms covered with emerald brace
lets! he plucked at them and they be
came little green snakes. Looking on,
smiling. was His Grace. but instead
of being small and dark he was tn
and fair, with q saber-cut across his
cheek. Then the emerald bracelets
were chains. and ! was pushing fran.
tically cg-l-ct the card-rpom door
when n gev and | was IN Il cell
whoge Winthrop was walking up and
down, M ar4 down, d~rsgg!us LIS
clnnking chains.
awoke. Everything was quite still.
I listened; | heard nothing. After
deciding / wouldn't get up, | did. The
doors were securely locked. | knew,
but ! tried them each In turn, Jo
was sleeping soundiy. Went into The
sitting-rocm and looked out. There
was tho faint light OF early dawn, just
enough to distinguish the dim outline
of trees. After a while I became ION.
scious Of this fact that some one was
~-- -es..as --~~.-@~- ~-~~-f
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M