The Washington herald., 1913-01-05

man on whose honor would formerly
have staked my Iife-Arthur Kellerd.. one
OF my classmates at college. And this ex-
quisite girl was his sister. the girl had
always been wanting to meet!
Your brother.'. cried the detective.
taken abaek
Yes, her brother" said KelIerd ami
ably Now. what's all this bother about
anyhow" Here he CHANGED, to get good
square look at me. Hang me, IL Il isn't
Dicky Carewe.-and wearing my coat
He came forward and grasped my limp
hand and pumped IL. IF you oniy knew
how I've been cursing you.'' he added.
laughing
Then everybody began to talk at once.
and nobody would have learned anything
had not the detective resolutely inter-
fered. He thrust the frayed envelope
under Kellerd's nose.
DO you know anything about this?"
he demanded.
Kellerd scrutinized IT for a moment.
and then began to laugh: I might say
that he roared.
I'm askin' you II you know anything
about Ito repeated the detective colby.
4 ought TO know all about IT," an
swered keilerd finally; II wrote Il not
four days ago"
Arthur" cried the girl. her voice full
OF shame. horror, anguish and reproach.
Come. come. Nancy: it's all a curious
mistake, very curious mistake: and
you'n all readily understand why I
laughed. when I explain"
"A Joke, eh?" said the detective. Per
haps you can explain II, and perhaps
you can't"-truculentiy.
Easily. You have doubtless heard OF
Norman Douglas" he began.
The police shook their heads, but the
girl and looked interested.
Douglas Is the fellow who's writing
all those queer detective yarns for the
MAGAZINES" said !.
We'll" said Rellerd. I've been try
my to keep IL dark. but here's where
must confess. I'm Douglas, ana that slip
Of paper represents the climax to chap
ter in a new story. Come into the library.
gentlemen"
We followed soberly. even foolishIy
Kellerd drew out from a drawer in his
desk a bundle OF manuscript, and the
paragraph he read aloud conceded with
the writing on the envelope
well. I'm jiggered,' breathed the de-
tective heavily
looked around for a hole to crawl
into. but there wasn't any.
Your sister notified us that a luna
tic was at large and had forcibly enter
ed the house." said the detective. per-
fectly willing to cast all the odium on
my shoulders II could have throttied
him with joy in my hearth
"a Iunatic?" roared Kellerd. For a
moment I thought ne was going to die OF
suffocation. and II he had 1 should have
not been sorry at that moment. To have
made an ass OF myself before the pref
test girl / had ever laid eyes on,
I'm very sorry" said the girl.
Never you mind" 7 replied Some
day III tell you all about the tabloids
for the breath I found in Arthur's coat
A short time after. the policemen SOL
EMMY filed out into the hall ana into
the street: and. not being IN a strictly
amiable frame OF mind. / started TO fol-
low.
oh. hang g. now. Dicky"' cried KEEL
lerd: "a man who used to ne a profess
sionaI Joke writer ought not to harbor
any i'll feelings Have a cigar?
i shook my head. / had an idea that
I wanted TO utilize.
But / want you to meet my sister
IT am Misunderstanding rather stifiy.
But you're not going OF with my coat
again."
I flushed and shook the erstwhile evil
garment from my shoulders
Not just a friendly cigarF pleaded
Kellerd.
Mary = one"
The girl approached shyly and touch
ed my arm. CThis was my ideal
Not even a cup of chocoiate-h
make it?''
"oh," said I. that's altogether differ
ent matter
subsequent events proved that it was.