The Marshall republican., 1913-03-14
COYppH 1911
%nfRRIlL COMPANY
CHAPTER XXI.
The Bag OF Loot.

NY bittiubTOOIl, anu thcfc wan u
tumble Of faces before me-Jo, and
Laura, and Mrs. Hazard, all badly
frightened, clutching at unfastened
dressing-gowns. Natalie was there.
too, but I did not see her at first.
I'm afraid she's badly hurt" John
was saying. "Did Doctor Graham an.
swer, Hap?"
both of his. hurting me, but I didn't
want TO say so, Everything was ter
ribly confusing. My right shoulder
was hurt; the doctor said afterward |
must have struck the wall as I plunged
down the steps into the wing. and that
saved me, perhaps, from breaking my
neck. II was later I discovered that
my right arm was broken, when I re.
membered the bag | had picked up and
couldn't feel II.
The jewelsi" I cried.
"Jewelsi" everybody repeated in
one tone-a tone OF surprise.
II had them when I FELL" | said. "A
bag Of jewels"
Hap groaned. I'm sure he thought
I was out OF my head, and after a
great deal OF fuss he managed to get
a drink Of brandy down my throat
what he didn't spill down my neck.
But John went out and came back
presently with the bag. IL was a dark
green cloth bag like lawyers carry
their-whatever they do carry In them.
And thrown into Il. like 40 many po-
tatoes, was about the most beautiful
collection OF jewels I have ever seen.
containing more jewels; and Mrs.
HiggInson's hot-water bottle.
"a thief would never look for Jewels
In a hot-water bottle" ] quoted hys-
terically.
when I remembered again, John
was sitting at my desk with the gilt
tering mass spread out before him.
Every one had crowded around him.
except Hap. who was kneelIng beside
the couch. holding my hand desper-
ately and listening for the sound Of
the doctors car. I remember that Il
hazily occurred TO me how beautifully
the lavender brocsde dressing gown
John wore and the soft pink OF JOS
kimono ACKNOWLEDGEMENT lavender and
pink usually don't.
where did you get them. Loulle7"
10 asked. what happened. dear?"
My head was buzzlng; there was a
pounding In my ears. Her questions
seemed to make a tumble q my
thoughts.
why. OF course. I must tell you"
tried to think clearly. IL found
them-found them In the card.room."
"Yes. dear" 10 soothed. What were
you doing In the card.room?"
IL heard n noise In the gallery and
wanted to see-see- III found them
found them IN the card.room.'
Everybody looked no queer! Ma
talie glanced quickly mt Mrs. Hazard
a glance Laura intercepted. sat up
suddenly.
"Surely you don't think took
thern!" I fell back against the pill
lows again with n groan. but 1t was
because little upseen devils tortured
me when ] moved.
"She must not talk" Laura ex.
claimed. 'Don't question her. II isn't
fair. She doesn't know what she Is
saying. For Heavens sake. why
doesn't the doctor Gomez"
10 sat down beside me helplessly.
There was nothing anybody could do
until the doctor did come.
II think there's loot here from ev-
erybody." John remarked. Its a jolly
mess"
From the mess he separated Dor
aothy Ambercromble's green lizard
with the ruby eyes, Mrs. Abercrom-
bie's moonstone set with sixteen
large diamonds, and that crazy bow.
knot collar OF Mrs. Sargent's. Then
Natalie pointed out other things she
recognized. But there was left a jun
BILE OF solitaires, handsome but non
'descript; rings and pendants, brace
let's and brooches that only their own
ers could identify.
Everybody but myself" Natalie
said finally. There's not a single
thing there of mine"
Somehow II seemed to me there
ought to have been In the bag those
things she lost earlier.
you had q pistol" l said weakly,
thinking OF II.
Yes. but no one knew It but you'll"
said Natalie. And II a good. clear
thought had come to me out OF my
throbbing head ! would have seen
what everybody saw later.
The thieves we're In the gallery" I
tried to tell them. Il heard--I heard
a hammer fall. ] went to see"--sud-
denly I thought of winthrop, and /
closed my lips tightly for fear I
would say I had seen him there IN
the lawn.
"Yes, dear" Laura soothed. "weli
look. The thieves are gone now. but
we have the Jewels. SO it's all right.
No harm done. John win hold a levee
after luncheon and return them"
I suppose II occurred to John what
a job that was going to be. especially
a.