The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-07-25
screamed" hs went on, THAT !

wv ~ a. ~
went back to bed and did some hln
ing. | tried to connect up all tho
queer things that had happened
Natalie losing her jewels, Winthrop
being arrested, the woman at Natalles
door, but ] couldn't get anywhere MY
mind simply tied itself into a kno''
everything jumbled. | could make no
connection. But there's n thing GER
tain. II we have a thief here It's d
WOman!"
My mouth dropped open a bit In the
way | thought | had learned to con'
troll, but | didn't say anything.
"If there had been just n door
locked, I'd have had her. but every
door was unlocked, making 1t as easy
as pie for anybody who wanted 10
steal"
But We have nothing to steal" /
eXpostulated; at least no jewels l
have none, Laura has none, and your
mothers are In the bank. Natailes
door was locked, wasn't it"
She has had her lesson"
Besides, we've never been certain
before that a thief was here
I'VE are not certain now" ne point
ed out. But something Is wrong
queer. | want you to keep mum about
it. I'm going to investigated
"Ah, Monster Lecoq." | tainted.
Don't laugh. I'm quite serious
about it. | have all sorts of theories.
If your are quite serious about It
you ought to have all sorts Of a detec-
tive" | suggested.
One is coming, but it isn't going to
keep me from doing a little work on
my W hook. A detective might nnd
a gang planted here among the serV'
ants; | might find the chief at the din
her table. Fascinating, isn't It"
"Horrible!" | declared.
perhaps Natalie's ruby was stolen
after ALL" he unused. He began pacing
again. ~ thought she was crazy, for
why would a thief take one jewel n
leave the others? I'm not so sure
now but that she is right. We no
doubt have a charming creature in our
midst with a delightful sense of hui
NOR"
And you are going to unearth her.!
He sat down again and looked at
me i%ntently,
Are you losing the main p%oint?'
ne demanded. You must be cleared
of suspicion, you know"
OH" | exclaimed. II am no
longer suspected. Miss Agazziz came
to my room last night and said she
vas sure | hadn't taken her ruby;
that she realized l couldn't possibly
have done such a thing, couldn't pos
sibly."
We'll, III be -" He stared at
me. What happened to make her
change her mind?"
81 don't know" I answered. "She
didn't give me the impression that
anything had happened. She was
quite calm and cool as she always is,
and she was rather friendly"
He brushed the forelock out Of his
eyes, and regarded me for a while
with that eomically sufpr1sed expires.
sion Of his. Then he laughed.
You'll excuse me-" he said, "but
the thing is funny. Wait a minute!
Let me think! She heard about Win
throp."
I'm sure she didn't" l assured
him. II don't see how she could have
heard. No n knew it but myself
until that message came for your
mother. Your mother talked to Mr..
Crowninshield from her own room.
It's her own private number, as you
know, and has no possible connection
with the other phone. The converse.
tion revealed nothing, even If any one
had been listening at the door. Laura
did not guess, and you know how keen
she is. Miss Agazziz came In soon
after, but she couldn't possibly have
known"
~ believe she did know"
You're rather strange in your be-
lief, aren't you? Whatever else Ma
talie is she isn't a hypocrite," I de-
Tended. "You ought not to be toe
hard on her, remembering that once
YOU"
II have another strange belief" he
smiled. II believe I'm going to marry
you"
Once l made a fool Of myself" be
interrupted. We're going to forget
all about that, you and l, aren't WEI
"Yes;" l replied; then after a mo
ment. I'VE are going to forget al
about everything. you and l."
Except that we love each other"
I'VE are going to forget that" ! said
firmly.
There was no use answering.
picked up two tennis balls and started
for the other end Of the court. But
it's Just my sex to have the last word
| looked back over my shoulder.
And l believe you're going to max,
some girl an argumentative husband,
l said very. very sweetly.
He opened his lips to reply, smiled
changed his mind and swung bill
racket into position.
Ready" he called,