The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1914-11-26

Jennie Brice and her husband, Ladley
quarrel. She disappears from Mrs. Pit.
mans boarding house during Pittsburgh
flood
Mrs Fitman tells Holcombe an amateur
detective, that she believes Ladley ha:
killed Jennie BricA
| CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK
81 nave q friend coming pretty soon
Mrs. Pitman," he said, ga young news
paper man named Howell. He's a
nice boy, and If there is anything to
this I'd like him to have 1t for his
paper. He and l have been having
some arguments about circumstantia
evidence, too, and I know he'd like to
work on this"
/ gave him a pair Of Mr.. Pitman'e
socks, for his own were saturated and
while he was changing them the tele
phone rang. 1t was the theater again
asking for Jennie Brice.
"You are certain she Is out Of the
city," some one asked, the same voice
as in the morning.
"Her husband says So"
"Ask him to come to the phone"
"He Is not here"
"When do you expect him back2"
"I'm not sure he Is coming back"
Look here" said the voice angrily
"can't you give me any satisfaction
Or don't you care tor
1--WE told you all know"
"You don't know where she ISL"
"No, SIR"
"She didn't say she was coming back
to rehearse for next weeks pieceT
"Her husband said she went away
for few days rest. He went away
about noon and hasn't come back.
That's all ! know, except that they
owe me three weeks rent that I'd like
to get hold Of"
The owner of the voice hung up the
receiver with snap and left me pom
dering. 1t seemed to me that Mr. Lad
ley had been very reckless. Did be
expect any one to believe that Jennie
Brice had gone for vacation with
out notifying the theater? Especially
when she was to rehearse that week
l thought 1t curious. to say the least
went back and told Mr.. Holcombe
who put 1t down In his notebook. and
together we went to the Ladleys
room.
The room was In better order than
usual. as l have said. The bed was
made-which was out of the ordinary
for Jennie Brice never made bed-but
made the way a man makes one, with
the blankets wrinkled and crooked be
meath and the white counterpane pulled
smoothly over the top, showing every
hump beneath. l showed Mr.. Hol
combe the splasher dotted with ink as
usual.
"I'll take 1t of and soak 1t in milk.
said. Its his fountain pen. Wher
the Ink doesn't run he shakes 1t, and
"Where's the clock?' said Mr.. Hol
combe. stopping In front Of the mantel
with his notebook In his hand.
1.-The clockY
l turned and looked. My onyx CLOCK
was gone from the mantel shelf
Perhaps 1t seems strange. but from
the moment missed that clock n!
rage ut Mr.. Ladley increased to fury
1t was all had left OF my fOrme
gentility. When times were hard ant
| got behind with the rent, as happen
ed now and then. more than once II
been tempted to sell the clock or paw
it. But l had never done 1t. Its tick
ing had kept me company on many
| lonely night, and its elegance had help
ed me to keep my pride and to retail
the respect of my neighbors. For Il
the food district onyx clocks are no
plentiful. Mrs. Bryan, the saloon
keepers wife. had one, and had an
other-that Is, had had.
stood staring at the mark In tn
dust of the mantel shelf, which MI
| Holcombe was measuring with pock
ct tape measure.
"You are sure you didn't take 1t ava,
yourself, Mrs. Pitman?" he asked.
"Sure? Why, l could hardly lift 1t,
I said.
He was looking carefully at the oh
long Of dust where the clock hat
stood. '"The key Is gone, too" he said
busily making entries In his notebook
what was the makers name2"
"Why, l don't think ever noticed!'
He turned to me angrily. "Wh.
didn't you noticeT he snapped "Goot
God, woman, do you only use you
eyes to cry with? How can you vim
a clock time after time and not know
the makers name? 1t proves my con
tenton-the average witness is total.
unreliable"
mot at ALL" snapped. II am ord
narily both accurate and observing"
'Indeedv he said, putting his hand
behind him. "Then perhaps you cal
tell me the color Of the pencil hav
been writing with"
Certainly. Red" Most pencils ar
red, and l thought this was safe.
But he held his right hand out wit
a flourish. 1--WE been writing with
fountain pen," he said in deep DISCUS
and turned his back on me-