American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1914-03-05

NOW, now ulu o get tnat-Whatl
was thinking of? You make me won
der If there amt something In your
mediumship."
We'll" said Rosalie. When you're
left an orphan at twelve-there amt
much choice. Professor vango adopt
ed me-my mother was in his circle.
Old fakel But he had mediumship,
too; an he thought, an | thought, he
brought somethin' out of me. Anyhow,
| saw things. So l became a medium.
like o became a cop-because it hap
pened that way. Sometimes" added
Rosalie, drawing all sting from her
words by a flash of her dimples, 81
think you're awful stupid, Martin Nc
Gee, an sometimes l think you're a
wonder. It's generally according to
whether or no you agree with me. AS
you mostly do. l generally call you a
Wonder. An you've got get-there be-
sides. Slow, but you do get there"
This bit of conversation fulfilled Ro-
sales purpose. 1t turned the sub
Ject from herself to Inspector McGee's
self; and she knew from a life of ex-
perience that no man lives who can re-
sist that lure.
How do you feel about me today?"
he asked with heavy male coquetry.
Il haven't made up my mind today"
she said, but it's veerin' toward the
stupid" She crossed the room and
fumbled with the catch of the south
window. He rose heavily to help her.
mo, thank you'll" she said. mo.
thank you. / want to look over this
fire escape. I'm that old / can't go up
notes.-the. It's enough to have the
stenographers rubberin' from these
windows. without you"
However. she managed with sur
passing lightness the step from the
window to the iron stairway, with as
tonishing grace the ascent. She
threaded it to its top, viewing it all in
a general way. Then she stopped, ma
king a picture of herself as she bal
anced on the landing, and pulled out a
wire hairpin. This universal imple-
ment of the sex she twisted to suit
her purpose, and began a slow descent
picking at the interstiees Of the iron.
So she worked downward nearly one
fight before she came to a cake of
dirt in a corner of the iron steps. She
brushed it away and discovered a little
i~rregularity in the metal. She picked
at this with her twisted hairpin. 1t
proved to be a loop of steel, somewhat
spotted, but still bright. She hooked
the pin into the loop, and pulled. Some
thing gave way. Out of a very small
hollow in the iron step, which seemed
like a bubble left in the process of
casting, came a little hard ball. She
rubbed ii with her hands, and polished
it with her handkerchief.
1t was a red shoe button.
Resale fingered it, and glanced up
ward. musing. Above, the iron stair
way ran straight to the windows of the
lumber room. And that was the only
window from which it could have fall
en- in such fashion as to strike the fire
escape. She knew from Mrs. Moore
that this room had been used for stor-
age during all of the last year. If a
previous tenant dropped it, the lac
quer would be gone or furnished by
now. The other windows on the fourth
floor were cut OF from view OF the fire
escape by an irregularity of the wall
From those windows, one could scarce
ly have thrown the button and hit that
spot on the fire escape-"let alone
droppin' it," thought Rosalie.
Resale wrapped the button in her
handkerchief and continued her search
Nothing heavier than straws and
scraps of paper.
We'll. you never can tell" she said
[, herself as she Strengthened up on
the landing before Captain Hanska's
window; lets see-who in my house
ever wears
She stopped all motion here; and
since there was no need for conceal
ment. her face showed the shock
which she felt Her eyes %widened;
her jaw dropped.
"Um-humi' she buzzed with the tone
of one who gathers the straws OF sus-
picion into a sheaf of fact.
"Um-humi"
And just then the voice of Inspector
MCGEE doomed from within.
Pretty near through? ?" he asked.
Much as | want" replied Rosalie.
voice and face falling at once into in
difference. rs there a place to wash
in this house? Water amt turned on
yet? All right"
When. ten minutes later, she re-
turned from the l%avatory. marvelously
freshened in appearance. the inspector
awaited her in the lower hall.
Il may be wanting to come again.
she said. Twill you let the cops know
We'll, how do l stack today" asked
Martin MCGEE. smart or stupid?"
Kind of between" jabbed Resale,
"but edgin' toward stupid STILL" She
smiled again over her shoulder; a dim
pie played and then another; a lock
of hair fell from its fastening over her
cheek
And suddenly something happened (;