The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1914-01-30
"GettIng tired 90 she asked.

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 fake! But he had medlumship.
too; an he thought, an | thought, he
brought somethin' out OF me. Anyhow,
! saw things. So | became medium.
like you became a cop-because It hap.
pened that way Sometimes" added
Rosalic, drawing all sting from her
words by a fash OF her dimplea, Il
think you're awful stupid Martin Nc
Gee, an sometimes | think you're @
wonder. lts generally according to
whether or no you agree with me. As
you mostly do, I generally call you a
wonder. An you've got get.there be.
sides. Slow. but you do get there"
This bit OF conversation fulfilled 70.
sales purpose. II turned the sub.
! ject from herself to Inspector McGee's
self; and she knew from life OF cx.
! 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" she said mo,
thank you. | want to look over this
ilre escape, I'm that old cant go up
modest-like. It's enough to have the
stenographers rubbsrin from these
windows. without you"
However, she managed with sur.
passing lightness the step from the
window to the iron stairway, with as
tonlshing grace the ascent. She
threaded It to It's top. viewing It all in
n general way. Then she stopped. ma.
| king Il picture of herself as she bal
anced on the landing, and pulled out a
wire hairpin. This universal nipple.
ment OF the sex she twisted to suit
her purpose, and began slow descent,
picking at the interstices of the iron.
SO she worked downward nearly one
flight before she came to a cake OF
dirt In corner of the iron steps. She
brushed It away and discovered little
irrcgularlty in the metal. She picked
ut this with her twisted hairpin 1t
proved 10 be n 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 bubble left In the process of
casting, came little hard ball She
rubbed 1t with her hands. and polished
It with her handkerchief.
II was n red shoe button.
Resale fingered II, 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 us 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. II a
previous tenant dropped It, the lac.
quer would be gone or furnished by
now. The other windows on the fourth
floor were cut Off 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 Resale
Resale wrapped the button In her
handkerchief and continued her search.
Nothing heavier than Btraws and
scraps OF paper.
well. you never can tell" she said
TO herself as she Strengthened up on
the landing before Captain Hanska's
window; Tets 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-hum!' she buzzed with the tone
of one who gathers the straws OF sus-
picion into sheaf of fact
"Um-hum!"
And just then the voice OF Inspector
McGee doomed from within.
Pretty near through" he asked.
Much AZ | want" replied Resale,
voice and face falling at once into In.
difference. rs there place to wash
in this house? Water amt turned Off
yet? All right"
When. ton minutes later, she re.
turned from the lavatory, marvelously
freshened In appearance, the inspector
awaited her In the lower hall
81 may DO wanting to come again"
she said. "Will you let the cops know"
well, how do stack today?" asked
Martin MCGEE, smart or stupidr"
Kind OF between" jabbed Rosalie.
but edgin' toward stupid STILL" She
smiled again over her shoulder; a dim
pie played and then another; lock
OF hair fell from its fastening over her
cheek
And suddenly something happened;
something which Martin MCGEE. blush
ing over It later In silence and secrecy.
could not himself account for. With