The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1914-12-24

ana let ulu IoOh thAoueH .
scope. He identified Mr.. Ladley apso-
lutely.
when Tim and Mr.. Graves had gone
Mr.. Holcombe and l were left alone IN
the kitchen. Mr.. Holcombe leaned
over and patted Peter as he lay In his
basket.
We've got him, old boy" he said.
THE chain is just about complete.
He'll never kick you again"
But Mr.. Holcombe was wrong-not
about kicking Peter. although l don't
believe Mr.. Ladley ever did that again.
but in thinking we had him.
washed that next morning. Mon
day. but all the time l was RUBBING
and starching and hanging out my
mind was with Jennie Brice. The
sight of Molly Mcguire next door at
the window rubbing and brushing at
the fur coat only made things worse.
At noon when the Mcguire young
sters came home from school l bribed
Tommy. the youngest, into the kitchen
with the promise of a doughnut.
II see your mother has new fur
coat" l said. with the plate OF dough-
nuts just beyond his reach.
"Yes'm."
'She didn't buy it?'
"She didn't buy It, Say, Mrs. Pit
man. gimme that doughnut."
"Oh, so the coat washed inv'
"No'm. Pap found 1t down by the
point on a cake Of ice. He thought 1t
was dog. and rowed out for 1t"
Well | hadn't wanted the coat, as
far as that goes; I'd managed well
enough without furs for twenty years
or more. But 1t was satisfaction to
know that it had not floated into Mrs.
Maguire's kitchen and spread itself at
her feet, as one may say. However,
that was not the question after all.
The real issue was that II 1t was
Jennie Brices coat and was found
across the river on cake of Ice, then
one Of two things was certain: Either
Jennie Brice's body wrapped In the
coat had been thrown into the water
out In the current, or she herself. hop
ing to incriminate her husband. had
flung her coat into the river.
! | told Mr.. Holcombe. and he inter-
viewed Joe Mcguire that afternoon.
The upshot of 1t was that Tommy had
| been correctly Informed. Joe had wit
nesses who had lined up to see him
rescue a dog, and had beheld his re-
turn in triumph with wet and soggy
fur coat. At 3 o'clock Mrs. Mcguire.
instructed by Mr.. Graves. brought the
coat to me for Identification, turning It
about for my inspection, but refusing
to take her hands Off 1t.
IF her husband says to me that he
wants it back, well and good" she said,
but don't give 1t up to nobody but
him. Some folks ! know of would be
glad enough to have it."
| l was certain 1t was Jennie Brice's
coat, but the makers name had been
ripped out. With Molly holding one
Ladley's door and knocked. He opened
it. grumbling
II have asked you not to interrupt
me-" he said. with his pen in his hand
His eyes fell on the coat. whats
that?" he asked. changing color.
II think it's Mrs. Ladley's fur coat"
I said.
He stood there looking at 1t and
thinking. Then: st can't be hers" he
said. "She wore hers when she went
away"
perhaps she dropped 1t in the
water"
He looked at me and smiled "And
why would she do that?' he asked
mockingly. WAS it out Of fashionY
That's Mrs. Ladley's coat" l per.
sisted, but Molly Mcguire jerked 1t
from me and started away. He stood
there looking at me aud smiling In his
nasty way.
This exci., ment is telling on you.
Mrs. Putnam" he said coolly. you're
too emotional for detective work."
Then he went in and shut the door.
When ! went downstairs Molly Ma.
guire was waiting in the kitchen and
had the audacity to ask me II l
thought the coat needed a new lining.
1t was on Monday evening that the
strangest event In years happened to
me. went to my sisters house! And
| the fact that ] was admitted at a side
entrance made 1t even stranger. 1t
| happened this way:
Supper was over, and was cleaning
up. when an automobile came to the
door. 1t was Alma's car. The chauf-
! feur gave me a note:
| Dear Mrs. Pitmnn-I am not at all well
| and very anxious. VIII you come to see
me at once? My mother Is out to dinner.
and l am alone. The car will bring you
Cordially. Ida HARVEY.
put on my best dress at once and
got into the limousine Half the
neighborhood was out watching.
leaned back In the upholstered seat,
| fairly quivering with excitement This
was Alma's car; that was Alma's card
| gram on it. Even the flowers In the
flower holder. yellow tulips. reminded
me Of Alma. trifle snowy. but good to
look at. And | was going to her house
| was not taken to the main en-.
| trance. but to a side door. The queer
| dreamlike feeling was still there. In
| this back hall. relegated from the more
conspicuous part of the house. there
were even pieces of furniture from the
| old home, and my fathers picture In an
oval gilt frame hung over my head.
had not seen picture of him for twen-
ty years. l went over and touched II
gently.
"Father, fatherw I said.
Under 1t was the tall hall chair that
had climbed over as a child and had
stood on many times to see myself In