The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-03-23
ssThe Case of
Jennie BriCe''

Lord knows I'd be glad to get
out of this internal pig-wallow
myself"
"If you mean my house"
began.
But he had pulled himself tot.
gether and was more polite when
he answered. 81 mean the
neighborhood. Your house Is al
that could be desired for the
money. If we do not have linen
sheets and double cream, we are
paying muslin and milk prices"
Either my nose was growing
accustomed to the odor, or it was
dying away. took my foot
away from the door. "When did
Mrs. Ladley leave?" / asked.
This morning, very early.
rowed her to Federal street."
"You couldn't have had much
Sleep" said dryly. For he looked
horrible. There were lines around
his eyes. which were red, and his
lips looked dry and cracked.
She's not in the piece this
week at the theater," he said
licking his lips and looking past
me, not at me. She'll be back
Saturday"
l did not believe him. do not
think he imagined that I did. HI
shut the door in my face, and II
caught poor Peter by the nose
The dog ran off bowling, but al
though Mr.. Ladley had been al
fond of the animal as 1t was In
his nature to be fond of anything
he paid no attention. AS | start
ed down the hall after him, l saw
what Peter had been carrying
a slipper of Mrs. Ladley's. 1t wal
soaked with water; evidently
Peter had found it floating al
the foot of the stairs.
Although the idea of murder
had not entered my head at tina,
time, the slipper gave me turn
picked it up and looked at it
a black one with a beaded toe
short in the vamp and high-heel
ed, the sort most actresses wear
Then | went back and knocked
at the door of the front room
again.
What the devil do you want
now?" he called from beyond the
| door.
Here's a slipper of Mrs. Lad.
ley's," l said. Peter found il
floating in the lower hall"
He opened the door wide, and
let me in. The room was in toll
cradle order, much better thar
when Mrs. Ladley was about. He
looked at the slipper, but did not
touch it. II don't think that Ii
hers" he said.
"I've seen her wear 1t hun.
dred times"
well, she'll never wear II
again." And then, seeing me
stare, he added: ITS ruined
with the water. Throw it out
And, by the way, I'm sorry, but
set fire to one of the pillow-slips
dropped asleep, and my cigar.
cite did the rest. Just put 1t or
the BILL"
He pointed to the bed. One Of
the pillows had no slip, and the
ticking cover had a scorch or two
on it. / went over and looked
at It.
"The pillow will have to be
paid for, too, Mr.. Ladley," l said
And there's a sign nailed on the
door that forbids smoking in bed
III you are going to set fire Il
things, l shall have to charge ex
ira"
Really" he jeered, looking al
me with his cold fishy eyes. "Is
there any sign on the door saying
that boarders are charged extra
for seven feet Of filthy river in
the bedrooms?"
l was never a match for him
and | made 1t a principle never tc
handy words with my boarders
l took the pillow and the slipper
and went out. The telephone wal
ringing on the stair landing. II
was the theater, asking for Mis-.
F. Brice.
"She has gone away" said.
What do you mean? Moved
away?"
Gone for a few days vaca
tion," replied. "She isn't play
ing this week, is she?"
wait a moment" said the
voice. There was a hum of con.
versiation from the other end
and then another man came to
the telephone.
Can you find out where Miss
Brice has gomez"
"I'll see."
went to Ladley's door and
knocked. Mr.. Ladley answered
from Just beyond.