Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1914-02-13

Rose, why did you ever start it?'
Being medium, you mean"
yes. The word was out of his lips
before wonder entered his mind.
Now, how did you get that-what
was thinking Of? You make me won
der II there amt something in your
mediumship."
WELL" 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 mediumship
too; an he thought, an thought, he
brought somethin' out of me. Anyhow.
| saw things. So became a medium.
like you became cop-because 1t hap
pened that way. Sometimes" added
Resale, drawing all sting from her
words by fash Of her dimples. Il
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, generally call you a
wonder. An you've got get-there be-
| ohdCo. AoiOWI but JOu dO 6Ot thOAOs
This bit of conversation fulfilled Ro-
sales purpose. 1t turned the sub
! ject from herself to Inspector McGee's
self; and she knew from life Of ex-
perience that no man lives who can re-
sist that lure.
How do you feel about me todayT
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. I 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 1t 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 impie
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 cake O
dirt in corner of the iron steps. She
brushed 1t away and discovered little
irregularity In the metal She picked
at this with her twisted hairpin. Il
proved to be loop of STEEL somewhat
spotted, but still bright. She hooked
the pin into the loop, and pulled. Some
thing gave way. Out of very small
hollow in the iron step, which seemed
like bubble left In the process o.
casting, came little hard ball. Sh'
rubbed it with her hands, and polished
1t with her handkerchief.
1t was red shoe button.
Resale fingered 1t, and glanced up
ward. musing. Above, the iron stair
way ran straight to the windows Of thu
lumber room. And that was the onl,
window from which 1t could have fall
en- in such fashion as to strike the fri
escape. She knew from Mrs. Moor,
that this room had been used for stor
age during all Of the last year. II I
previous tenant dropped 1t, the lac
quer would be gone or furnished b.
now. The other windows on the fourtl
floor were cut off from view of the fir,
escape by an irregularity of the wall
From those windows, one could scarce
ly have thrown the button and hit tina
spot on the fire escape-"let alon
droppin it," thought Rosalie.
Resale wrapped the button in he
handkerchief and continued her search
Nothing heavier than straws an
scraps of paper.
well, you never can tell" she sal
to herself as she Strengthened up o.
the landing before Captain Hanska'
window; lets see-who in my hous
ever wears
She stopped all motion here; an
since there was no need for concea
ment, her face showed the shoe
which she felt Her eyes widened
her jaw dropped.
"Um-hum!' she buzzed with the ton
OF one who gathers the straws Of sui
picion into sheaf Of fac
"Um-hum!"
And just then the voice of Inspecto
MCGEE doomed from within.
Pretty near through" he asked.
Much as / want" replied Resale
. voice and face falling at once into II
difference. lis there place to was
!. in this house? Water amt turned o
b yet? All right"
When, ten minutes later, she r.
d turned from the lavatory, marvelousl
q freshened in appearance, the inspectc
> awaited her in the lower hall.
+ II may be wanting to come again
: she said. "Will you let the cops know!
e well, how do l stack today?" aske
9 Martin MCGEE. smart or stupid?"
s Kind of between" iabbed Rosali
!. .'but edgin' toward stupid STILL" Sh
J., smiled again over her shoulder; din
y pie played and then another; loo
d &C hair fell from its fastening over he
cheek
q And suddenly something happened
r something which Martin MCGEE, blusl
e ing over 1t later in silence and secrec
r could not himself account for. wit
the motion OF a dancing bear, 30 avn