The Dermott news. (Dermott, Ark.) 1910-1977, 1914-01-22


him now-since Constance had gone
on-her eyes showed the emotions
which she had suppressed in public.
What is it?" she said 1cily.
Il wanted" said TOMMY wanted
to tell you something
Il think" responded Betsy Barbara,
that you needn't make any more ex-
planations-thanky oui"
She was turning away when Tommy
recovered himself
'Oh. 1t isn't that" he said. Il cant
explain that, OF course. I'm not trying
to explain that, Miss Lane. It's just
something something new in the line
of evidence-about the Hanska case
l think 1t may help"
Betsy Barbara turned again-and
this time quickly. Her look was
rtled-but-heaven be praised
friendly.
Something new" she said. breath
lessly. "Oh. you angel fresh from
heaven! Shall send for Constance
This was the point where Tommy
North became a strategist.
II HAS W w, Iit SiIu huhip Wy
with the way | was last night. You
saw mel shouldn't like to tell her"
Lets take walk" proposed Betsy
Barbara. with her wonderful practi-
cality
IF you wish" said Tommy North
humbly. and yet thrilled with sense
of renewed companionship. Indeed.
by the time they reached the street.
he had recovered his spirits so much
as to propose, because the street was
so noisy. that they take n cross-town
car and walk up Fifth avenue. The car
was crowded; they must stand; so
they did not approach the subject of
the moment until they We're treading
the street of the spenderS.
, We'll. what is it? I'm dying to
know" said Betsy Barbara the instant
they reached the avenue.
Did do anything strange" in
CURED Tommy. when I first saw you
last night"
You nearly tumbled at my feet. for
one thing replied BETSY Barbara.
.What-what were you wearing on
your feet"
Betsy Barbara thought a second on
this peculiar question.
My velvet slippers with the rhine
stone buckles" she said
Tommy nodded solemnly
That was it was reaching for
them last night-just as | was reach.
ing for something the night fell at
Captain Hanska's door And 1t brought
everything back"
"Oh. what do you meant" begged
Betsy Barbara. Go on Please go
on"
Il had got to the head OF the stairs
on the night OF the murder" said Tom
my. The gas was lighted In the hall
was picked. You know how your
mind gets on one little thing when
you're pickled-"
Il don't" put in Betsy Barbara. IN
spite OF her interest In the story-"but
please go on"
And | saw something bright In the
hallway. close to Captain Hanska's
door. ! braced against a post and
looked at It. II was cluster OF dia-
monds-the more | think OF II. the
more II seems like that shoe buckle Of
yours. reached out to get II. Then
| tumbled and ht-the stun. The tum-
BILE and the sticky feeling put dia-
monds out OF my mind. But I'm sure,
just the same, that saw bunch OF
diamonds or something beside that
door You've asked me TO tell you
anything might find about the Han.
ska case And I'm telling. that's all"
Betsy Barbara considered.
1T may not mean anything" she
said. and II may mean a good deal 1"
She considered again. Even II the
diamonds were there, maybe IL had
nothing to do with our case. II any.
body had been robbed that night. II
there had been any signs OF burglar
this evidence would be very important.
But the police say that the house
wasn't entered. Then again. what be
came OF the diamonds? II seems no
one else noticed them"
Well" remarked Tommy North
cynically. there were a great many
policemen In the house"
Betsy-Barbara walked on. eth think.
Ing Maybe, I'm afraid. though. that
II might be only an alteration" she
said finally.
Perhaps echoed Tommy North.
And now. having finished his introduc-
ton, he approached the subject near.
est his heart
"Of course. that's ALL" he said, lex.
cept that | owe you an apology for
for my condition last night"
1T is to yourself" said Betsy. Bar.
bara, that you owe the apology. Mr..
North, why did you do it-again?"
Now It was In Tommy Norths i'm.
pulses to tell exactly why he did it
TO come out with the truth, accompa
MED by his opinion OF philandering
Spaniards. But that would have
amounted to a declaration; and TO de
clare his feelings for Betsy Barbara
was leagues beyond his present cour-
age