The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-08-06

0h NhAeh ne Delttes VIII a1u III
solving the mystery. He puts n
detective ON this clue.
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
Continued From Yesterday
Mr.. Winthrop's collection of
legends from the East were as
sembled in curious fashion
They had been written down from
time to time on one side of the
page only. In one or two of the
volumes the blank pages on the
left had been haphazardly cover
ed with a miscellaneous array of
other matter.
Poole, turning over these pages
or miscellaneous memoranda,
paused at a passage which ran
thus:
March GO. here for weeks
visit.
April S-Write A. At Windsor.
May Hydrogen exper l.
ments.
June Astounding let g r
frsm A.
Changed plans. ]. and
Il off to White Mts.
"details from Windsor
Bad business.
IA. leaving Windsor.
Wants to come here
Consent.
15-Letter from e.
ga. here, not well.
29-E. to visit at G's.
Poole scanned the entries, as
he had done scores of times al
ready. Its there" he said to
himself. I'm stake my last dol
lar it's there-cryptic, tangled,
TIE merest shred-confound it!
The truth has simply got to come
out of that. II il can't be Wind
sor, Massachusetts, or Windsor,
New Hampshire. it must be YER
mont. If 1t isn't ="
Poole closed the book with a
sharp movement as the dinner
gong sounded.
Immediately after dinner Poole
went out onto the veranda where
he was Joined shortly by the
Colonel. That gentleman abrupt
ly deposited a small object in his
guests hand. 1t was a ruby.
1 think the affair has gone far
enough" Colonel Winthrop ex-
planned hurriedly. 81 guess I
gave your problem a little too
serious a setting" His voice
dropped as Archie came out on the
Veranda. Mum for the present Z"
~said Colonel Winthrop as he re-
treated abruptly indoors.
Poole's fingers closed over the
jewel as Archie dropped into the
chair just vacated by HIS uncle
He asked Poole how the latter
was getting on with the solution
or the detective problem, and the
two young men talked for some
time.
At length, as Evelyn appeared
on the porch and sauntered down
the steps with evident intention
of stroliing about the grounds.
Archie rose.
We'll" he said, II wish Won
every success, and as a souvenir
OF our little conference together
may l give you this?" He placed
= . small dark object in PooIe's
hand and strobe away to overtake
Evelyn.
DO | really look as easy as all
that?" Poole asked himself as he
placed the second ruby given him
that evening in his waistcoat
pocket.
For a long time he sat on the
geranda alone, smoking. Finally
he went down the steps and
strolled across the lawn. Present.
ly he was surprised to see a fig
ure in white following him. 1t
was Evelyn. She joined him and
after leading up to the subject
with not a little gay banter she
made the third confession of the
evening. Evelyn claimed she had
taken the ruby.
Discovering the robbery of the
safe long before Mrs. Seoville
had done so, and immediately
fearful of her Jewels she had
taken out the box to find that the
burglar had overlooked them.
Then the memory of the converse
ton of the evening before, and
Poole's hiding of the white sap
phire returned to her and she de-
cfded to complicate matters by
hiding the ruby.
1T seemed such simple,
stupid affair."" she explained
laughing, A burglar carrying off
only twenty dollars. I wanted to
eomplicate IL, make Il a real mys-
terry for you to unravel, as uncle
and Archie had suggested.
AT first | thought of taking
ell the stones" she went on. when
Poole did not answer. but that
seemed too dreadful. even in fun.
Then Il occurred 90 me TO take
emily the ruby. That, I knew,
Fould puzzle you"
1T has" said Poole. and he
smiled family.
And now that I've brought
nv confession to you. are you
going to be good and forgive me
for playing such q mean little
trickf~