Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-06-06

ment.
'will you answer II. auntie7" asked
Elaine. Tell him I'll call him up in few
minutes"
Aunt Josephine followed Jennings out
and went down the hall 20 the library,
where she picked up the receiver which
Jennings had left lying on the desk.
''oh. Mrs. Dodge. is that your" Craig
asked anxiously. where's Elaine?"
She's in the conservatory. There's a
gypsy here. They're sitting there like a
couple OF ninnies waiting for vision Of
-"
Good heavens" interrupted Craig, mot
with a handkerchief over her eyes. is
she7 Yes7 Quick-telI her to-rip it off
lf-quick-quick"
Aunt Josephine knew Craig too we'll to
stop 10 ask why. In great excitement she
dropped the telephone and almost ran
fIom the library.
without a word Aunt Josephine tore
the bandase from Elaine.
The gypsy was on her feet in an in
slant with an air of sneering triumph.
'You-you criminali' cried Aunt LOSE
Prime, "Helpi jennings. helpl'
Was u too late? Ha1 the bandage
been on Elaine's beautiful eyes iong7
Surely It was more than the fatal three
minutes.
In the apartment OF Inez, Kennedy was
now endeavoring to get Aunt Josephine
on the telephone again. But neither he
nor the central could seem to get any
answer from the Dodge house
Meanwhile was slowly recovering con-
sciousness and had managed to get on my
feet. Dazed though 1 was still, l could
see that Kennedy had discovered some
thing terrible. in order to have had to
neglect me SO long.
He was working the receiver UP and
down frantically now. Finally he hung
1: up. BY the expression on his face I
gathered that. whatever il was, he feared
the worst. His face wrinkled in thought,
he gazed, perplexed. first at Inez, cold
and defiant. then toward me. He seemed
greatly surprised to see that I was my
self again so soon, after being laid out
flat
How do you feel. old man7" he asked.
''Pretty-good." managed to stammer.
Walter" he asked earnestly, do you
think you could watch this girl now?'
Then take this gum" he directed.
Don't let her touch a thing-and keep
your eve peeled all the time. She's a
tough customer. want you. as soon as
you feel able. to take her over to the
laboratory and wait"
/ nodded and, scarcely waiting to say
word more. he dashed out.
fhoA he
asked Elaine. wondering at the sudden
ness with which the bandage had been
torn from her eyes. What does It all
meant"
''You-you crirainall' repeated Aunt
Josephine accusingly at the gypsy. then
turning to Elaine. why, Craig called up
and warned me not to let her put any
thing over your eyes. 1 didn't wait to
| hear any more.
Jennings" cried Aunt Josephine. seize
that womanl"
| As Jennings approacher her. the gypsy
suddenly developed remarkable strength.
She gave him a shove that sent him
Keeling. His foet caught on the edge OF
the fountain and he staggered a minute,
unable to recover his balance. then. with
a great splash, fell in. The gypsy turned
aud fled through the palms, Elaine and
Aunt josephine following her.
She ran as far as she could. coming up
to the glass wall that formed the inner
end OF the conservatory. Further retreat
was impossible. She seized a little rustic
chair and dashed 1t through the glass.
Cautiously. but quickly she managed to
make her way through the opening she
had broken.
Jennings had. by this time. picked him.
self out of the fountain and, dripping.
Joined Elaine and Aunt Josephine in the
chase.
1t was at that moment that a cab
pulled up furiously before the house and
Kennedy leaped out and rushed in. The
gypsy had gained just time enough. II
she mad gone on. Kennedy might have
seen her outside.
The others were apparently looking for
her In every direction except the right
one. She saw her chance. Stealthily she
managed TO slip out OF the garden by the
back way.
As Kennedy dashed down the hall and
into the library. he met Elaine's maid
Marie. running. and as pale as a ghost
For heavens sake. Marie" ne painted
where are they ar2"
In the conservatory. SIR" she painted
Didn't you hear the glass break?''
CLASP he repeated. running ahead o.
her now.
Kennedy came upon Elaine. Aun
, Josephine and Jennings stIn vainl,
! searching about, Just as they lost tract
OF the gypsy.
, Where did she gO-that way9'' aske,
Jennings.
!. Hang the gypsy" interrupted Gratis
Let her go-you missed her anyway
But. Elaine-ten me-what happened?'
Aunt Josephine reached down an
picked up the handkerchief she had tor
from Elaine's eyes. 'She bound Il owe
her eyes" she explained TO Craig.
Kennedy examined the handkerchie
closely. Evidently he was looking Ia
something concealed In it and did nc
t, find It
Perplexed. he looked first from Eiain,
then TO Aunt Josephine
, "Are you looking for the gypsy's hand
. kerchief9" Elaine asked finally. seeinl
, his astonishment. Then she stopped an
picked up another handkerchief from IN
/ floor. Here II is. II didn't look yer
clean. so when she wasn't looking
/. dropped Il and used my own
! Kennedy was speechless with RELIEF
He took the other handkerchief and ran
! idly ran his hand over It, At last h
lcama 20 a liffla hard it,u,n an rha -.