The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-03-02

AifRffa hNA AAA+HH'H 49,
uous boost.
I'm afraid no did" Singleton
answered. very low Now. you 10
up. and you and williams help the
women. I'll remain here. no they
can uae me for n platform"
And Vendome was quickly up.
You go first. Natalie" And. step
ping on Singleton's knee. her hands
were caught by Vendome and VIII
Jams, and she was quickly drawn
from the cave,
The next moment Betty stood be.
side her-and Singleton followed,
"shaii replace tho stone. sirT'
said Williams.
1T isn't necessary" Singleton re-
Piled. knowing that Blake's sharp
eyes were on him. ANY one n wei.
come TO what he finds"
That being the ease" said Blake.
may ask what you expect %
flnd7"
Nothing absolutely nothing
Singleton answered, with a bland
smile.
"of course" said Blake. you Just
happened 10 bring along the pick.
and shovel. and crowbar: also win.
Jams. II IA very queer how fortui.
tous combination 81 circum'
stances may happen AZ times"
II ir. indeed" Singleton remark
ed. Witness the foriuitous com
bination OF circumstances that NJ.
tended your slide into the cave
Jus, as We left"
IT was truly remarkable Blake
agreed. easily. Il wonder II. by any
chance. might have slipped on n
diamond
quite likely" Singleton replied
Diamonds we're scattered thru the
cave aa thlckly as dollars In q
bank. Maybe some did get away
while we wcre not looking"
4 might come back tomorrow
and look" Blake replied.
why wal, until tomorrow why
not do the looking today
Blake raised bis hands protest
ingiy
MY dear Singleton" he said: II
never pry into other peoples az
faira-and ~ do slip into them. by
inhdvertence. ] never babble." lie
caught vendomes .ye-and went
on. Il believe IN attending strictly
20 my own business. and letting
,o,hers attend TO thcirs-so long an
they let me alone. Don't you ap'
prove. Mr.. Vendomc7"
I, was an offer 10 exchange his
silence as 60 the cave for Ven
dome's silence IA 10 his pas; life
Aud Vendome understood the offer,
and met II with an amused rvnlie
Certainly. Mr.. blake. II In n
most excellent habit. provided one
doesn't violate the compact IN other
ways"
And Blake. on his part. under
stood that the exchange was &C.
copied. on condition that he keep
away from Mrs. Tremalne.
"oh. surely" be saic: that r.
comprehenced-
And oven a. he said II. he shot
covert glance a, Mrs. Tremaine.
Tho women walked together. the
three men followed. Williams
brouFh, up tho rear When they
reached the carriage. Blake went
on 60 his horse: Nendome helped
Betty and Natalie 20 their places
Are you going homef" Blake
asked. refining around and waiting
NO" said Singleton. gathering
up the lines: we shall make a day
Of Il along tho river and At Spring.
berry farm Good bye"
THAT will cool bis curiosity "a
to tho cave until tomorrow" Ven
dome laughed
Z wonder Just what he thinks. "
asid Natalie.
1T depends on how much he
heard" Vendome replied.
And there n no means 81 know
Ink that" Betty remarked,
we can make reasonable
guess" said Singleton. lie raised
his whip and beckoned 10 one OF
the negro man. How long
before wc all came from the cave
did Mr. Blake arrive7" he asked.
Jest a little while. sch. bout ten
minutes. reckon. sch. 'Twarn't
no time a, all. sch"
slngleton nodded. we will leave
the case In your particular charge. .
he said. See that no one molests
lt"---and Ringing him a coin, he
drove OF.
Now" Singleton remarked. Il
reckon We may assume that Blake
didn't hear more than half our talk.
II he heard all OF Il. don't know
that he would be much better off:
we can't come at the jewels, and no
more can he"
Tomorrow he viii return and in
vcstigate." Betty observed. He
viii find the skeletons. and"
He saw them todRy-and said
nothing" Vcndome remarked. Tie
fancies no r. very crafty"
we might return 20 the cave and
bury the skeletons" Natalie sug.
geated.
The skeletons are best buried
where they are--or in the subter.
ranean stream" vendome remark.
ed.
The appropriate place." Natalie
exclaimed. Let us 30 back and
bury them beside the Jewels"
Singleton swung the horses
around. and they trotted over to the
entrance 20 the cave. Williams,
who was standing before the house.
followed I'm response to signal
ha had mot ypf returned tha Inn.
tern.
The four again descended into
the cave. by the lanterns smoky
light, the two men gathered up the
bones. and cast them far out into
the stream.
As Vendome turned away. the
CLINT Of something In the dust where
the bones had lain caught his eye.
What's this?' he sAid-and he
nIekgH % nm md h.1N