The Monticellonian., 1916-05-25


 wrist elamped below and behind the , ear. Average Jones lifted his voice and the name that came to his lips was the name that had lurked sub consciously. in his heart. for days
 Sylvia" he cried. The fourth tioorl Comet
 There was stir and cry from two floors below. Sylvia Graham had ] broken from the grasp of her terrified aunt, and now came up the sharp ascent like deer
 The mirror" said Average Jones. Push it aside. Pull it down Get be- hind it somehow Lie quiet. Ackroyd or I'll have to choke your worthless head off
 With an effort Of nervous strength. the girl lifted aside the big glass. Be | hind IL a hundred scarlet-banded in- sects swarmed and seampered.
 It's a panel Open it.
 She tugged at the woodwork with quick cleyer fingers. A section loos- ened and fell outward with a bang
 Unless my little detectives have de- eeiyed me" Jones said. you'll find the body in there"
 She groped. and drew forth large box. In it was packed the body of Peter Paul. There was a cord about the fat neck.
 'Strangled." whispered the girl. Poor old deggiei" Then she whirled upon the prostrate man You mur- derer." she said very low.
 It's not murder to put a dying brute out of the way said the shaken man sullenly
 But it's fraud. in this case" retort- you're self-convicted Get up"
 There was no more fight in Judge Oily Ackroyd. He slunk to the stairs and limped heavily down to his fright ened and sobbing wife. Miss Graham leaned against the wall. white and spent. Average Jones, his heart in his eyes, took a step forward.
 'No.' she said peremptorily. Don't touch me. l shall be all right
 Do you mind my saying said Jones, that you are the bravest and finest human being I've met in a.a,somewhat varied eareer?"
 The girl shuddered "I could have stood it all" she said, but for those awful. crawling, red creatures"
 sThose?" said Average Jones. Why. they were my bloodhounds. my little detectives"
 And what are they?"
 "Carrion beetles,' said Average Jones. Where the vuitures of the in- sect kingdom are gathered together, there the quarry lies"
 Sylvia Graham drew a long breath. I'm all right now" she pronounced. There's nothing left, l suppose, but to leave this house. And to thank you. How am I ever to thank you?" She lifted her eyes to his
 Never mind the thanks" said Av- craze Jones uneYenly. Tt was noth. | ing"
 Tt was-eyerything It was won | derfuli2 cried the girl and held out her slender hands to him.
 AS they clasped warmly upon his, | Average Jones reason lost its balance. | Bending over the little, clinging hands, he pressed his lips to them. Only for a moment. The hands slipped from his. | There was quick, frightened gasp. | and the girls face, all aflush with new, sweet fearfulness and wondering | confusion, vanished behind a ponder | ous swinging door Tho upIinp Y1oanto Lpaac oInolx n i;, tie as he walked forward and put his | lips close to the lintel.
 Sylvia"
 There was faint rustic from with l in.
 I'm sorry l mean, I'm glad. Glad der than of anything I've ever done in my life"
 Silence from within. Listen, there mustn't be any misun- derstanding about this, dear. If you | send for me. 1t must be because you want me; knowing that. when come. l shall come for you. Good-by, dear" i "Good-by." It was the merest whis- per from behind the door.
 Two days later he sat at his desk, in murk of woe. No word nor sign had come to him from Miss Sylvia Ora ham. He frowned heavily as Simpson entered the inner sanctum with the usual packet of clippings
 Leave them" he ordered.
 Yes, sir" The confidential clerk fingered looking uncomfortable. Any thing from yesterdays lot, sir?"
 Haven't looked them over yet"
 "Or day before's?"
 Haven't taken those up either.'
 If I might suggest, there's a very interesting advertisement in yester- days paper repeated this morn
 T don't want to see it'
 'No, sir But-but still-it it seems to have a strange reference to the burial of the million-dollar dog. and an invitation that thought"
 Where is 1t? Give 1t to mel" For once in his life, high pressure of ex. citement had plotted out Average Jones drawl. His employee thrust into his hand this announcement from the Banner of that morning; DIED-AT loo WEST SIXTEENTH street. September I4 Peter Paul, a dog, for many years the faithful and fond companion of the late Amelia Van Hal | tern. Burial In accordance with the wish and will of Mrs. Van Haltern. at the fam l fly estate, Schuylkill, September r. at three o'clock. His friend Don Quixote, Is especially bidden to come. If he will
 Average Jones leaped to his feet. l