The state herald., 1916-03-10
Getting tired?" she asked.

|
before wonder entered his mind.
Now, how did you get that-what |
was thinking of? You make me won.
der If there amt something in your
mediumship."
WELL" said Rosalie. when you're
left an orphan at twelve-there amt
much choice. Professor Vango adopt
ed me-my mother was In his circle
Old fake! But he had mediumship.
too; an he thought, an ! thought, he
brought somethin' out OF me. Anyhow.
| saw things. So / became n medium.
like you became cop-because 1t hap
pened that way. Sometimes" added
Rosalie, drawing all sting from her
words by flash of her dimples, 81
think you're awful stupid, Martin Nc
Gee, an sometimes l think you're a
wonder. It's generally according to
whether or no you agree with me. As
you mostly do, generally call you
wonder. An you've got getthere be-
sides. Slow, but you do get there"
This bit of conversation fulfilled Ro-
sales purpose. 1t turned the sub
ject from herself to Inspector McGee's
self; and she knew from life OF ex-
perience that no man lives who can re-
sist that lure.
How do you feel about me today?"
he asked with heavy male coquetry.
Il haven't made up my mind today"
she said, but it's veerin' toward the
stupid" She crossed the room and
fumbled with the catch of the south
window. He rose heavily to help her
No. thank you!" she said. mo,
thank you. want to look over chis
fire escape. I'm that old can't go up
modest-like- It's enough to have che
stenographers rusberln' from these
windows. without you"
However. she managed with sur.
passing lightness the step from the
window to the iron stairway. with as
tonishlng grace the ascent. She
threaded II to its top, viewing 1t all In
general way. Then she stopped. ma.
king a picture Of herself as she bal.
anced on the landing, and pulled out a
wire hairpin. This universal imple.
ment OF the sex she twisted to suit
her purpose. and began slow descent,
picking ut the interstices OF the iron.
So she worked downward nearly one
flight before she came to a cake OF
dirt In corner of the iron steps. She
brushed 1t away and discovered n little
irregularity in the metal. She picked
at this with her twisted hairpin. II
proved to be loop OF steel, somewhat
spotted. but still bright She hooked
the pin into the loop. and pulled. Some.
thing gave way. Out OF very small
hollow In the iron step. which seemed
like bubble left in the process Of
casting. came little hard ball. She
rubbed II with her hands, and polished
II with her handkerchief.
II was red shoe button.
Rosalie fingered II. and glanced up.
ward. musing. Above. the iron stair.
way ran straight to the windows OF the
lumber room. And that was the only
window from which II could have fall.
en- In such fashion as TO strike the fre
escape, She knew from Mrs. Moore
that this room had been used for stor.
age during all OF the last year. II
previous tenant dropped II, the lac,
quer would be gone or tarnished by
now. The other windows on the fourth
floor were cut on from view OF the FIRE
escape by an irregularity OF the wall
From those windows, one could scarce.
ly have thrown the button and hit that
spo, on the IRE escape-''le, alone
droppln' H." thought Rosalle.
Rosalie wrapped tho button In her
handkerchief and continued her search
Nothing heavier than straws and
scraps of paper.
We'll. you never can tell" she said
TO herself as she Strengthened up on
the landing before Captain Hanska's
window. lets see-who In my hous.
ever wears
She stopped all motion here; nnd
since there was no need for conceal.
mont her face showed the shock
which she felt Her eyoa widened:
her Jaw dropped.
"um'humr she buEEcd with tho tone
OF one who gathers the strawa Of nus.
pieIon into shcaf OF fae,
"um.huml"
And Just then the voice OF Inspector
McGoe doomed from within.
Pretty near through :" he asked.
Much us ! want" replied Rosaiie.
voice and face falling at once into In.
difference ''ia there n place TO wash
In this houso7 Water amt turned on
YETI All right"
When. ten minutes later. she re-.
turned from the lava,ory. marvclogSly
frosh-ned IN appearance. the Inspector
awaited her In the lower hall.
u may be wanting TO come AEais."
she said. WIN you let the cops know ?"
We'll. how do I stack today :" asked
Martin Meooe. smart or a,upidT"
Kind OF between" jabbcd Rosaiio.
but odgin' toward stupid still" she
smiled again over hcf shoulder, a dim.
plo played and then another: n lock
OF hair fell from ita fastening over her
cheek
And suddenly something happene.f
something which Martin Mafi,a hinsa