Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-10-19
Mary Roberts Rinehart' 81
Thrilling Mystery Of
"The Curve of the CatenarY"'

them the suitcase in my room that
the Mater had recognized, and Lottie
with the bracelet. She must have
had some terrible things in her mind.
poor kid.
I didn't speak to Lottie about the
bracelet. l think now that I'd have
saved some time if had. She'd have
told me where she got 1t, and things
might have been different Wen,
they're clearing up slowly as 1t Is.
Perhaps it will all right in the end.
Sis got a letter a day or so ago
1 got my makeup off, and note
came around asking me to go to sup
per with the crowd. / scrawled mo,
thanks" on 1t and sent it back. Then
went home. 1 wanted to think.
But I didn't get anywhere with my
thinking. I seldom do, as matter of
fact.
What connection was there between
the house on the hill and Lottie Muir
ray? The Mater had seen the brace
let. with other things, go into the suit
case l had stolen on the hilltop. The
bracelet had re-appeared on Lottie
Murray's arm.
I didn't sleep that night. Sis came
in at o'clock and I put on dress
ing gown and met her at the top of
the staircase.
"Too tired to talk awhile?" asked
her.
IT have headache. Ollie" She
looked it, too.
There are some things that ought
to be talked over"
She turned on me bitterly. Don't
you think we'd better forget them?"
she said. And went in and closed her
door. I was sore. l thought she was
accusing me of horrible things, you
see. I didn't understand until later.
So spoke through the door.
"If you think 1 had anything to do
with her wearing that bracelet" 1
said, you're little fool"
"Oh, go away and let me alone"
she said. And 1 went.
Now I come to the strange thing
that happened on Tuesday.
I lunched at the club that day. I
knew the story of my appearance the
night before was going the rounds,
and I'd better clear myself and ex-
plain. Well, I'd made a sensation
all right.
Absolutely a new one" Charlie
Thomas said. standing off with his legs
apart and appreciation in his eye:
Thought you'd slumped, Ollie. Turn
ed quiet and gone to work / thank
you. In the name of the city, 1 thank
you"
When tried to explain they order
ed drinks, and when 1 sulked they
made noisy comments.
| IT'S the artistic temperament" one
of the fellows suggested. Moody,
you know Reaction, and all that"
II tell you-' attempted
fercely.
Now, Ollie, smile and show your
dimple," they said. And when I per-
sisted they urged me to take Turk
ish bath.
Were all going tonight" some
one said. House is sold out solid"
And they wept noisily when 1 snapped
out that Lottie's partner had come,
and 1 would not appear. They had
some horrible mess concocted at the
bar to cause me to change my mind
and two of them did a parody of Lot
ties act dwelling long and particular
ly on the hand-kissing end of it.
oh, I deserved it, all right But
when I thought of the Matters face
when she heard of it
After luncheon l went up to my
room. l think 1t had been searched
| never keep much at the club, and
| 1T was all carefully in order. But
there was q neat heap of cigar ashes
in the bottom of a closet, and as
never smoke cigars, and the cham
bermaid tearfully disclaimed them,
feel that my suspicious are not en-
tirely without foundation. l wonder
ed what would have happened had I
taken the suitcase to the club. instead
of going home on Saturday night.
And that set me to thinking further.
| was probably more or less still under
surveillance. The Blithe Bandit
wasn't it possible he had been one of
the N C.'s men? He was pretty
shrewd, the N. C. He might have
traced that suitcase to the Hazeltine
house. There were good many
things that the police might know
and be waiting to spring. I don't mind
saying 1 was nervous. What with
the camera and the suitcase and the
fool thing I'd done the night before.
considering that Lottie certainly had
the bracelet I'd tied myself up n
number of hard knots.
went back to the mill Things
were getting lined up for work there.
and the rush was over. The governor
knocked off at 4 and went to his club
for bridge. l sauntered into Martins
office.
How about some golf?" I said.
We won't have many more days like
this"
He looked at his watch. TITS
pretty late"
I'VE can have dinner out there.
Inere are some things we'd better
talk over anyhow"
He glanced up at me from his desk.
"Oh. all right" he said, and got up.
1t struck me then that he moved
rather heavily, for him. There'd al
ways been a lot of spring to him. He
stopped with his overcoat half on
and looked through the window into
the millyard.
hadn't said anything much about
MS going. But, upon my word.
didn't like tho look in his eyes.
Better think 1t over, Martin"
said, II don't think you need us
particularly. But we need you. all
right" "'i
Thanks, old man. I wish 7 felt
that way about it. AS a matter of
fact' I've done about all I can here.
It's time l was moving on"
didn't understand, and 1 looked
1T. But he said nothing further until
we were in the machine. Then as
we went through Grayton he smoke
up.
When things get on their feet
Ollle,' he said, II wish you would trv
TO do something here. Even if Won
haven't conscience about it, it ought