The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-06-22
CHAPTER VIII.
Almost CaupI,t..

| On the way TO ner room Etnel
Cartwright met Michael Harring-
ton, a box of cigars in his hand,
coming toward the head of the
stairway.
whittier away" he demand
ed.
ITO bed" she returned. 1.-THE
eXcitement's been to much for
me-"
This box" he said. lovingly
caressing it, contains what |
think are the best that can be
smoked" He opened 1t and
showed what seemed to her
cigars of a very large size. "Tm
going to give the boys one apiece
as reward for bravery" He
laughed with glee and went on
down stairs.
When she reached her room
she sat motionless for a few mo-
ments on the edge of the bed.
Then suddenly she rose and walk
ed along a corridor and knocked
at the door of the room she knew
was Alice Harrington's.
Alice" she said nervously,
and there was no doubt in the
older woman's mind that the girl
was thoroughly upset. I'm
nervous of sleeping in the room
you've given me. Can't | sleep
somewhere near people? Let me
have that room | had the last
time | was here"
why, my dear girl, of course,
If you want it," Alice said SYM
pathetically. "I'll ring for the
servants to take your things in. "
1--WE can do it," Ethel said
eagerly. 1--WE only one cabin
trunk, and it weighs nothing.
Why disturb them?"
When they had moved the bag
gage down the halls to the small
er room, there was no key to lock
the door which led to a connect
ing room.
Whose is that?" Ethel de-
manded.
"Mr. Denby's," she was told
Michael will know where the
key Is. BY the time you're ready
for bed I'll have it."
A few minutes later the inter-
vening door was safely locked
and Mrs. Harrington had left the
girl, feeling that perhaps she,
too, would be nervous IL she had
not her Michael close at hand.
Directly the girl was alone she
sprang out of bed and hurriedly
put on a white silk negligee. So
far her plans had prospered ad-
mirably. And this search was
imperative.
Fortunately his guests could
not escape Michael and his big
cigars; and cigars, as she knew
from her fathers use of them, are
not consumed as a cigaret may be
and thrown quickly away.
The key turned in the lock
stiffly and it seemed to her, wait
ing breathless, that the sound
must be audible everywhere. But
as quiet still ruled outside in
the corridors, she pushed the door
half open and peered into the
broom. 1t was dark save for the
moonlight, but she could see to
make her way to writing table,
on which was an electric lamp.
She turned it on and then CEN
tered her attention upon the lock-
ed drawer in which the necklace
was awaiting her. There was a
brass paper knife lying on the
table, heavy enough, she judged,
to pry open an ordinary lock.
Very cautiously she set about her
work. 1t called for more strength
than she had supposed, but the
lock seemed to be yielding grad
ually when there fell upon her
anxious ear sounds of footsteps
coming down the corridor.
She sprang to her feet, and put
ting out the light she turned to
run to her room, and in doing so
knocked the paper knife to the
floor. To her excited fancy II
clattered hideously as it fell, but
she reached her room in safety
and locked the door.
She was hardly In shelter be-
fore DENLY came into his room
and switched on the light. He
was still smoking the first third
of his hosts famous cigar.
He took the pearls from their
hiding place and threw them care
lessly on the table. Then seeing
the paper knife on the floor he
stopped to pick it up. But lying
near 1t were little splinters of
white wood that instantly arrest
ed his attention. He knelt down,
lit a match, and examined them
without disturbing them in any
way. And then his eyes travelled
upward until the scratches by the
lock were plain.
While he was standing there
motionless, sounds in the hall
outside disturbed him. Presently
knock sounded on the door. Be-
fore answering he picked up the
pearls and placed them in his
pocket. Then he called out: "Who
is it?"
tits me-" came Monty's voice
In answer.
Come in," he called.
Monty entered nervously. "Ev-
erything allfight?" he demanded.