Rocky Ford enterprise., 1916-05-05


Betsy Barbara turned. Alone with
on-her eyes showed the emotions
which she had suppressed in public.
What is itf" she said icily.
"I wanted" said Tommy-'T wanted
to tell you something"
II think" responded Betsy-Barbara.
"that you needn't make any more ex-
planations-thanky youl"
She was turning away when Tommy
recovered himself.
"Oh, It isn't that" he said. Il can't
explain that, Of course. I'm not trying
to explain that, Miss Lane. It's Just
neutrality-suspicious. new in the line
of evidence-about the Hanska case
think 1t may help"
Betsy.Barbara turned asain-and
this time quickly. Her look was
startled-but-hsave be praised
friendly.
Something newt" she said. breath
lessly. "Oh. you angel fresh from
heavenl Shall send for Constance"
This was the point where Tommy
North became a strategist.
"It has to do" he said humbly.
with the way was last night. You
saw mel shouldn't like to tell her."
Lets take a walk" proposed Betsy
Barbara, with her wonderful practi-
cality.
.If you WISH" said Tommy North
humbly, and yet thrilled with a sense
Of renewed companionship. Indeed.
by the time they reached the street,
he had recovered his spirits 60 much
as to propose. because the street was
SO noisy, that they take a cross-town
car and walk up Fifth avenue. The car
was crowded: they must stand: 80
they did not approach the subject of
the moment until they were treading
the street OF the spenders.
well. what is It? I'm dying to
knowi" said Betsy-Barbara, the instant
they reached the avenue.
Did / do anything strange" In
quired Tommy. when I first saw you
last night?"
"You nearly tumbled at my feet, for
one thing" replied Betsy-Barbara.
"What-what were you wearing on
your feet?'
Betay-Barbara thought . second on
this peculiar question.
my velvet slippers with the rhine
stone buckles" she said.
Tommy nodded solemnly.
THAT was I'll was reaching for
them last night-Just as was reach
ing for something the night fell at
Captain Hanska's door. And It brought
everything back"
"Oh. what do you meant! begged
Betsy-Barbara. 60 on! Please 20
on"
II had got to the head Of the stairs
on the night of the murder" said Tom
my. THE gas was lighted in the hall.
I was picked. You know how your
mind gets on one little thing whom
you're p,skled-"
Il DON'T" put in Betsy-Barbara, In
spite OF her interest in the story-"but
please go on"
And saw something bright In the
hallway. close to Captain Hanska's
door. l braced against q post and
looked at 1t. It was a cluster of dia-
monds-the more l think OF 1t, the
more 1t seems like that shoe buckle of
yours. reached out to get 1t. Then
tumbled and hit-the stun. The tum-
BILE and the sticky feeling put dia-
monds out of my mind. But I'm sure.
Just the same. that saw a bunch of
diamonds or something beside that
door. You've asked me to tell you
anything l might nnd about the Han
ska case. And I'm telling. that's ALL
Betsy-Barbars considered.
1T may not mean anything" she
said, ''and 1t may mean q good deal"
She considered again. Even II the
diamonds were there, maybe It had
nothing to do with our case. II any
body had been robbed that night, IL
there had been any signs of burglar,
this evidence would be very important.
But the police say that the house
wasn't entered. Then again, what be-
came Of the diamonds? 1t seems no
one else noticed them"
Well" remarked Tommy North
cynicnlly. there were q great many
policemen in the house"
Betsy-Barbara walked on. still think
ing. Maybe. I'm afraid, though, that
1t might be only an alteration" she
said finally.
Perhaps" echoed Tommy North.
And now. having finished his introduo-
tion, he approached tho subject near
est his heart.
-Of course. that's ALL he said, "eI-
cept that I owe you an apology for
for my condition last night"
Tt is to yourself" said Betsy-Bar-
bara. that you owe the apology. Mr..
North. why did you do it-again
Now It was in Tommy Norths i'm
pulses to tell exactly why he did it
to come out with the truth, accompa-
MED by his opinion of philandering
Spaniards. But that would have
, amounted to a declaration; and to de-
clare his feelings for Betsy-Barbara