The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-04-06
EIGHTH EPISODE
The Price He Paid.

Sphinx Kelly entered Pats state
room and closed the door behind him.
The girl stood with her head just even
with a portfolio, and the morning sun
filled her beautiful blonde hair with
streaks MS of FURNISHED gold.
The Sphinx stood for moment lean
ing with his back against the door, 81
lently admiring the beautiful girl.
Nervously Kelly approached the task
he had set for himself.
tits very embarrassing for me to
do what duty compels." Then the
Sphinx hesitated.
AS If more deliberately to embarrass
the detective. Pat stood silently gaz-
ing at him, her face radiant with
smiles.
ITS embarrassing" the Sphinx
was repeating himself in his confusion.
With an effort he finally blurted out {:
Il must search your room for the
stolen pearls"
you surprise me, Mr.. Kelly" said
Pat assuming an austere demeanor,
while her eyes beied her manner in
their wrinkles of mischief. "Whose
pearls do you expect to find here ex-
cept my own?"
"Mrs. Phillips, on the boat deck, has
been robbed of string of almost fab
ulously precious pearls" said Kelly in
apologize explanation.
"And you expect to find them around
my neck?' said Pat.
81 must search everywhere there is
n possibility of finding them-and you
know, Miss Montez, that have reason
to attribute almost any escapade to
YOU"
This time, at all events, you are
wrong" said Pat. But to satisfy you
l give full permission for you to search
anywhere, even without possessing any
warrant to do So"
Really you are kind. Miss Montez,"
was Kelly's remark as he began look
ing about in places where the pearls
might be hidden.
''We will have your baggage care
fully examined by the customs Off
cials-and we may have all the pas
sengers personally searched before
they go ashore. But find the pearls
l must-it would be a great advertise
ment for me in America"
Nothing would be a greater source
of pleasure to me than to provide you
with some good advertising-but as
have no method of doing that may /
at least offer you chocolate?" the girl
replied, offering at the same time a
box of sweets to the great detective.
"Thank you. Miss Montez-but I've
just had breakfast" and the Sphinx
resumed his search. Finally he came
upon a bundle wrapped in blankets,
lying in corner of the stateroom.
whats this?" said Kelly as he be-
gan roughly disturbing the bundle.
But he was halted by a faint cry near
Mt hand-and by Pats sharp COM
mand:
BE careful. sir. Don't be rough
you have found one of the pearls, but
not the entire necklace"
with merry laugh Pat flung aside
the blanket disclosing the baby she
had brought from the second cabin
and in resentment of It's rough treat
ment. the baby began to cry.
''See now what you have done, you
bad old detective" said Pat "You
don't know how to handle pearl when
you find one" and the girl soothed the
child. Kelly retreated toward the
door of Pats stateroom.
Excuse me for disturbing you-but
I'll see you later" and with no little
embarrassment the detective withdrew.
The news was flashed to the customs
officials by wireless and when the ship
halted at quarantine, several extra
officials came on board and took charge
of the investigation. Every stateroom
was searched, but to no avail.
The formalities of passing quaran-
tine, the inspection of tickets and the
examination of the passengers were
completed. The steamship swept
majestically up the North river to its
pier and just as the first passengers
tarted to hurry down the gang-plank.