The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-01-03
s:i.:i:i''ii!::;;::.,i.i;;:i;i;,i;;iiiii.

with tho stuff.
Il was Just going 10 hunt doc
tor when she come 10 and gee me
Then she went from one ~ TO an
other. so ruBtled the neighbour
and phoncd you 10 get the younf
lady home"
Was It robbery burglary
asked.
Well. you might call It both. '
Btruber slowly ADMITTED. Some
body wanted something OF the old
ildy's mighty bad to take such a
chance
We moved together up 10 the
( porch. where Miss Fox almost i'm.
mediately Joined us.
"Mr. strubor. do YOU know what
happened she asked.
only what l'yo guessed. Miss
Fox" he replied Il was hoping
your aunt could tell hs about IT,"
The girl shook her head.
She can't tell much SIZE was
busy IN the Kitchen when she was
attracted by a slight noise At the
front OF the house She came 10
tho frOn door 10 inyestigate All
she ss~ was what she took To be a
Chinese laundryman's wagon stand
Ing In front Of the house next door.
But you know the Chinese
habit OF walking right Into ones
hOuae without knocking She
thought OF this and turned TO look
into tho front room: then she was
( seized from behind Before she
could scream or struggle. she says.
a cloth was pressed over her face
she knew nothing more until she
came TO and saw strange man
STOPPING over her.
That Was me she saw" Struber
explained 4 made a quick search
Of the house before the neigh bors
got here. but It didn't look torn up
any. or course couldn't tell II
anything was missing Then your
aunt didn't see anybody"
Miss Fox again shook her bead.
No. nobody al all. except you.
But ! have discovered what they
were after-what they took"
We waited eXpectantly.
The little ivory box" she added
roberly. her eyes on Struber: the
one you came here 10 see"
We continued TO discuss the
episode at length. but with no very
satisfactory results. Conjure our
brains as We would. the whole
thing remained inexplIcable: 80
presently I asked Struber whether
he had found the Republic Hotels
missing guest.
He scowled and shook his head.
Ny glance met Miss Foxs. In
hers ! read understanding.
Suppose tell him. proposed.
II you think it best she &C.
quiesced
Mhereupon Struber listened with
marked attention to recital OF
Miss For's mysterious correspond.
emit
somewhat 10 my surprise Struber
made no comment on what We told
him. He gazed mediiatlvely down
the street for some time. and final.
ly asked IL ! had noticed a gray
automobile following me.
His question gave me something
OF jolt. for had noticed Just such
a car. but had refrained from say.
Ing anything about IT. assuring my.
self that II was my oyerstrained |
nerves and the untoward events OF |
the past few days which caused me
TO fancy Il. was following me.
Now. however. told Struber ali |
| could remember concerning Il. |
especially OF the hegogrled occn-
pants. two In number. whose identl- |
ties we're thus concealed. He babe |
me TO continue 10 act az ~ | were
not aware OF being shadowed. and |
departed for town.
Before ! lef, obtained an inter.
view with Miss Fox's aunt. She
could tell me little enough. yet
what she did tell had direct bear.
INK on subsequent events. D
According to Mrs. Fox. her
younger brother. Stephen. had al.
ways been hayward. and before he
had reached maturity had been
Obliged TO flee the country because
uspicion pointed to him as the
murderer OF his older brother.
Here Miss Fox whispered TO me
that this was the first she had ever
heard OF her uncle Samuel.
The two brothers. II seemed. had
been fishing. and Steve returned
alone. Another fisherman told
story later OF having seen two men
IN catboat after dark. {
and Steye's tale that his brother
had been accidentally drowned, was {
iiscredited The body was never I
recovered. and Steve disappeared. {
not to be heard OF for fourteen
fears r
Meantime the Foxes had removed /
rom San Francisco TO Los Angeles. Ii
md had been in the latter city b
barely a fortnight. when late one G
light Steve Willets had appeared s
It their home. the same cottage i
where we were now gathered. with y
! little three-year-old girl.
lie had left the child. which he c
aid was his. speaking. before his c
,oing. os the mark on the little q
mes breast. ~
IT'S her brand" he told his sis 9
err II put II there myself so |
an tell her II lose her. II she
yer wants to know what IL means, :,
eli her it's The Kiss of Silent k
Death 8
Mrs. Fox could not bring herself Z,
o tell Lois such a dreadful thing. v