The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-06-26

her hand for the postoffice. l foid hei
that Ind written letter that WISH
ed mailed. She offered to mail II ~,
me. went to my room 1or IT, anu
when I came down had my nat anu
ooat ON and told her that l wouid 20
with her. To that she assented VIII
at least apparent willingness. Whetner
or no she was going to get rlu oi .ns
watch, she had no chance to DO SO, io'
did not let her out of my sight TOT
moment
Eleanor interfered with her going out
later In the evening to take the air oh
the porch. We all went to bed early
or at least to our rooms. we elris
were roomed on the second floor ailu
each was given a room to herseli.
Eleanor was in my room till IL O'Clock.
She said she expected to be up ali
night to see that Sarah Stearns did not
get rid of the watch, and her watch
would not commence till all in the
house were supposed to be asleep.
What are you going to do? l asked.
I'm goiny to stay in the hall.
go to bed" l urged. None OF us
believes that you are thief. Besides.
you are acting on theory. You VIII
lose your sleep for nothing.
81 have more chance of success than
you think" she said. Charlie has
been very nice to me and has told me
certain things about the watch that II
is well for me to know"
"Then he knows you are hunting for
it?"
mo, what he todd me was said casu-
ally. But he does not believe l robbed
him. At least he says he doesn't"
But | don't see how any mark on
the watch can do you any good except
to identify it when you have got it,
and you will have to get it before you
can identify it,
Eleanor made no reply to this. She
simply kissed me good night and went
to her room. | was long while get
ting to sleep, but when | did | slept
till 4 o'clock in the morning, when |
was awakened by her She told me
that she had been awake all night and
asked me to get up and continue the
watch that she might get some sleep.
I did as she asked, but 1t was evident
that she had failed, and believed she
was on wild goose chase.
She was up for an o'clock break
fast and looked quite fresh. consider
ing that she had gone to bed so late.
During the day helped her occasion.
ally In her vigil and again prevented
Sarah Stearns from going out alone.
This time could see that she sus-
pected me, though she concealed the
! fact quite we'll
"The party is to break up tomorrow.
said Eleanor to me. I'VE were only
invited till Tuesday morning. Either
must get that watch tonight or remain
smlrched for the rest of my life
assured her that she was not nol
ever would be smirched by any one OF
US, to which she replied that Saral
Stearns would spread the matter
abroad In way that could not he
countered
Roy took us to drive during the after
noon. Eleanor feigned headache ant
remained at home. She charged me tC
keep my eyes upon Sarah s3tearns ever!
moment. | suggested to Eleanor tha
che was remaining at bone that sh,
might search for the missing watch
but she said that would be useless. 70
II Sarah had left 1t she had undoubted
ly hidden 1t in Il safe place, but sh,
believed Sarah had it with her, an,
Eleanor relied on me to see that sh
did not get rid of it during the ride
did my work. put without results.
That night, when Eleanor and | wen
to our rooms. as we passed Sara
Stearns room | saw Eleanor look u
at the transom Then she went vii
me into my room and took from N
closet bamboo stick with a hook o
one end and carried 1t away to he
room Just before in the mornin
she came into my room and holdn
her watch TO MY ear. asked me if
could hear II tick told her ta.t
could hear 1t very distinctly Sho r,
| lloNtu IL ldi tllti anu ltIlittT from .n
with each removal asking me if COZ!
still hear ii tick When she had ia ,ic
it some four or Eve yards from NJ
could sill hear it,
That will do she said Your "a
is far more keen than mine. 1t is o
a few minutes before 8. Come wit
me-"
She led me by the hand thro.,g
| the darkness to Sarah Stearns q "
} Then she took the bamboo stick VII
, the hook on the end and, feeling ear
1 fully for the transom by means of Il
3 hook. pulled it parity omen. acCor
! plishing the work without the Sigh e
: sound. This done. she put her arm
; around my knees and lifted me SO thi
my ear was near the transom 81
] had held me there perhaps three mi
;. utes when heard what sounded ~
far distant chime family strike II
hour of ).
4 Put ME down" whispered to Ele
: nor
: Have YOU heard anythingT ask,
. Eleanor
Yes: a chime