The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-10-19

thing youfseifT"
II have given II away" said Elinor.
Under his golf tan Talbot tcsned
rather gray.
ITO whom7f
'Ihe jewels were always mine,n gro
tested Ellnor, defending herself. "yor
have always told me that. ! thought
had q right
ITO whomq'
II put II 10 the nimsbox at Saint
Jnde's this morning.
'9Then II may still be there7'
81 dent know"
aIn the name 81 God I" Talbot broke
out. "What possessed you to give the
thing awayY Within or no within, you
have no right to risk the rest Of us. If
that thing Is traced back to you, you
know what 1t means"
Nobody saw me-
But Talbot was pacing up and down.
'There's only one chance" he said.
aI1l send a special delivery "a. the
chief, telling him the thing lis In the
nImsbox. II it's still there, he'll get it
and return II. If It's already been dis
covered. at least he can claim to have
known its hidlng-place."
Talbot disgustedly relinquished his
golf. and in the library OF the hall
wrote the anonymous letter to the
chief. Then, In his gray car, he set off
for the city 20 mall the letter.
When he was in the car, the engine
throbbing easily, Elinor ventured to
put her hand on his arm.
Last night" she said rapidly, "Nal-
ter threatened all sorts OF things: that
he would get the morning collection at
Saint Jude's, that he would kill Mr..
Ward. / am frightened, Tallie."
Talbot patted her hand.
1--WE win get this fixed up SO It won't
be necessary and as for the other, you
know Walter. He was mad with
Jealousy last night. That's all talk"
On that wild ride Talbot had little
time to think, but, such as they were,
his thoughts were Of Elinor and her
caprice.
"It's the preacher, after ALL" he said
to himself. "It's enough to make old
Hilary turn over"
From that his mind wandered to
Walter. He knew Huff, the violence of
his temper, the madness of his passion,
for the girl. Talbot was uneasy.
Elinor had an unexpected visitor
that afternoon. 1t was the Bryant
woman.
White, but very dignitied, Ellnor
came into the drawing Dol But Mrs.
Bryant had not come about the pearl.
"You must forgive a Sunday visit"
she said. "But | have taken Mr.. Bry-
ant TO the country club, and | wanted
$50 much 10 come to see you"
EllnOr's color returned.
sit is very kind Of you to come"
Mrs. Brynnt's small, birdllke eyes
darted over the room. The house was
distinctly good form. Perhaps the girl
might be an acquisition to the social life
OF the village. After all, religion was
becoming very broad. Even the best
people
"rhe country club" said Mrs. Bry.
ant aloud, as full of dlsagreeable
memories to me just now. 1t was less
than a week ago that | was robbed"
"Ahr said Elinor. Robbed How
Interestingly"
"All my jewels, everything / pos.
sessed that was really worth while"
"But surely the police"
Mrs. Bryant flushed with anger.
"The pollcel" she said. ut wouldn't
surprise me ut all to discover that the
police are in with the thieves. Look
at the condition Of this countryl 1t
has been terrnr-rtdden for the last two
or three years. You yourself are a
victim. Your poor father"
Actually she had detested old Hilary.
She sat forward on the edge of her
chair and spoke with great JUNCTION.
There is a band Of organized, in
t~elligent bandits working in this neigh
borhood, Miss Kingston. a band Of MUIR
derers. In these days Of femlnlsm, II
wouldn't astonish me at all to discover
that some woman is at the head Of It
The things that have been planned
have been SO iendlshly cleverW
Mrs. Bryant rose,
TT shows how demoralizing sucf
things are" She said. II assure yop
that l never look at a woman's throat
these days without expecting to se'
my pearl"
From that dangerous ground sh'
stepped quickly TO the burning Of tbs
parish house, which she believed wa
the work OF militant ~suitragettes.
"The dear rector Is not a feminist,
she said. ellis assistant, l fear, has ,
strong tendency In that direction, Bu.
he As a wonderful person, really, Jus
imagine, seyenty-eIght thousand dol
lars was collected Ia Saint jude
church this mornlng for rebuilding th,
parish hOusel'
She turned at the doorway.
CTO BE CONTINUED3
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