The Elk Mountain pilot. [volume] (Irwin, (Ruby Camp), Gunnison County, Colo.) 1880-19??, 1919-07-17
CHAPTER mi-centInusd.

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I did not search the dead mans
pockets. cared nothing who he was.
and did not want to know. My sole
desire was to acquit Jacqueline Of his
death. In the worlds eyes.
That he had come deservedly BY 1t
I was positive.
-Four o'clock was striking while I
was climbing back into the room
again. Jacqueline lay on the bed in
the same position; she had not stirred
during that hour.
I took the knife from the floor
where had flung II. scrubbed 1t. and
placed It in my suitcase. Then
scrubbed the floor clean, afterward
rubbing It with q soiled rag to make
III appearance uniform.
thought had finally removed all
traces Of the AFFAIR; but. coming back.
I perceived something upon the door
which had escaped my aotice. II was
the leather collar Of the Eskimo dog.
with its big silver studs and the max
er's silver name plate.
All this while the animal had re-
manned perfectly quiet In the room
erouching at JacQueline's feet and BE-
s1de the bed.
I came to the conclusion that there
might have been . struggle; that II
had run to its mistress's assistance.
and that the collar had been torn
from II BY the dead man.
picked the collar up and carried
Il into the next room and held It I'M
der the light. The letters of the
makers name were almost obliterated.
but after q careful study was able
70 make them out. The name was
Aaclay Z Robitaille. and the place Of
manufacture Quebec. This confirmed
my belief concerning Jacquelins's ma
Nvity.
pfied the plate from the leather
and slipped II into my pocket I put
TIE broken collar into my suit case.
together with the dagger, and then I
Get about packing my things for the
Journey which We were to undertake.
When I had finished packing went
bacl: to Jacqueline and sat beside
her while she slept.
Iii q little while II would begin to
tighten, and the advent Of the day
f,ied me with q sort of terror.
r watched the sleeping girl. Who
was shef How could she sleep 80
calmly after that nights deedf The
mystery seemed unfathomable; the
girl alone In the city, the robbers, the
dog, the dead man, and the one who
had escaped me.
Jacqueline's bag lay open on the
bureau and disgcrged bills. There
were rolls and rolls Of them-eight
thousand dollars did not seem too
much. .s..1sye
raised her hand and held It In my
own, and I sat thus until the room BE-
nan to tighten, watching her all the
while.
At last she stirred. her eyes opened.
and she sat up. She gaxed at me with
apathy, but there was also recogni-
ton In her look.
sDo you know me. JacQueliner !
asked.
my friend Paul"
.JacQueline. am going to take you
home,- said. hoping that she would
tell me something. but dared ask her
no more. I meant to take her to Que
bee and make Inquiries there.
II am going to take you home.
Jacqueline," repeated.
~Yes, Paul." she answered In that
0ocile manner Of hers.
TT il lucky you have your furs, BE-
cause the winter II cold where your
home Is"
Yes, Paul." she repeated a. before.
and q few more probings on my part
convinced me that she remembered
uothing at all. Her mind was like
persons newly awakened In strange
land. But this state brought with 1t
no fear, only q peaceful quietude and
Gath which was very touching.
"Now, Jacqueline." said. we shall
hava To begjn to make ready for our
journey"
had Just ssmembered that the stor-
are company was to call that
DAY. The van would probably Be at
, ths house early in the morning. and It
vas essential that We should be gone
before Il arrived.
showed Jaequeline the bathroom
and drew the curtains. Then went
INTO the kitchenette and made coffee
q the gas range. and, since It was
TOO early for the arrival Of my morn-
Ing Loaf. which was placed just within
he street. door BY the bakers boy ~
ery dap, I made seme toast and but
Asssd Il
WAsn tssk n the brsakfast
AAt.alAss wss vaieiag for n. lssk-