Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1919-07-25
CHAPTER IiI-Continued.

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
was positive.
Four o'clock was striking while 1
was climbing back into the room
again. Jacqueline lay on the bed in
the same position she had not stirred
during that hour.
l took the knife from the floor
where l had flung 1t, scrubbed it. and
placed it in my suitcase. Then l
scrubbed the floor clean, afterward
rubbing It with a soiled rag to make
Its appearance uniform.
l thought / had finally removed all
traces of the affair; but, coming back,
/ perceived something upon the floor
which had escaped my notice. 1t 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
crouching at Jacqueline's feet and be-
side the bed.
/ came to the conclusion that there
might have been struggle that it
had run to its miStreSss assistance
and that the collar had been torn
from it by the dead man.
l picked the collar up and carried
1t into the next room and held 1t un-
der the light. The letters of the
makers name were almost obliterated
but after a careful study l was able
to make them out. The name was
Maclay & Robitaille, and the place OF
manufacture Quebec. This confirmed
my belief concerning Jacqueline's ma.
tivity.
pried the plate from the leather
and slipped 1t into my pocket l put
the broken collar into my suit case
together with the dagger, and then
set about packing my things for the
Journey which we were to undertake
When / had finished packing I went
back to Jacqueline and sat beside
her while she slept.
In little while it would begin tc
tighten, and the advent of the day
filed me with a sort of terror.
l watched the sleeping girl. Who
was she? How could she sleep sc
calmly after that nights deed? 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 dissorged bills. There
were rolls and rolls of them-eigh
thousand dollars did not seem too
much
/ raised her hand and held it in m,
own, and sat thus until the room be
gan to tighten, watching her all thu
while.
At last she stirred, her eyes opened
and she sat up. She gazed at me will
apathy, but there was also recogni
ton in her look.
DO you know me, Jacqueline?"
asked.
MY friend Paul"
"JacQueline, am going to take yo,
home" | said, hoping that she woul,
tell me something, but dared ask he
no more. l meant to take her to Que
bee and make inquiries there.
Il am going to take you home
Jacqueline," l repeated.
YES, Paul." she answered in tina
dOcile manner of hers.
1T Is lucky you have your furs, be
cause the winter is cold where YOU
home is"
Yes, Paul." she repeated as before
and few more probings on nv par
convinced me that she remembers
nothing at all. Her mind was like
persons newly awakened in a strang
land. But this state brought with
no fear, only a peaceful quietude an
faith which was very touching
Nov, JacQueline," l said, I'VE sha
nave to begin to make ready for on
Journey"
had just remembered that the sto
age company was to call ths
day. The van would probably be ;
the house early in the morning, and
was essential that we should he cor
before 1T arrived.
l showed Jacqueline the ba,hroo
and drew the curtains. Then I we,
into the kitchenette and made coffe
on the gas range, and, since if ".
too early for the arrival of nv nor
Ing loaf, which was placed Just with
the street door by the bakers hoy O
cry day, | mace some toast and b1
tered 1t.
When 1 took in the nreal,fo
Jacqueline was waiting for me loo