The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-07-10
CHAPTER discontinued.

pockets. l 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 it
1 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.
took the knife from the floor
where 1 had flung Il, scrubbed it, and
placed it in my suitcase. Then
scrubbed the floor clean, afterward
rubbing it with a sOiled rag to make
its appearance uniform.
1 thought 1 had finally removed all
traces Of the affair; but, coming back,
1 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-
NAMED perfectly quiet in the room
crOuching at Jacqueline'S feet and be-
side the bed.
I came to the conclusion that there
might have been struggle; that it
had run to its mistress's 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 it I'M
der the light. The letters of the
makers name were almost obliterated,
but after a careful study 1 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 it into my pocket. I 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 I had finished packing 1 went
back to Jacqueline and sat beside
her while she slept
In little while it would begin to
tighten, and the advent of the day
filed me with a sort of terror
was she? How could she sleep so
calmly after that nights deed? The
mystery seemed unbelievable; 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 disgorged bills. There
were rolls and rolls of them-eight
thousand dollars did not seem too
much.
1 raised her hand and held it in my
own, and I sat thus until the room be-
gan to tighten, watching her all the
while.
At last she stirred, her eyes opened,
and she sat up. She gazed at me with
apathy, but there was also recogni-
ton In her look
''Do you know me, Jacqueline?" I
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. 1 meant to take her to Que
bee and make inquiries there.
81 am going to take you home.
Jacqueline," 1 repeated.
Eyes, Paul." she answered in that
docile manner of hers.
1T is lucky you have your furs, be-
cause the wint er is cold where your
home is"
eyes, Paul." she repeated as before,
and a few more probings on my part
convinced me that she remembered
nothing at ALL Her mind was like 81
persons newly awakened in Il strange
land. But this state brought with it
no fear. only peaceful quietude and
faith which was very touching.
''NOw, Jacqueline," 1 said, 1--WE shall
have to begin to make ready for our
Journey"
had just remembered that the stor-
age company was to call that
day. The van would probably be at
the house early in the morning, and it
was essential that we should be gone
before it arrived.
l showed JacQueline the bathroom
and drew the curtains Then I went
into the kitchenette and made coffee
On the gas range, and. since it was
too early for the arrival of my morn
ing loaf. which was placed just within
the street door by the bakers boy ev-
cry day. made some toast and but
tered it.
When l took in the breakfast
Jacqueline was waiting for me, look
ing very dainty and charming. She
was hungry, too, also a good sign.
She did not seem to understand that
there was anything strange in the sit
uation in which we found ourselves. 1
did not know whether this was due to
her mental state or to that strange
unsophistication which I had already
observed in her.
After the meal was ended and we
had fed the dog. Jacqueline insisted
on washing the dishes. and 1 showed
her the kiTchenette and let her do so,
though I should never have need for
The cheap pIates and CUPS again.