Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-12-26
AMATEUR SLEUTH
BY MARGUERITE I. BLUE.

e. 1919. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicnte.J
Alice Cain stood OH the front steps
and waved II laughing farewell to her
father and mother and little brorl!eiy
Bobby. They were going on nn all-day
trip to the harvest fair IN the next
county.
When they had turned the last
c"rner which hid them from sight she
turned back into the house with a sigh.
She stood for Il moment with arms
akimbo.
Now, what shall have for dinner?''
I have just had breakfast. but / might
just as well get dinner ready now and
then will not have to bother about it
later, and can read or do something
interesting" she said to herself.
Alice went into the winter cellar,
where tire potatoes. preserves and dry
vegetables were kpt. She had been
bending over the potato barrel for mo-
ments before She Strengthened I'D to
rest her back. She was halfway, nd
when she caught her breath. "What
was thata" From behind her !; no., it
was over her head, came distinct
sound as Of sigh. She waited Per-
hapS it would come again. There
could not possibly be anyone in the
cellar And il there was. what, would
she do? She did not move for several
moments. Then just as distinctly, as
II someone was beside her, the noise
came again. 1t was sigh. Someone
was In that cellar.
She picked up the dish Of potatoes,
and. after waiting again for several
more moments, she stepped, ont into
the main cellar. Nothing was here.
surely She went 0n-her heart stood
still. What was that under the stairs?
She peered into the darkness. Some.
thing was lying prone upon the floor.
Something long and black. Fear seem,
ed to have fed. but courage had not,
come. She went nearer. In the dusk
nothing WIS distinct. She kneIt and
put her hand out. Why, it was Jerry.
Jerry! Jerry" she called; but ne
did not move. She touched his nose.
1t was icy. Surely he wasn't dead
She called again, but ne did not an
swer.
"Whe had done this? 1t was NIL
that she asked. There, should be some
signs. no criminal cam completely Gov
or his tracks. She went slowly back,
looking on the floor, quite closely so,
that nothing could escape her. In front
Of the furnace lay q white square of
cloth 1t was n handkerchief. She
picked 1t up ana! looking carefully,
saw that In one corner were two hand-
embroidered initials, n double "R. ~
How did Ralph Ri6er's handkerchief
come to be in the cellar? Surely he
could not have done the deed but here
was proof that he had been in the eel.
FAR.
Ralph Ridep lived next door to the
Gains. His family had moved there
about year before America had en-
tered the war. He had served his f;me
In the army and had returned a few
months previous.
Alice went on further. On a shelf
at one side was stack of old news.
papers which dated back three or four
years. She bent over and felt around
Suddenly her hand struck something,
~
She picked it up and looked ut H. II
was gold cuff link and looked as II
1t might have been there for some time.
Her eyes were ON level with n nail
upon which hung long metal chain.
her vexation was forgotten in the sur
prise or finding the chain. She took
II down to examine 1t, but only too well
she knew that 1t was Ralph's leash for
his dog.
She waited no longer but ran swift.
~ across the lawn through the hedge
and 10 the back door of Ralph's house.
Kaiph answered tho door himself to
her Imperative rap. His bright sunny
smile changed to good natured perplex-
ity anu then slowly, very slowly 10
wrath Finally no lifted his hand for