The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-12-19
CHAPTER vIn.
Mrs. Jlmmson Again.

had felt myself going and let my
self down as gently as l could, under
the circumstances. How long | was
Ing. but It came 10 me gradually that
my fiat had been r0bbedof what and
BY whom. couldn't imngine-Dut as
for the diamonds, forgot them, to-
tally ! undressed and went 70 bed,
pulling the blankets up over me- camp
fashion, without waiting to make the
bed or clear up any Of the wreckage
and without feeling any particular APP
prehension, only a deathllke exhaus-
tlon
! woke In the early dawn and still 1t
hadn't come back TO me about the dia-
monds; but what did swoop on me
With rush was that Mrs Jmmson
was coming to clean and would be
there not minute later than eight
thirty
She was a refined little woman who
had seen better daysbefore she
welded the decently lamenteti JImm-
son and had TO support him through
tuberculosis" by days work and
fancy washing and ironing. My inter-
est in her had been the main prop In
her struggles for several years and she
reciprocated said interest In way
that would have been insufferable Inn
pertlnence had 1t not been so sincere
ard devoted. She loved me and all
my works particularly my works. on
which she RECALLED the nelghbors at
such times as she was joyfully permit
ted TO so home with new one under
her arm.
And she'd be here at eight-thirtyl
'Heaven help us - cried, hopping out
Of bed and slipping on kimono. 'If
she gets hold of this robbery, I'm done
for--i'll see my name in the papers
tomorrow, surem
With feverlsh haste / got the books
back In the cases, hit or miss as they
came TO hand; the pictures hung and
the rooms in order. The kitchen was
in state | gave an apprehenstve
glance at the window as scraped up
spilled breakfast food and threw II In
the garbage ean--I knew how my I'M
pleasant visitor had got out and won
dered how he had got in, but wasted
no time thinking of It. was soon
enough 10 know, however,
had barely finished with the
kitchen and was opening the bathroom
door TO clear up there when my dear
Jlmmson rang.
let her In, first asking through the
door who II was--a precaution ade.
quately explained by my attire; and
telling her TO begin at the kitchen for
hadn't had my bath, | plotted her
with seemingly sffectIonate arm to
her quarters. Then ! boIted myself
into the bathroom and with stealthy
movemsnts cleared away the evidence
Of the search.
My bath refreshed me, and WINS
clothed and somewhat near my right
mind when ! came out OF the bath
room. had called out TO her, just be-
fore l got into the tub, asking her to
make my coffee and get ready the rolls
and butter, and she was occupied In
setting my tray and did not hear me
as ! passed the kitchen door. Thus l
had time TO see what lay on the dining
room table before she told me-
II was long thin dagger. sharp as
razor Mrs. Jlmmson pulled open
the kitchen door and bounced out just
as l had taken the dagger in my hand.
That's what ! found on the kitchen
floor back of the scrap basket" she ex-
claimed. Her eyes were rolling.
managed TO say carelessly, yes
my new paperknife. l was wondering
where I'd dropped IT, I wish you'd
bring In my breakfast-I'm in ire
mendous hurry this morning"
"oh--it's only paperSnife, is ft7'
she murmured in disappointed tone.
II didn't know but il was
"Vs whatfH / demanded, wonder
ing !. she had. with her uncanny inter
est IN me and my affairs, sensed some
thing queer and wrong about the fiat.
~WeIl, It give me quite d turn TO see
that JAgge- Iayin' on the aonr." she