The Washington herald., 1920-02-12
By May Christie
The Clue.

My scream had aroused the
household. For-when l recovered
Consciousness a little group was
standing round me. and Mr.. Travis
Lloyd was holding a glass of some
strong stimulant to my lips.
Tony was dabbing my forehead
with his own immaculate handker-
chief soaked in water.
And Mary Higgins-the acidu-
lated little spinster of the party
was holding burnt feathers to my
nose.
Really. Miss BeauclaIre. you
gave us ell a dreadful fright" she
gdrgIed. the moment that my eyes
opened.
But Travis Lloyd waved her
aside.
Drink this. my dear" he said.
and forced upon me a glass of some
pOwerful-smelling stuff.
] gulped a little down. and felt
a warmth creep through my body.
and a clearness fiII my brain.
lin all right now-Iet me get
up" I whispered.
Tony and he helped me to my feet
At the same moment a long. Oriental
scarf slipped from my shoulders 10 the
floor. didn't notice it and said:
"Oh. have you caught the burglar?
Some one was trying to rob the safe!
Look. it's standing open-and some
papers are lying on the library floor"
Travis Lloyd turned. And l went
on:
''Who-whoever it was. came toward
me-Fd come down to the library for
my book. you see-they switched the
light off-and when l screamed, they
groped along the walls until they
found me-and then flung something
soft and smothering over me-and-
and l can't remember anything more"
l stammered out my tale disjointed-
ly. shivering a little. I'm a fraid L
really am a kind of coward. Certain
ly no fit heroine of romance.
"Ye gods" calculated Tony He
stopped and picked a long. silky. Ori-
entail scarf from the ground, where
1t had fallen. We found you lying
in a crumpled heap with this thing
twisted round your head"'
1t stared at it. At once / recognized
it.
It's Alice's," cried.
AIice's husband stepped forward.
IL Noh NC kAAlNC o. MS NOlCe
was curt. Alice went up to bed a
couple of hours ago. and when I
bade her goodnight she was wearing
that scarf" He looked around the
little group. she hasn't come down
she's asleep"
He broke OF suddenly, seeing a
curious look on some of the others
faces.
He stepped forward and took the
scarf from Tonys fingers. turning
it round under the strong electric
light. In one corner. in a kind of
peacock blue design, were embroi-
dered letters forming the one word /:
Alice"
oh. I'm mistaken. This certain
iy is mY-wife's property. Alice"
He swung around. but Alice wasn't
in the group.
grew impatient with this trivial
talk. Why. during this absurd con-
fabulation. the burglar might es-
cape,
For heavens sake. see what's
happened TO your safe!" 7 caught
the arm of Travis Lloyd. And you
others-Tony-Mr. Anstruther-
make a search! Don't waste time"
Tony, handling the Oriental scarf,
smiled a queer. inscrutable smile.
Mr.. Anstruther seemed temporarily
rooted to the spot. And only Travis
Lloyd made any movement, walking
rather uncertainty towards his safe,
as though he knew beforehand ex-
actly what to expect. -. Curiosi-
ty made me follow
The safe door stood open. 1t was
only slightly ajar. but the aperture
was wide enough to allow of some
documents tumbling to the floor,
They lay there in a tiny heap.
Travis Lloyd knelt down and
picked them up Then he went hur-
riedly through the contents of his
safe. As he did so, a look of in
credulity shone on his. face, fol-
lowed by an air of evident relief.
"Jehosophat, I'm lucky! Not
thing is missingw He turned to me.
Miss Beauclaire, however, can L
thank you for yourI>timely inter-
vention? Your unexpected advent