The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-01-15
CHAPTER VIII.
Mrs. Jlmmson Again.

Mrs. Jlmmson Again.
I had felt myself going and let my
self down as gently as | could, under
che circumstances. How long | was
unconscious. have no way of know
ing. but It came to me gradually that
my fiat had been robbed-of what and
by whom, couldn't imaglne-out as
for the diamonds, / forgot them, to-
tally. I undressed and went to 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 ap-
tion.
woke in the early dawn and still It
hadn't come back to me about the dia-
monds; but what did swoop on me
with a rush was that Mrs. Jlmmson
was coming TO clean and would be
there not n minute later than eight
thirty.
She was a refined little woman who
had seen better days-before she
welded the decently lamented Jlmm-
son and had TO support him through
''tuberculosls' by days work and
fancy washing and ironing My inter-
est I'm her had been the main prop in
her struggles for several years and she
TeciproCated said interest in way
that would have been insufferable I'm
pertinence had II not been so sincere
and devoted. She loved me and all
my works-particularly my works, on
which she RECALLED the neghbors Al
such times as she was joyfully permit
ted to go home with new one under
her arm.
And she'd be here at eight-thirty I,
"Heaven help us - cried, hopping out
of bed and slipping on a kimono. "If
she gets hold of this robbery, I'm done
for-Pll see my name in the papers
tomorrow, sure"
With feverish 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 stated / gave an apprehenslve
glance at the window as scraped up
spilled breakfast food and threw II In
the garbage can-I knew how my un-
pleasant visitor had got out and won
dered how he had got In, but wasted
no time thinking Of II. 1 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
Jimmson 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
I hadn't had my bath, l piloted her
with seemingly affectionate arm to
her quarters. Then l bolted myself
into the bathroom and with stealthy
movements cleared away the evidence
Of the search
My bath refreshed me, and l was
clothed and somewhat near my right
mind when ! came out of the bath
room. had called out to her, Just be-
fore ! got into the tub, asking her TO
make my coffee and get ready the rolls
I and butter. and she was occdpled In
setting my tray and did no. hear me
as l passed the kitchen door. Thus |
had time to see what lay on the dining
room table before she told me.
II was a long thin dagger. sharp as
a razor. Mrs. Jimmson pulled open
the kitchen door and bounced out Just
as ! 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. ayes
my new paperknife. was wondering
where I'd dropped It. l wish you'd
bring In my breakfast-Pm In a tre-
mendous hurry this morning"
"Oh--it's only a paperknife, Is itr
she murmured In disappointed tone.
IL didn't know but II was"
"Was whatT demanded, wonder
ing II she had. with her uncanny inter
est In me and my affairs. 'sensed some
thing queer and wrong about the fiat.
swell, 1t give me quite q turn to see
hat dagger layin' On the foor." she