Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1920-01-07
CHAPTER Viii.
Mrs. Iimmson Again.

[ had felt myself going and let my
self down as gently as l could under
the circumstances. How long l 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, I couldn't imagine-but as
for the diamonds, I forgot them, to-
tally. | 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-
prehension, only a deathlike exhaus-
ton.
I 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 q rush was that Mrs. JimmSOn
was coming to clean and would be
there not minute later than eight
thirty.
She was a refined little woman who
had seen better days-before she
welded the decently lamented 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 a way
that would have been insufferable i'm
pertinence had it not been so sincere
and devoted. She loved me and all
my wOrks-particularly my works, on
which she RECALLED the neighbors at
such times as she was joyfully permit
ted to go home with a new one under
her arm.
And she'd be here at eight-thirty
''Heaven help us I" cried hopping out
of bed and slipping on kimono IF
she gets hold of this robbery, I'm done
for-TIl see my name in the papers
tomorrow, sure!"
With feverish haste l 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 apprehenslve
glance at the window as l Scraped up
spilled breakfast food and threw it In
the garbage CAM knew how my I'M
pleasars+ visitor had got out and won
dered how he had got In, but wasted
no time thinking of it. l was soon
,nough to know, however
I had barely finished with the
kitchen and was opening the bathroom
door to clear up there when my dear
Jimmson rang.
clri NO fhrGI1Oh the
door who it was-a precaution ade-
quately explained by my attire; ana
telling her to begin at the kitchen for
| hadn't had my bath, | pil0ted her
with a seemingly affectionate arm to
her quarters. Then | bolted mysen
into the bathroom and with stealthy
movements cleared away the evidence
of the search.
Nv bath refreshed me, and l was
clothed and somewhat near my right
mind when I 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
end butter, and she was occupied IN
setting my tray and did not hear me
as l passed the kitchen door. Thus
had time to see what lay on the dining
room table before she told me.
1t was 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
door back of the scrap basket" she e2-
claimed. Her eyes were rolling.
l managed to say carelessly, II es--
my new paperknife. l was wondering
where I'd dropped 1t. ! wish you'd
bring in my breakfast-Pm in a ire
mendous hurry this morning"
"Oh-its only paperknife, Is itT
she murmured In disappointed tone.
81 didn't know but it was
"Was whatY l demanded. wonder.
Ing if she had, with her uncanny inter-
est in me and my affairs. sensed some
thing queer and wrong about the fiat.
''Well, it give me quite turn to see
that dagger layin' on the floor" she