The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1920-01-15
AMATEUR SLEUTH
BY MARGUERITE !. BLUE.

+t~~~<~~e~~~~~~>s~> NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
((S 1918. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicats.)
Alice Cain stood ON the front steps
and waved laughing farewell to her
father and mother and little brother.
Bobby. They were going on an all-day
trip to the harvest fair in the next
county.
When they had turned the last
corner which hid them from sight, she
turned back into the house with sigh.
She stood for a moment with arms
akimbO. t
s'Now, what shall have for dinner"
I have just had breakfast but might
Just as well get dinner ready now and
then l 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 the potatoes. preserves and dry
vegetables were kpt. She had been
bending over the potato barrel for mo-
nents before she Strengthened up to
rest her back. She was halfway up
when she caught her breath. what
was that?" From behind her; no, 1t
was over her head, came a distinct
sound as of sigh. She waited. Per-
haps 1t would come again. There
could not possibly be anyone in the
cellar. And if there was, what would
she do? She did not move for several
moments. Then just as distinctly, as
if someone was beside her, the noise
came again. It was a sigh. Someone
was in that cellar.
She picked up the dish of potatoes,
and after waiting again for several
more moments, she stepped out into
the main cellar. Nothing was here,
surely. She went on-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 was distinct. She knelt and
put her hand out. Why, twas Jerry.
Jerry! Jerry!'' she called; but he
| did not move. She touched his nose.
1t was icy. Surely he wasn't dead !!
She called again, but he did not an
swer.
.Who had done this?" It was all
that she asked. There should be some
signs no criminal can completely COW
err his tracks. She went slowly hack,
looking on the floor quite closely SO
that nothing could escape her. In front
of the furnace lay O white square OF
cloth. 1t was handkerchief. She
picked it up and, looking carefully.
saw that in one corner were two hand
embroidered initials, a double r."
How did Ralph Riders 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
lar.
Ralph Rider lived next door to the
Gains. His family had moved there
about year before America had en-
tered the war. He had served his time
in the army and had returned 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 at it. 1t
was a gold cuff link and looked as if
it might have been there for some time
Her eyes were on level with nail
upon which hung long metal chain.
4 Her vexation was forgotten in the sur
prise of finding the chain. She took
it down to examine it, but only too well
/ she knew that it was Ralph's leash for
his dog.
She waited no longer but ran swift
ly across the lawn through the hedge
and to the back door OF Ralph's house.
Ralph answered the door himself to
her imperative rap. His bright sunny
smile changed to good natured perplex-
ity and then slowly, very slowly to
wrath. Finally he lifted his hand for
her to stop and then very quietly said !:
II know nothing about what you are
talking about"
Finally, after ages and ages, when
the shadows had commenced to flicker
across the parlOr carpet, the automO-
bile drove into the yard. Alice placed
the supper on the table for now that
her family was here, she could wait q
little longer before telling them.
They had been seated about the
table for short time when her father
looked up and saw heart breaking
look on Alice's face.
"Why. what's up?" he inquired. And
then she told them the whole story
| sparing nothing, even to what she had
said to Ralph. They listened quietly
and then Bobby snickered:
"Well," said his father, "out with
It,"
SWELL" said Bobby, IT was out walk
ing with Ralph the other day and had
left my handkerchief at home and
Ralph let me take his. must have lost
it when was in the cellar this morn
ing. And don't you remember, pa,
when you were looking for those old
clippings last month and suddenly
Ralph missed his cuff link, well, he
must have lost it down there. AS for
the leash, Alice hung it there herself
the last time the kitten ran away"
But" exclaimed his mother, "what
oh