The Prescott daily news., 1920-05-18
DIPLOMACY WINS By REBEccA T. FARNHAM.

| sAoh, uo iiS JuBBtu dlOuR IHe country
 road in his little buggy. Had anyone
 chanced to see him. he would have
 guessed that Joe was on his way to his
 only source of consolation-Martha
 Jackson. And rightly, for the buggy
 rolled past the neat farm houses, and
 began to climb hill road, which led
 to but one place-Martha's home
 Martha, tall and spare, with shiny
 black hair, and eyes that never seemed
 to smile, had lived alone, remote from
 the life of Spoffordsville for many
 years, working the little farm herself,
 and having only the bare necessities
 of life. She rarely came to the vil- lage, but she had managed to attract
 in these few trips the detective, Joe
 Mitchell. Three years ago he had be-
 gun to direct his mares steps toward
 the farm on the hill, and now the way
 was well-known to both horse and
 master.
 I've got bad news, Martha" said
 Joe, as he sat down in the shabby rock
 CT in the equally shabby front room"
 Bad news?"
 "Mr. Pennington tells me that he'll
 give me just two more days on this
 case. If can't find the goblet in that
 time, he'll call detective from the
 city"
 Martha's eyes clouded as she heard
 his disappointed tone. "They're mak- ing lot of fuss over a little silver
 cup" she said, scornfully.
 "It's an heirloom, that's why. Alice
 Pennington had it for wedding pres ent, but it's been in the family for years. Now they're offering all this
 money to get it back again." 1 And you won't get the money"
 The voice had such despair in it that
 Joe hastened to go on. | q don't mind that so much, al though was counting on it. It's my
 reputation that care about. If the city detective finds it when can't,
 what'll I be good for afterwards?" ?" | The buggy rattled down the hill, and | Martha turned back into the house. 'It was just for bad news that he
 came," she sighed, land I hoped that
 1t would be--for something else" The wedding of Alice Pennington, the daughter of the only wealthy man | that Spoffordsville owned, had pro- duced great sensation in the town. Mir. Pennington, out of public spirited
 ness, had invited all the townspeople | to his daughters wedding, and so eagerly was the invitation accepted. | that practically everyone appeared, in cludlng the recluse, Martha. When the silver heirloom was found to be missing from the display of wedding gifts, the local detective was hired to solve the mystery. The next morning youth of about thirteen years entered the detective's office.
 'Hullo, Joe" said the intruder, inti- | mately.
 'Hullo, Bill" replied the detective to William c. Ramson, IT. 'Tve got news for you,' said Will liam. q know where the goblet is." "Where!" cried Mitchell. leaping to his feet.
 William was cautious. You know | I expect part of the-er-" "Of course! But quick Tell me where it is."
 'Hitch up and I'll show you" agreed | the boy.
 Ten minutes later Bill Ramson, with the detective at his side, was guiding the horse along familiar road. "Here we are" he said, trium- phantly.
 Joe looked quickly around him.
 "Whatl You don't mean-She ain't-' Bill nodded. "Yes, she has. Last night was up here, and happened to neck in the window. and she was hold ing that little cup" Joe was silent; then he made snatch for the reins "Give me them,' 1 he cried. .'We'll turn out of here in double quick time. Do you think I'd accuse her?"
 "All right" said Bill. cheerfully. ..Don't then. But I will" and he be gan to get out of the buggy. "Nos you don't" Joe yanked him
 hack again. An idea had come sud denly to him. "You keep quiet about this. youngster," he said, that's part of vour agreement, understand? Now vou get out of sight. I'll go in.' Inside the house with Martha, Joe found his plan very hard to carry out.
 "Martha," he said suddenly. Twill
 you marry mel"
 The question was put none too ab- ruptly. The tired eyes took on anoth- or light. and gave him her answer. But Joe had still more to do, although