Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-12-21

NAeoAA1c- re Was q yOuuSlSn Han-
thirty five years. old at most-tall and
sandy, and a short-cropped sandy
mustache adorned his lip.
II was not difficult to diagnose his
case. He had been drinking heavily,
and was very. very drunk. But a
question not so easy Of answer was
whether he had locked the door after
ntm as he came in, or whether those
departing had locked it upon him,
hoping in this way to enforce his
stopping in the fiat until sleep and
abstinence should effect his SOLDERING.
For Just a moment Brooke wondered
whether he, too. might not have been
drugged. But a quick survey Of the
room convinced him that the. man
was in his own quarters. On. a table
beside h bed lay an empty whiskey
flask; beside it, in a brass bowl, re-
posed a half-smoked briarwood. pipe
and a rubber tobacco pouch.
But what thrilled Brooke with con-
viction. not only that the fellow be-
longed here, but was indeed the iden-
teal person to trace whom he. had
r1sked entering a house in which he
mad no warrant, was a pair Of light
spurs beside the single shoe upon the
maple chifonier.
At sight of them he started from
his leading attitude on the brass foot
rail and INDUCED in a more minute
inspection of the tiny chamber. On
the a We're three framed photo
graphs. Quickly he glanced from n
to another. And now the identifca-
ton was complete. The central photo
q was Enthusiastically n of Miss
Colby. N
In%stinctively he turned again to
the acknowledgement. and an ex-
preston of utter disgust and loath-
ing fitted across his mobile features
as he regarded the Supplied inert fig
ure. And this was his wedding night.
He wondered what the fellow could
have done with the pearls. Had he
already disposed of them? He would
hardly have dared SO soon after the
theft. II not, it was possible they
were still on his person. They might
even be in his coat, which lay now
at Brooke's feet. Instantly he snatch
ed it up and ran his hands searching
~ through its pockets; but. unreward-
ed. dropped It a moment later. The
waistcoat he searched, too. only to
meet with q second disappointment.
One of his trousers pockets capped in
vitingly,. but Brooke shrank from an
experiment which, justifiable as it
might have been. smacked too strong
" of Q criminal practice to be put in
to execution. Iffthe pearls were there
he would not disturb hem. He
dropped to his knees and nade q
careful search OF the floor. Then he
opened the drawers Of the chiffonfer
and rummaged among shirts and col
lars and underwear, without c
And now he suddenly realized that
what he had entered the room to OBJ
tain had likewise escaped him. He
had not yet found the key which
could give him release. In further
ance Of shissaiest for this object he
which littAred the top OF the chif-
f0hier. The spurs he thrustede Is one
side. A3soned Handkerchief and q
much wilted collar he brushed 70 the
floor. He raised a rumpled newsp
per, and there beneath It lay. a key.
Twas not very large, but he trusted
1t was that which he sought.
In his eagerness to lay hold OF ft,
however his arm turned over the
shoe which hitherto had~been left un.
disturbed-turned It over, and rent ii
dropping with noisy clatter to the car
pet.
sIne man IN the bed moved un.
easily, andssssBressxe stopped students
over the s1alI1n shoe. SO as to be out
shonld shS open his eyes. One
hsndath ven .to. the floor for addi.
ttanal5 SUPPORT for his crouchinr
body, and that one hand touched
s%osnething cool and consecutiveIy
Is1obular. Inyoluntarily a little .Ah!s
escaped him. for instantly ne knew,
The stolen psaris lay beneath hi
palm.
The bed creaked a. the body upor
it rolled over. ana the snoring va
~gucceeded by that loud st4rforoua
breathing which Brooke had fri1
hoard outside Fl the passage. As.
tsuted, now that the creaturs wa nc
mpre soundly asleep, the invader ron
e9btiouSJys holding out " the H9hi
FL strihe q peeArla srsss1y beautlfuI
III their apitltfM 1tlgpS asd 0ofor, m
.tnE s.adiancs lski
sEOrs jusS y moment NJ Nv p1rDiex.
ts& Hpy heAt he pearls ccTise whsfs
4 nal1tStt pS66RS Ne md S6afeloa
sssssl a { & sellsn - g