The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1920-08-25
D JOHN FIRST BROOK

The season. was rather dull at the
REST Cure. The ladies had been wish.
Ing fer something 10 happen out q
The ordinary when the advent Of Q
guest who refused to Be sociable sst
them all In q flutter Of excitement.
Are We all quite sure that We saw
the crutchesT asked Mrs. Dunvegan
- she poured tea.
"Oh. yes, my dear; I. for enc, am
quite p0sitive-two crutches with
leather tops" proclaimed the widow
Pepper, as she fingered the locket that
contained the portrait Of her dead hus-
band.
"What night was It We saw them
come" piped Miss Tinpenny. "Since
my nerves have been 90 sensitive
can't remember dates. or handker-
chiefs. or anything important.
1T was last Wednesday evening""
declared Mrs. Looney, q fat woman in
q scarlet sweater coat; "being 20 SEN
sitive to the weather I remember 1t
was raining perfect downpour. We
had just finished dinner. you all recol-
lect, when they came into the ONCE,
the woman stamping and shaking the
rain all about, and saying to the clerk
40 soon as she reached the desk, You
got my letter! hope you can let me
have rooms on the ground floor. I will
not stay unless can be quite away
from the other guests. I have reasons
for not wishing to be disturbed"
Eyes, yes" murmured Miss Tin.
penny, ut all comes back to me now,
dear Mrs. Looney. for you describe
things very well. am quite sure you
could write a sonnet. The man with
the crutches followed herr"
"Such lot Of baggage as they
had" softly murmured Mrs. Fish,
thin woman with straight hair and
scant clothing.
eyes," chimed in Mrs. Pepper, "what
fuss and clatter there was. Boxes
and bundles, and two trunks. The poor
man with the clutches was banded
about and carried along in the midst
Of the confusion. No one took single
thought Of him, poor fellow. I sup
pose he was tumbled in with the rest
OF her baggage, for when she at last
banged her door the man with the
crutches was gone"
poor fellow" faltered Mrs. Fish,
perhaps he d:j not pass us, but he
may have climbed out of the hall win
dow"
with crutchesT Intercepted all
the ladies at once.
"Not possible. my DEAR" drawled
Mrs. LoOney.
"Well, none Of us really saw him 60
into the room," persisted Mrs. Fish.
mo, We did not" assented Mrs.
Dunvegan, "but that he went in we
are all quite sure. for we heard his
crutrhes pounding on the floor"
my impression is that the person
is q medium, and that she smuggled
him in while she kept our minds
merged In subconscious mist" mus
ingly suggested Mrs. Pepper.
swell. who are they? Perhaps the
man with the clutches Is ILL.," further
inquired Mrs. Tyroll.
I'VE looked in the hotel register.
Two names were given-Miss Burk-
holder and below name so blotted
We could not make 1t out; we thought
we recognized an 8. and an NJ"
mo matter" murmured Mrs. Dunve-
gan, "the name was purposely dis
guised, and l. for one, decidedly OBJ
lect to such deceit going on under our
very noses."
II suppose we might form ourselves
into an investigating committee" said
Mrs. Looney, III it were not so much
trouble"
"Now." said Mrs. Dunvegan, 'let us
60 about the thing in an open, straight
forward manner. Let us 60 right to
the point. will myself interview the
proprietor (though I'm afraid he has
been bribed). You, Miss Tnpenny. In
terview one chambermaid. Mrs. Pepper
the other one. Mrs. Fish, could you
take hold Of the bellboy?
"And you. Miss Tyroll. would you
mind tackling the bathmanT"
Don't ask me-" objected the new
conner. Remember. I never saw the
apparltiOn Of the mar with the
crutches. Anyway, especially at rest
cures. ! believe In letting sleeping
dogs Ne."
1--WE must dress for dinner" ex.
claimed Mrs. Dunvegan. rising.
The next afternoon the ladies met
as usual at the hour. There could be
observed an undercurrent Of sup
pressed excitement. Mrs. Dunvegan
looked nervously about.
"Where IL Miss Tinpennyf She Is
the only one absent. I do hope her
poor nerves have not given way. Did
You and out anything definite from the
bellboy about the person on the ground
door. Mrs. Fish,"
She took small piece Of paper from
her reticule as the timid lady made
answer.
II inquired from Albert by way Of
an opening II the rooms in the hotel
were pretty well filled. 'Middlin',' an
swered the bellboy." Mrs. Fish referred