Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1921-05-13

line COOK ana DuIleT were hcIS
besides we had visitors-Captain
Lowry and his sister, Madame Je-
vonne. Most distinguished bOth-that
is the hardest part of it-of course,
they left after insisting on being
searched, trunks and everything. AS
if they could be suspected-but Ar
thur-my husband, said it was only
right and proper"
well, Ma'am-I like the place-but
/ CANT stay on wild you, less'n you
femme sleep out got a friend lives
jes' a little piece off" Em-Smith said
after a ruminant ten seconds. "Som'pn
else mought happen-yOu got so much
fine wealthy plunder-my crackter is
the mos I've gOt-so l don't mean ter
git any smears on hit"
Mrs. Dent objected violently-but4
spent and nerve-wracked, give In at
last. Two hours later she was glad
Em-Smith almost magically had
brought order out Of chaos-had min
istered to her personal needs in the
most soothing fashion, withal deft
Then she had counseled: you better
sleep-a long, nice nap" and vanished
after tucking tufts of eiderdown about
the tremulous figure on the couch by
the window.
A butler. several shades lighter thai
herself, babe her tidy up the guest
chambers, still in wild confusion. AT
the door he volunteered: EFF then
'tectives had a-asked me / could a-told
'em sOmp'n."
"Whut somp'nT Em-Smith asked.
He wagged his head solemnly. IT'D
a cut short thar job" he said oracular'
ly. $50 I'd a-got no thanks frum no
body-madame hates her stepson like
pizen-but she'd hate worse ter see
him in stripes-and the Master! Lor'
DIV, he'd a-kilt me eff l hadn't run"
$50 you think that boy I'm
Smith began looking away.
81 knows-he wus down in town the
day before-never come fer nothln
but money-and his papa was gone
Madame wouldn't talk to him even
over the phone"
'Better run along-I got no time
fer talk" Em-Smith said brusquely
setting to work like a whirlwind. But
in spite of speed she took note OF
small things and great. And when
she left the house around IL o'clocB
she was smiling over things well done
go straight to Dad, Curtis-you
owe it to the name" h said a little
later to a tall fellow who waited fol
her at the side gate. "Tell him his
wife is only foolish, not wicked
vet. She let Lowrie take her jewels
to make hin pay a reward that would
cover her bridge debts to him anG
his sister-and leave something over
for debts of his own Moths isn't
lust a bunch. His bed has been lair
on, but not slept in-you can tell by
the different feel of the linen. Their
1 found up the chimney throat a roT
of burnt paper-with the inside one
half legible-a note signed with her
name. There was a long-distance call
while she slept wouldn't let the
butler wake her-answered it myself
It wasn't Lowry-his valet instead
Ny niger talk so treasured him he
gave a message-it was Good news
Felice returns tomorrow, in tri'
umph.'"
Not if 1 can help it-she must have
known Curtis Dent interrupted.
"Of course-but you'll be foolish te
interrupt-don't you see. she is coming
to reclaim the treasure-it's bidder
somewhere about-they never dared
take it away. Let her conceal of
the detectives-I'm to stay on, a week
maybe-Madame likes my touch. AnG
so I'll have a chance to be in at the
DEATH
"You shan't-I can't stand it-hav'
ing you there amongst servants" Cur,
tbs broke in, slipping his arms around
her.
you'll have to-goosey," she wnls
pered back. "Unless we can turn sur
mise to proof actual they will end by
putting the robbery on you"
"That is why you" Curtis be
gan. holding her tighter. Trembling
a little, she freed herself and ran from
him, happy and miserable in the same
breath.
Three nights later she waited pa
tiently outside the back gate unit
moondown and chicken crow marked
the small hours. Curtis kept her com
pany-low-crouched they saw Felice
slip out, run down the patch, dart into
the woods. reappear clasping to hel
a huge hornets nest. She whistled
shrill but low. an auto answered her
and she began running to the highway
but Curtis and Em-Smith were at hel
heels. A headlight flashed intermit
tently. Lowry himself was in wait