The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-04-02
REVELATIONS
OF A WIFE
What Madge and Dicky Overheard In
the Depths of the Woods.
BY ADELE GARRISON.

suddenly disappeared from the knowl-
edge of every one who had ever known
him.
He had g few intimates, and after
perfunctory police search he was
given up as dead, and the paintings he
| had left in his studio were seized for
! the small debts he owed and sold at
auction.
1T has not been long since his work
commenced to have a vogue. The real
merit of 1t has been discovered. The
big picture dealers have been quietly
getting hold of all his stuff they could
find, and the prices on them have
leaped higher and higher, in the way
such things have.
How this collection up there came
to be overlooked I can't imagine. If
he's really dead. it means a fortune
to those people.
by Jove!" Dicky's exclamation was
in such a different tone than the story
he had been telling me that it startled
me. His voice was low, excited, and
as he spoke he drew me aside quickly
into the shelter of some bushes. AS he
did SO, I caught sight Of man fur
lively slipping along the bank of the
stream, casting quick glances from side
to side, as if looking for someone.
Just ahead Of US there was a mag
nificent oak with one big limb curved
in such curious fashion that it turned
down to the ground, making a COM
plete arch. 1t made an unusual land
mark and to the man we were watch
ing it was evidently a meeting place
of some kind,for as soon as he saw
he or
against it's trunk, looked searchingly in
the direction in which we had come
Dicky put his lips close to my ear
and murmured:
There's something crooked going on
here, that's a cinch. That fellow is
one of the hangers-on of the worst
crook among New. York picture deal
ers. Well just wait right here and see
what's up"
We did not have long 20 wait for de-
velopments, and when they came
could not forbear a little triumphant
mOue at Dicky.
For, slipping as noiselessly as an In
dian through the underbrush, came
Mrs. Allis, our fellow boarder at Cos
groves, whom I had instinctively dis
trusted and suspected of designs upon
the paintings in the farmhouse parlor.
You must get out OF here at once.
1t isn't safe"
The low voice of Mrs. Allis, our fell
low boarder at the Cosgrove farmhouse
in the CatskilIs, barely reached Dicky
and me- as we crouched in the under
brush, involuntary witnesses of her Sc
cret meeting with the stranger who
had just made his way to the gigantic
oak near US, and whom Dicky had rec
ognized as "hanger-or of the worst
crook among the New York picture
dealers"
whats the row." The mans rough
ened voice rose carelessiy. Mrs. Allis
promptly tapped his mouth lightly with
the back Of her hand.
You fool!" Her tone was even more
than the epithet. I've only
to tell you everything. so keep
that voice of yours to yourself until
1 get through. It's like a buzz saw"
The man grunted sulkily, but I
noticed he did not speak again. Evil
IDENTIFY his position was inferior to that
of Mrs. Allis in the gang which I was
certain now was planning to steal the
valuable collection of paintings in the
Cosgrove farmhouse parlor.
There's an artist and his wife up
here, got here last night" Mrs. Allis /
went on, and we had to strain our ears
to catch the valua BILE words. "Of course /
the minute he spotted the pictures he !
knew what they were worth, and he's /
put the Cosgroves wise to the danger !
Of losing them. Worst Of ALL the art
st's wife is one of those shopping James |
who fancies herself a regular s1euth, .
and she's had peppers open for nae ever !
since she landed. So there's no use !
trying anything tonight or indeed until |
the end of the week. BY that time |
III have a scheme ready thatIl pull |
the wool over the eyes of the Cos |
groves, and at the same time give me .
L chance to get good and even with /
the dame | mentioned"
Low as was her voice, the malevo-
ence of it struck a chill to my heart.
clutched Dicky's arm involuntarily.
He slipped his arm around me care
July and noiselessly so that no hint
IF our presence should reach the two
AS I lifted my eyes to
1im and met his reassuring tender
smile, I suddenly lost all my misgiv-
ask of thwarting the scheme of the
woman before me- what
ever it might be.
She had paused for moment after
her threat against me so that my mo-
nentary little lapse of attention did
lot prevent me from hearing the con-
,lusion of her directions to the man.
You go back to Kingston and wait
here at the same place until I let
you know what to do next" she di- i
'ected. I'm going to New York my
elf tonight and get something I need.
II let Goldstein know you're on the
OBJ"
"Goldstein's getting a bit leary," the
nan returned respectfully but logged
Y. This IS a risky business, and he
DOESN'T see how you're going to get
way with so many of them without 1
heir being traced"
DO I have to tell you again that I
NOW exactly what I am about?" Mrs.
Allis returned crisply and contemp-
ously. There's something about this {