The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-09-24
Ire lost
3Bss aftt
al be-
CHAPTER x-continued.


Jew adayaly glance wandering about the
bills Som almlessly fell upon the vallse IN
kders the corner. II was just where l re-
|oint toembered leaving it when l went out,
|egislatt l saw something which surely
for vesembled a slash in the leather
and tossed over and bent down; it was
busint slash, the clean cut of a knife, run
Ad legisng from end to end, penetrating
days Nrvugh both leather and cloth. Who
Of MSer had done the deed had been I'M
liceble TO operate the lock, and had
bfher ked the blade as a last resort, slit
lnry ofng the entire bag wide open. l in
NTH certed my hand and felt within; MOTH
the ting seemed missing, or greatly dis
nllon aIrbed. l explored to the bottom, ana
% pubhen sprang to my feet in startled
* Ssmazement-the dagger i had con-
bilealed there was gone
ghway Good God what could be the mean
lerstohg of this? She had worn that orna-
nor Jnent In her hat openly, purposely, to
nan Cool me into believing her innocent.
confhere could be no other explanation.
s Is she had confessed being at the hotel,
'1u aeeking to locate me, and the number
ING thtf my ROOM What would prevent her
nftnoming up here unobserved, then
z. While was out, and gaining entrance!
And who else would have any reason
re mo thus search through my things, and
sen Instruct this important evidence OIL
romfime.
cts IN Yet how did she know / had 1T
nova how did she even suspect l was the
Aature 1rst to discover the dead body, and
hear away with me the tell-tale weap
mem with which Alva had been muir
~ iuered? had no means of knowing
70 how--only she alone had special rea
Emp ION to regain possession of that knife
And she had even dared later to fiaun
Tael1t In my very face, TO show 1t to m'
waylh her possession, just as though i
House had never passed out of her hands
law1dere was revealed q depth Of duplici
policy, criminal audacity, not to be ex
onat4 dressed In words; this soft Spoken
lnyit<xIri, this woman TO whom l knew
time. mad given my heart, stood revealed
b in|now in all her hideousness-a muir
% be5deress a thief scheming criminal
~ re|c0ouy concealing the trail Of her crime
g rqend using her very charms of fac
ND manner TO conceal from me he
~ co<roe nature.
Perhaps she would see me again
Wu1perhapsl The lie was yet warm upO
afor :her lips She had gone away laugh
u Ting mt the simpleton who had believe
roduher. the dupe who had so easily bee
bott<1oceived by her smiles. The chance
q tht we're she had disappeared alread,
Iyors vanished. left the city, assured tina
6lttedno evidence now remained behind {
11gat( ever connect her with this TERRIBLE al
- an fair She cared nothing for me
oessil had been a mere tool, plant In he
hahd---I remained merely In her men
IN FfoFy as something to laugh about. al
]dinG other victim, blind, cropping fool, wit
~ I'd whom she had played to her heart
hing desire.
and: sat with my head in my hand
housf staring az the mutilated bag. racke
letu4 with anger and misery. had bee
. o. easy. a mark of derision and ridicule
son 3 mere screen for her to hide benin
while her accomplice, If she had on
tous( escaped with the spoils. Then the r
HoE action game: the thought that pc
3ayna haps l had not read the story Who'll
ms Alright: the faint hope that II mig
ana not prove exactly as had pictured
. ~ my first wild burst of passion. 1t WI
roo infamous. too unthinkable. VIII
IL she was guilty, should she have I
ions NAMED in New York? Why shou