Omaha daily bee., 1921-08-21
EIGHTH INSTAIL.MENT,


Suspicion.
YYOW futile had been her boasts! Hardly
- had they been formulated In her mind
i u before they were made ridiculous.
M ground for suspicion. and yet her hus-
band drove up to the house in a police auto
mobile!
And then her hands unclasped. For her
husband descended from the closed car,
reached through the door and shook hands
with a man inside. and turned gayly away to
run up the steps. She heard him In the
hall: heard him crying her name But she
did not go to him until the machine outside
had started down the driveway.
Then she went to him Ho caught her up
IN his arms murmuring the inarticulate
greetings that lovers know. Arm in arm
they climbed the stairs
Haven't had a chance to shave all day."
he said. Feel as bristly as a porcupine.
Miss the aged sharer Of your Joys and sor-
rows?" a ..- .'t '.... ..
She managed to equal his lightness of tone.
i have his crutches handy" she said.
He kissed her with boyish enthusiasm.
"Had a great trip. Put the business over.
Now. where the deuce is my razor?"
He had opened his suitcase and tumbIed
everything out upon the bed. From the
3umbled mass Allayne cxtricated the razor.
"You didn't come in taxi" she said.
He was unbuttoning his collar mo-" he
said "Came out Of the station carrying
my bag. and saw Rannie Jenkins. He saw
me at the same time and offered to give mo
a lift. Stopped the bus and took me In.
Say. that's somo murder over at Hilicrest,
isn't TT"
1T L." she agreed.
Jenkins is full of It: can't talk anything
else. Says hen get the second woman all
right Hope he doesn't"
what? why?" demanded AIlayna
Her husband. bare armed now, picked up
his shaving materials and dartcd into tho
bathroom.
why? Hate to sec any woman caught
in a jam like that" he declared. Women
don't kill without darn good reason. SURE.
I hope she gets away. But don't think
she will"
She inhaled deeply. snc was glad that he
could not SEQ her face.
"why not?" she demanded.
well, Jenkins doesn't talk 10 he..r ais
own voice." said Bourke. "He knp the
boastins kind. lie says that he'n land tbs
woman within twenty tour hours, and be-
heve him.
Ailayne WINS silent q moment
did he tcrl you what makes him 50 e.s-
tain" she asked. She kept her voice st~a6y
only by tremendous effort
mo, tried to get him to. but, Of couss.
he wouldn't"
-Perhaps.- suggested Allayne. -he was
vcicing 3 hope"
"I tell you Rannie Jenkins isn't that sort"
Setorted hsr husband. Hes got some evi-
dence. something or other, that makes him
pretty confident"
Allayne moistened her lips. you believe
him. theny"
.Believe him?" Bourke came to the door
ef tho bathroom. With eyes set IN q frame
Of snowy lather he stared at her.
-That's funny question, Allayne Why
shouldn't believe him?"'
She laughed affectedly.
soh-I'm Just making tank" she said.
Silly talk. guess"
he grinned at her.
Excited at seeing your husband
again. eh?"
That's r." she said.
Then, when he was once again IN the
bathroom and could not see her face. xhs
said:
"spense! suppose-rm in SHY .srt Of
mood, think-but suppose were that Miss
ing woman that Jenkins is locking for?"
Silly is right" grunted Bourke. Well
what them"
would you want me to tell yor?"
Bourks uttered sone sort CT escrknes.xsn.