The Press., 1922-01-26
fhe window

the window.
 A butler, several shades lighter than herself, bade her tidy up the guest chambers, still in wild confusion. At the door he volunteered: Eff them 'tectives had a-asked me could a-told 'em Sompn."
 ''Whut somp'n?" Em-Smith asked.
 He wagged his head, solemnly. It'd cut short thar job" he said oracular- ly. "So 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- dy, he'd a-kilt me eff hadn't run"
 "So you think that boy" Elm Smith began looking away. ..
 'I knows-he wus down in town the day before-never come fer nOthin' 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 whirlwind. But in spite of speed she took note Of small things and great, And when she left the house around Il o'clock she was smiling over things we'll done.
 GO straight to: Dad, Curtis-you owe it to the name,''' she said little later to a tall fellow who waited for her at the side gate. "Tell him his wife is only foolish. not wicked vet. She let LOwrie take her jewels to make him pay a reward that would cover her bridge debts to him and his sister-and leave something over for debts of his own. .NO--this isn't just a hunch. His he'd has been lain on, but not slept in--you can tell by the different feel of the linen. Then I found up the chimney throat roll of burnt paper-with the inside one half Iegible-a note signed with her name There was a long-distance call while she slept--I wouldn't let the butler wake her-answered it myself. It wasn't L0wry-hiS valet instead. My nigger talk so reassured him he gave message-it was Good news :! Felice returns tomorrow, in tri- umph.'"
 Not if I can help it-she must have known,' Curtis Dent interrupted.
 "Of course-but you'll be foolish to interrupt-don't you see, she is coming to reclaim the treasure-it's hidden somewhere a6out-they never dared take it away. Let her .cOme-call of the detectiveS-I'm to stay on, week maybe-Madame likes my touch. And so I'll have chance to be in at the death-"
 You shan't-I can't stand it--hav. ing you there amongst servants" Cur. tis broke in, slipping his arms around her.
 You'll have to-goosey," she wn1s. 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 until mOOndown and chicken crow marked the small hours. Curtis kept her com pany-lOw-crOuched they saw Felice slip out, run down tbe patch, dart into the woods, reappear .clasping to her huge hornets nest. She whistled shrill but low. an auto answered her, and she began running to the highway; :; but Curtis and Em-Smita were at her heels A headlight flashed intermit- tently. Lowry himself was in wait. Before the woman reached him Curtis caught her fast. Em-Stnith Snatched away the hornets nest, and down upon the earth tllmbIed diamonds, pearls and rllhies. '