Omaha daily bee., 1922-06-04

from the hrst He's fallen In love with you
~ well. and Mrs Dunbarton.Kent, whether
she likes Vests wanting to marry you or
not, likes you, 80 It's come out well for you.
But you've been q detective unawares.
They are certain you've found Breck's con-
federats for them. They're finding out all
they can about Mrs. Smith. They think
Breck knew, her from back in the days when
stealing was his profession. The whole
thing. her building that house just before
Breck came back to Kent House, her sudden
comings and goings, and tho fact that no
body knows Just who she Is or where she
gets the money to gamble with-she's been
gambling like fury for the last two months
lis suspicious
They think that Breck was watching you
that night you were looking into Mrs.
Smiths windows, and they know for certain
that Breck went to her house the minute he
got Willetts out Of the way. They think
Breck warned Mrs. Smith to clear out, for
that's what shs did, instantly. Clever
thieves will 30 to any amount Of trouble to
secure such haul as the BrantOlwin
jewels; building 4 house. as she did, would
be q small item, and, As It happened. there
was the lucky chance of Mrs. Dunbarton-
Kent's hundred thousand. too.
There's one suspicious thing and pretty
convincing: that woman calls herself Mrs.
Kendall Smith, and that was the name by
which Rreck was known to the police, Ken
Smith. Breck was around New York for a
time, both before he went to France and
after he came back, and most likely he's
married to the woman. Haslett IL trying
to md out all he can about the woman and
Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent Is praying that tho
Brant- -Olwin detectives won't get on her trail
What Mrs Dunbarton-Kent wants is by
some means to get back the Brant-Olwin
Jewels and return them secretly. then force
Breck to leave America
"TLat's the whole history, and that's the
way things stand at Kent House, Marie An
gouleme. You would have the story, and
its better to tell you everything than to
give you q fragment It isn't just you prom
ise that makes mo think you'll keep quiet.
can't abide Mrs Dunbarton-Kent, but I've
kept quiet about III this because there are
one or two people at Kent House I'd hate
to hurt-West is one Of them. know its
the same with you-you have your favorites.
Besides, It's dangerous to talk, and you have
tho sense to realize It." Colfax looked at her
crriously. ~I'd like to know, though,
whether you're 20 set on staying at Kent
House now? It's been Z shock to You. an
right"
Marie had listened to him without word
or movement, eyes wide and blank and face
white She had listened 30 absorbedIy that
when he had finished she locked as II stiu
listening. a. II what he had sid was being
repeated by q voice IN her brain. She was
gazing at Colfax still, yet she did not appear
to see him; she did not seem to b conscious
that he had stopped talking.
He studied her blank silence. I didn't
know you cared % much for Breck." he ~
marked finally.
Marie turned away. as II trying vaguely
to escape him. and stumbled over the span
ial The sun had gone and 1t was cold: the
little dog had nestled herself against Marie's
feet Mechanically Marie bent and nftaa
her, then startel down the road