Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1923-08-09

and all that.
"And then you've got to remember
another thing" he said going on
when nobody answered-arguing, with
the sweat pouring down his face
"You know how 1t is with the first
one! They're scared to death, afraid
they'll die"
what does the doctor say2" asked
Mcconnell, the detective.
HE don't see it-quite so bad as
she does. But he admits himself
we've got to be careful Help all we
can! You see-you see how I'm
fixed" he said, arguing. II wouldn't
take chance with that little girl
for the world!"
And then he stopped for a minute.
"But where do the diamonds come
inT Mcconnell, the detective, asked
him. "The necklace?"
That's our luck, she claims"
"Your luck?"
"Our lucky stones! You know how
women are-about things like that!
Superstitious-all of them. l never
knew one that wasn't yet. And es-
pecially nOw-nOw-at times like this.
And then her father was a sporting
man-too. A kind OF a high.class
sporting man."
ri see." said Mcconnell, keeping his
face still. And soY' =
$50 you see, don't your You know
how women are-over anniversaries
and all that. Diamonds we're her
birthstone. So naturally gave her
diamonds When was way upi ]
gave her this-this necklace. Just to
show her-and the rest Of the world
how she stood with me. You know
how women are-how they've got to
show the neighbOrs-the other women
If things are going right-if you're
prosperous. And what their hus-
bands think of them
And there 10 another turn to it
that she worked out in her head, be-
sides-what 1t meant to her-pbod
luck and all thatr'
"And that WASP" said Mcconnell.
THAT was that 1 was born in April.
too"
"Aprilr !"
"You know. Diamonds are the
birthstone for April"
NO." said Mcconnell, the detective,
II guess they forgot to tell me about
that"
"And then again." he was going
along. "You know. Next month!
That'n be April, too"
II get you" said the detective, Civ
Ing Volpe another look.
$50 there's three times it's said to
be our lucky stone. You know the
way they figure-the women-on
things like that"
And the detective and Volpe
snapped looks again.
$50 that's how it is about the neck
lace. It's her mascot. She's got to
have 1t with her all the time now.
From now on especially That's why
I've had to come sneaking in here,
when l saw the chance"
"Oh, that's It," said Mcconnell, the
detective, giving Volpe a comical side
look.
For she's got to have 1t with her.
And more and more every day now. of
course. And then. naturally, she's got
to have it on her or she'll Just natural
ly die"
"Well, she can have it, can't shelf
you can prove this up?" said the de-
tective, looking over at Volpe.
Sure" said VOlpe.
what good will that do-after she
knew? She might as well have glass
bottles" said the man, and wiped the
sweat from his face. And Mcconnell
looked at Volpe and Volpe looked
back.
That's new one" said McCon-
nell.
Don't you believe it?" said the big
one, bristling up
II might, and then again might
not. But that don't make any differ
ence what l believe. l don't have to
believe. It's simpler than that"
"Sinpler?'
"l'll know soon enough-when see
her!"
But you won't see herr" said the
big man. Not If 1 know H."
"Oh, yes. Whether with you
with me friendly; or with you down
at headquarters-which you like
bestw
you'll kill her." he hollered.
THAT'S ALL"
probably l will" said Mcconnell.
the detective, looking at Volpe, "if
there's anybody there to kill"
But the big man took no notice of
that crack.
"And If you do-if you hurt her
any way" he went on, IF you harm
her any way, I'll get YOUTH smash
you some day, if I spend my life at
itw
Come on" said Mcconnell, the de-
tective. Don't start getting careless
again. You're not fixed right to get
rough. It's UP to you. You can start
a war, or we can all stroll over like
friends"
"But she's in bed. with a headache"
Shell have to get up then" said
Mcconnell. the detective.
And finally he gave up, and the
three went over-0n the bus to River
side-and up into the apartment-al
parties watching their step, not know
Ing just what was coming.
1t was all right so far II was his
place all highland he had It fixed
up in style, tOo-servants and all
that