San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-24
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kitchen and put more Goals on the
fire and the old room looked very
cheerful and dear to the girls eyes
as she halted for Il moment in the
doorway and then flew to his side.
] ~ jar of cream and fresh straw
| berries, so carly in the season. Oh.
what's this from the Elite Restau-
rant? Fried chicken. all done up. in
separate paper ~ Sallie marveled.
Here's a head of lettuce, too. and a
bottle of salad dressing, which she
j swore she'd never let in her house
/ do believe she's done this to give
us little party, but / wish she hal
come back
Like two children at play they. ar
ranged their little feast and sat long
over it. blissfully unconscious of the
! flight of time. and it was only when
the clock on the shelf over the stove
struck ten that Sallie sprang up In
alarm.
Mike Where's Ma! She's never
out as late as this except with me.
to the movies or a church festival
"I'll 90 over to the Coopers and
get her." Mike picked up his hat
and turned swiftly to kiss Sallie.
Don't worry. dear"
"Hivins above, what a house you
| two'll kape, with the dishes not even
stacked up at this hour" The voice
of Ma Brennan herself sounded from
/ just behind them, and they whirled
about to find her standing in the
doorway with her gray hair hanging
| in disheveled locks from a bonnet very
much atilt, and her face Redeemed and
| windblown.
To their amazed questions she
| would vouchsafe no reply until she
had made herself tidy and then while
| Sallie and Make arranged the supper
| they had saved for her she settled
herself in her favorite rocker, with an
odd twinkle in her eyes.
"WhO is it always givin' me the
laugh about readin' detective stories?"
she asked. rs it you. Michael? I've
been wonderin' comm along why
theirs been no trace found O. thin four
big Dclapierre diamonds that made
so much trouble. Maybe they weren't
on that poor creature. after all. that
Diamond Bcss' was so quick to iden-
tifv as Sallie, may God forgive me !!
What if--thcy was in that black bag.
and Miss Copeland found thin and hid
thin in safe place till she could
send the police for thim?"
what nonsense. Ma" There was
a touch of impotence in Mikes
tone. Miss Copeland is still delirious.
Lieutenant Trevor told me when l
'phoned him this morning, but it is
only the effect of starvation and the
awful fear she has been through. ? She
couldn't tell the police anything if
she wanted to, but you can be sure
those diamonds were never in that
bag."
rs that so?' Ma Brennan eyed
him guilelessly. "Yct, if they was to
come to light good part O. that ten
thousand reward offered would be
paid for thim?'
"Of course. but you needn't change
the subject like this" Mike spoke
with playful severity. "Where have
You been gadding?'
Il was not" Ma Brennan agreed
placidly while. Sallic stared. I've
been havin' an Elegant time ridin'
round in Al automobile all by my
self with Halloran's own son up in
front to drive me. though the old man
is a robber, as j tould him TO his
face"
Look here. Ma. You've got some
thing up your sleeve!" Mike inter-
rupted with n sudden change of man
ner. why were you asking me all
about Halloran's carr
why was the Copeland CURL ask
in Halloran all about it?" Ma Bren-
nan countered. "Divil bit would
she care was it chariot or what as
long as it took her quick an far
unless she wanted to find it again.
Why would she want TO do that un-
less she meant to hide somethin' in
it an come back or sind for it?"
Mike. was eyeing the old lady rteadi-
ly but he said nothing and she went
on:
II know thin Hallorans from way
back, an they're lazy lot. If that
automobile had just been fresh gone
over an done up they'd give it just
a brush-up once in month except
for the floor. maybe. an it's only a
week since the wreck. There's an
other thing. When ! cleaned IN Sal
lies room after that Copeland gurl