The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1925-11-26

Pearls. pearls, is a subject iNe rs
bringing up between sGuabbies OF fi'',,,
ionc all afternoon. I've made myseil
almost pest with my passion Tor
nearls: I've started conversation apou'
them until fiatter myself | know WIZ
nossesses about every fine string OF
roor,s I'm so-called Chicago society.
The surprising fact. really the SHOCK
tho fact. Doctor Darand, is that Mrs.
coswell owns practically no pearls az
oil. she does not like them; she pre-
fers sapphires; all her friends know
r.. surely her husband must Know
vet he's recently invested thirty-seVeh
Thousand dollars In string OF pearls.
"perhaps he is playing pearls Tor
r;sa Doctor Darand? Perhaps II IS
merely an investment-what DO you
think? Perhaps, on the other hand.
these pearls mean definite danger to
our host who happens to be away. ne
and his wife are supposed to be happy;
+hav have three beautiful children; MS
home Is great advantage to him IN
the important position Of public trust
no holds. He could scarcely survive
scandal: vet, believe me, one threatens
him and this house. Doctor Darand.
Believe me, no talk OF his frlends, no
argument, no persuasion can save MN.
There is only one way out for him.
am here today to help prepare the
way"
"Yon mean" he accused, "Pellen Is
preparing to hold Coswell up and shoot
him I"
She raised her head and looked up
at the towering basket above. You're
thinking about that policeman, sue
said. chat Eddie happened to- Leu
me. doctor, don't surgeons ever R,li
people by mistaken
"By mistake. of course" ne ad-
mitted.
.That's how that killing happened,
by mistake" Kitty Hewitt said en-
phatically. This won't be like that at
all This is going to be sweet 1oD,
I'm perfectly sure"
"A sweet job?" said Bertram.
s'.Tm sure of it,
She stepped down from the LADDER
blithely and stood, slight and gracefui
in her bright Chinese garments, gaz-
ing ,lp at him, smiling. "I'll give you
. 81: :. your Office tomorrow l must
be going now.
Next day, toward noon, as he sat
idly IN his downtown Office, where 20
few patients found their way, the tele-
phone rang sharply. 1t was Kitty
Hewitt's voice-and at sound OF II
Doctor Darands heartbeats quick
ened
Do you know the cement roads
northwest Of the city," she began
abruptly. do you know the Rand
road? Well. stop where 1t turns on
and III be there at nine tonight. And
wear evening clothes. doctor; dinner
coat"
"What?" he said in wonderment.
Evening clothes, or nothing doing
Ironically he asked: Surgical bag,
too?'
She replied lightly: you might
bring it. No harm to have 1t along.
But this is a sweet job. told you an
evening clothes job. Dinner and
dance. Well-you're coming?'
II am
you'll be alone, Of course; that's
understood"
She hung up. And In utter amaze
meni Bertrain whistled.
Night came on clear and cool.
Thinking Of Kitty Hewitt, thinking OF
riding with her. of an expedition with
her to he did not know where. Ber-
trans thought strayed back to wet,
pitch-dark night, Of wild flight
through slippery, silent city streets.
This night was crisp, there was q
touch Of frost In the air, and the road,
which made the approach to the meet
ing place-that appointed spot at the
beginning of the Rand ROAD wide,
smooth cement highway running past
farmlands.
He wondered, with redoubled doubt
now, what could be the sweet job
which Kitty Hewitt and Eddie Pellen
and Crane had on hand out here to-
night Was it frameup? Was ne
merely being tricked and played with
to be sent out here in evening clothes
Yet, as he approached the Rand road,
he felt his pulses hurrying and his
| fingers became more tense upon his
| wheel. His headlights found the fork
| Of the cement highway leading to the
north; he slowed down; then headed
! into the Rand road and stopped the
car. From the darkness a voice. Kitty