The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-07-09
By COsn1O Hamilton

another instant he would go off with a
bang.
Then Jim plunged his hand through an
open space between the boarding Of a
crate, and when he unwrapped the result
OF his lucky dip there was disclosed a
beautiful and authentic specimen Of six
tee1th century silver. 1t was a tray with
a ul1gree border, in perfect preservation.
That's very, very NICE" said Jim, with
his head on one side in the most approved
way Of auction room creatures. "Ahl they
did things well in those days. / can re-
member one being knocked down at a
sale out in Sydney-mind you, not half as
good as this-fOr q hundred and ninety
eight Lounds. Worth it, too. A dealer
mad a very un-ScOtch nose, and / happen
to knew that he sold it ten days later
Tor a profit Of thirty per cent. Better
than bonds, by JOve All these crates
stuffed with things like this, MajOr2'
And then occurred the wholly imprint
able explosion, which brought the butler
OUT OF the pantry and Nina from her bed
room, the pale eyed Mrs. StrattOn from
the morning room, and Everard from
slOuching on a sofa. The freckled daughter
was reading in bed. She had promised not
to. High explosive oats burst in rapid
succession. Poison gas flOated through the
hall. The daLperness Of the little man dis
appeared under the passion Of his temper.
Even the wife Of his bosom, who was used
to him, was amazed. Finally, having run
the gamut Of his repertoire, he cried out:
Put those things in the lOrry, do you
hear me? Or, by Bod, sir, III ring up the
police"
Upon which, taking advantage Of the lua
in the barrage, Jim turned placidly to the
Major n spoke:
do you know that's rather what I
thought Of dOing?"
What the devil do you mean2'
20, well, doesn't this wear something
Of the look Of twilight burglary2 Give the
probably remember that even though all
these things form the personal and OBJ
viOUsly admirable collection Of the late
Lord LauncestOn, they go to the new man
with the house. Am I right, sir"
The wind went out Of the Major. He
was as flat as a punctured tire. He took
two steps back, his hand fluttered up to
his forehead and the word detective
dropped from his mouth with a thud.
60 well, yes" said Jim, autObiOgraphi-
cal again. "Once, out in Buffalo, for a bit.
Interesting job, but chilly. So much hang
ing about in draughts. / think 1 ought to
tell you at this point, though rather as
one who is not going to load the lOrry than
as a detiective-Which I'm not that the
new man might have considered making all
these things over TO you if you'd waited
rules. I happen to know that. But, un-
fortunately, under these circumstances -
How can you say what the new man
will do or will not dOF" AS this queer
fish was not a Deceive, the Major had
Jumped himself up.
90, WE'LL said Jim, "by one Of those
curious twists that occur so frequently in
life, 1 happen to be able to speak for the
new man, who has been studying the lay
Of the land. And as Jim StrattOn, eighth
Lord LaunceStOn, eX-elevatOr man of San
Francisco, and now of Riggs garage in
the village, cars and lOrries on hire for all
purposes at moderate rates-I ."
your
The Major fell backwards to the corner.
The pale eyed Mrs. StrattOn tOttered to a
chair. The slOuching E!erard subsidized
Nina, with a retrospective smile, came
against the rOtundity of the butter and
downstairs.
st was gcing to say I must regretfully
reconsider that idea. May / add that this
wholesale removal Of very valuable bits Of
other peoples property is hardly cricket 2
And nCw, as it's rather late. III mOOch
along. When 1 lay my official visit at SIX
five and I must do a wash and so forth
will you be so good as to have returned
all these things to their places, so that
I can see precisely how they were? Then
the whole thing may be regarded as q
WaShOut, we'll dine in perfect f~riendliness
at eight, and the following morning, il
that meets with your convenience, Riggs
can send up my successor with the lOrry
and take you to the cottage with your
people, and things like that. Good night
all"
He turned and went out to the lOrry, but
, waited a moment before climbing to the
drivers seat in case Nina wanted to say
a word about the usual appointment OF
E the wall.
She did, as it happened, and her face
, her lovely face, was a kaleidoscope Of eX
: bressiOns-jOy, amaZement, michel, and, i
the truth must be told. a little shame. Coco