Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-20
The Sealed Trunk
By Henry KitcheN Webster
copyrixna By me BosbsMerfH Co. wEU Service


Twcnty-F ourth lnstalImsnt
Forster was still in bis swivel
chair sitting almost as he had sat
when Martin looked az him before.
but in the act Of relaxing back
into IL as II he had just meant 70
ret up and then had changed his
mind. The Cleveland woman had
only that moment seated herself in
q chair at the end OF the desk
which faced the fireplace and the
two watchers behind the class.
-She's looking wicked" Martin
commented. w tat do you suppose
she's up tor"
Rhoda squeezed his hand hard
and said. Don't talk Lsteng -
And though this struck him ms alb
surd. her earnestness enforced ODE
dience.
The woman was worth watching.
anyhow. II was his first good look
az her. She was dressed rs she'd
been when he'd seen her descend
upon Max and Babe In the station
that afternoon. She had put on
her hat and coat since leaving Max
Lewis sitting room. and as she sat
down In the chair she opened her
wrist bag before she put II down
in her laP. There was something
50 insolently and viciously feline In
her look-like "a eat with its ears
back-that Martin didn't wonder
az old Forster's cringing IN his
chair and shooting a look at the
picture behind which he must III
suppose his spy to be on watch.
However. II she had a revolver
In the bag she was content To leave
L there for the present What she
produced from II now was 4 long
amber cigarette holder and "A pack
age OF cigarettes, one or which,
very deliberately but with rather
Shaky hands, she proceeded to light.
II appeared that these prelimlnaries
irritated Forster. for he spoke
with an impatient jerk or the head.
telling her. no doubt. 10 state her
business and Ne quick about II.
Her only response to this was a
theatrical laugh. not very convinc.
ing. and nm elaboration of the proc-
eSses or making herself comfortable
in the chair. When presently she
aid begin to talk Il was with an az
fectation or lazy good humor. her
eyes not upon him but upon the
shred of blue smoke from the
cigarette.
But IL was Forsters face that
Martins gaze rested upon. lie an
peared nc first 70 be genuinely,
even hlankly. puzzled as 20 what
the woman was getting at and he
broke In upon her two or three
times with sharp impatient ques-
TORS 70 which she paid no atten-
ton whatever. continuing to eye
tile cigarette and 70 20 evenly on
with her narrative, IL that were
what II was. But It wasn't long be-
fore Forster's appearance changed
His body was rigid in his easy
chair. and the laugh BY which he
attempted to dismiss something she
said a. an absurdity was a CHASTITY
failure.
Now though. Martins attention
was sharply diverted from both
actors In the play to q sob from
Rhoda- Turing to her I'm conster-
nation be saw her trying vainly 10
blink away the tears that were
blurring her vision She said m
riously when he asked her what
the matter was Don't talk Give
me a handkerchief. Ii you've cot
one
He had q fresh one Ii bis pocket
and be was handing ii over Ia her
with dignity. inclined to feel q lit
tie hurt BY the way she was treat
ing him. when. with a suddenness
that literally almost took him oF
his feet she flung herself upon him.
put her head down upon his chest
and hugged him as bard as she
could This amazing and blissful
state Of things lasted while she
was drawing about three long
breaths and then. Just M suddenly.
she vent. 50 10 speak, into reverse
again, n1Cg herself away from him.
Snatched his handkerchief. dried
her eyes. and began watching Fhe
scene through the glass with the
most intense concentration
The woman had abandoned her
anectatfon Of lazy amusement ana
nj something he must have said 10