Show CHAPTER XII the gold bag i 1 have always smiled at those cases of spontaneous combustion which like fusing the component parts of a alltz aliz powder unite two people ln in ii a bubbling epher meral ecstasy but sure surely there Is possible with but a single meeting an attraction so great a community of mind and interest so eo strong that between that first meeting and ana the next the bond may grow into something st stronger Konger this Is especially ally true I 1 fancy of people with temperament the modern substitute for imagination 1 it t Is a nice question whether lovers begin to love when they are together or when they are apart not that 1 followed any such line of reasoning at the time I 1 would A even admit my folly to myself but during the restless hours of at that first n night ight after the accident when my back bach ached with lying on it and ahny other obber position was torture I 1 bouril my thoughts constantly going back lo 10 a allson west I 1 dropped into a flute to dream of touching her fingers again to comfort her arid and awoke to find I 1 had bad patted a teaspoonful of medicine out of mrs airs Klo indignant hand what was it mcknight had said about making an egregious ass of myself and that brought me back to richey and I 1 fancy I 1 groaned there Is no use expatiating on abe friendship between two men who have gone together through college have quarreled and made it up fussed bussed together over politics and debated creeds for years men dont need to be told and women cannot understand nevertheless I 1 groaned if it had bad been any one but rich some things were mine however and I 1 would hold them the halcyon breakfast the queer hat the pebble in her small shoe the gold bag with the broken chain the bag why it was in my pocket at that moment I 1 got up painfully and found my coat yes there was tho the purse bulging with an opulent suggestion of wealth inside I 1 wen wend back to bed again somewhat dizzy between off effort art and the touch of the trinket so lately hers I 1 held it up by its broken chain and gloated over it by bir careful attention to orders I 1 ought to be out in a day or BO be then I 1 could return it to tier her I 1 really ought to do that it was val valuable and I 1 earn care to trust it to tile the niall mall I 1 could run down to richmond and sea tier lier once there was no lie disloyalty to rich tn fit that I 1 had no intention of opening the little bag r put it under my pillow which was my reason for refusing to have tile the linen slips changed to mm airs lilo dismay and sometimes during the morning while I 1 lay under it virgin field af of white ornamented with strange flowers my cigarettes hidden beyond discovery and science and health on oil a table by my elbow as aa it if by the merest accident I 1 slip my iny hand under my pillow and touch it reverently erent ly mcknight came tit in about 11 1 I heard aih car at tho the curb followed almost immediately by his slam at the front door and his usual clai clamor llor on tho the stairs ila iio had a bottle battle under ills his arm lightly surmising that I 1 had been forbidden stimulant and a large larga box of cigarettes in ills hla pocket suspecting my deprivation well he said cheerfully how did you sleep after keeping me up half tho the night I 1 slipped my hand band around the purse was well covered have it now or wait till I 1 get the cork out he rattled on 1 I dont want anything I 1 protested 1 I wish you be so BO darned cheerful richey lie ho stopped whittling to stare at me 1 11 I am saddest when I 1 fingl ho he quoted unctuously its pure reaction collic lol lle lic yesterday the sky was low I 1 was digging for my best beat friend today to day lie he lies before me hla his peevish P 4 ai of j I 1 ihnow anaw that bit of chain I 1 1 it A self yesterday I 1 thought the notes were burned today to day I 1 look fact forward to a good cross country chase and with luck we will draw his voice changed suddenly yesterday she was in seal harbor today to day she Is here here in washington I 1 asked as naturally as I 1 could yes going to stay a week or two oh ob I 1 had a little lien hen and s she he had a wooden leg and nearly every morning she used to lay an egg will you stop that racket rich its the real thing this time I 1 suppose well he said judicially since you drag it from roe me I 1 think perhaps it Is you youre such a confirmed woman hater that I 1 hardly knew how you would take it IL nothing of the sort I 1 denied testily because a man mait reaches the age of 30 without making maudlin love to every ive taken to long country rides he went on reflectively without listening to me and yesterday I 1 ran over a sheep nearly went into the ditch but theres a providence that watches over fools and lovers and just now lowi 1 know darned well that im one and I 1 have a sneaking idea iro im both you are both I 1 said with disgust it if you can be rational for one moment I 1 wish you would tell me why that man sullivan called me over the telephone yesterday morning probably yet discovered the bronson notes providing you hold to your theory that the theft was incidental ci to the murder may hlay have wanted his own clothes again or to thank you for yours search me I 1 cant think of f anything else the doctor came in just then pretty good shape he be said how flow did you sleep oh occasionally I 1 replied 1 I 1 would like to sit up doctor nonsense take a rest while you have an excuse for it IL I 1 wish to thunder I 1 could stay in bed for a day or so I 1 was up all night have a drlak mcknight said pushing over the bottle twins the doctor grinned have two drinks dut but the medical man refused 1 I even wear a champagne colored necktie during business hours he explained by the way I 1 had another case from your accident mr air blakeley Bla keloy last fasi yesterday afternoon under the tongue please ho stuck a thermometer in my mouth I 1 had a sudden terrible vision of the amateur detective coming to light notebook note book cheerful impertinence and incriminating data A small email ann mant I 1 demanded gray hrair hilr keep your mouth closed thedoe tor ter said bald peremptorily no A worn wom an all with it fractured skull Beau beautieu titu case van kirk was up tip to tits his eyel and sent brnt for tile mo hemorrhage right sided paralysis irregular al tho the trimmings worked for tw hours did sho she recover mcknight put in ile ho was waa examining tho the doctor with i a new awe she lifted tier her right arm before I 1 left tile tho doctor I cheerily sc ac the operation was a success ovon it H she should die good heavens mcknight broke in and I 1 thought boti you were just juht an ordinary mortal like alko tho the rest of ual let tile me touch you for luck was she pretty yes and young had a wealth ol of bronze colored hair upon my souli soul I 1 hated to cut it il mcknight and I 1 exchanged glances glan cea do you knoeher name doctor I 1 asked no tho the nurses said her clothes clothe came from a pittsburg tailor shu she Is not conscious I 1 suppose no she may be tomorrow to morrow or in a week lie he looked at the thermometer murmured something about liquid diet avoiding my eye mrs klopson KI Kl opton was wa broiling a chop at the time and tool tits his departure humming cheerfully as ai lie he went downstairs mcknight mcKnIg bt looked afier him wistfully jove I 1 wish I 1 had his con tion lie he exclaimed neither nerves nor hearal what a chauffeur he would makel but I 1 was serious Bor tous 1 I have an idea I 1 said grimly that this small matter of the burdei la Is going to como come up again and that thai your uncle will be in the deuce of a fix if it does if that woman Is going to die somebody ought to bo be around to take tier her deposition sho she knows a 8 lot if she do it herself I 1 wish you would go down to tho the telephone and get tho the hospital find out bet name and if she Is conscious mcknight went under protest 1 much time he said looking at his ls watch im to meet mrs airs west and allson alison at one I 1 want you tc know them you would like the mother why not the daughter I 1 in quiren I 1 touched the little gold bag under the pillow well ho he said judicially youve always declared against the immature Imma turl ty and romantic nonsense of ver young women 1 I never said anything of the sort I 1 retorted furiously 11 there Is more satisfaction to be had out of a good saddle horse 1 I 1 he quoted me more excite excitement ment out ou of a polo pony and as for the eternal matrimonial chase give me instead a good stubble atu btu abble a fox some decent doga dogs and a hunter and ill show you the real joys of the chasel for heavens sake go down to the telephone you make my head ache I 1 said savagely I 1 hardly know what prompted me to take out the gold purse and loob at it it was an imbecile thing to do call it impulse sentimentality what you wish I 1 brought it out one eye on the door for mrs airs klopson has bai a ready eye and a noiseless shoo shoe but the house bouse was quiet quiel downstairs mo knight was flirting with the telephone central and there was an odor ol of boneset tea in the air I 1 think mrs klopson was fascinated out of hei he theories efi by the boneset in conned connection tion with the fractured arm anyhow I 1 held up the bag and looked at it it must have been unfastened for the next instant there was an avalanche on the snowfield ol of the counterpane some money a wisp of a handkerchief a tiny booklet with th thin in leaves covered with a powdery substance and a necklace I 1 drew myself up slowly and stared at the necklace it was one of the semi barbaric affairs that women are wearing now a heavy pendant of gold chains and carved cameos swung from a thin neck chain of the same metal the necklace was broken in three places the links were pulled apart and the cameos swung loose and partly detached dut but it was the supporting chain that held my eye and fascinated with its sinister suggestion three inches of it had been snapped off and as aa well as I 1 knew anything on earth I 1 knew that the bit of chain that the amateur detective had found bloodstain and all belonged just there TO DO BE CONTINUED |