THE SUNDAY BEE: OMAHA. JUNE 25, . 022.
DVNDARTON-KKNrS million!
are hlil In truet by hie wld.
D lor loo aephewa, Brack
and Wni, and a niece, Bella.
They arc lo divide the fortune
provided none eommile a crime
and Urerk haa beta reared a
thief! Mrs. Brant-Olwln'a Jewela
are alnlrn. and 110. 00 and aoma
lmi diaappear from beneath Mm.
punharlon-Keat'e pillow. Breck
and a myeterlotte "lira. Smllh"
ara euepeetd, but ha denlea all.
Mra. Dunbarton-Kent camera ber
-efforta on recovering the cema and
protectlna; the family name. Into
thla atinoephrre of myXry and
euaplclnn walka lovable Marie
Angouleme to beroma chaffeuae
for Mra. Dunbarton-Kent. gradu
ally Maria Icarne the family ac
crete and la attracted denplte her
lf toward the deeptaed) Brack,
.she dlacovera a love affair between
liella and Allen Colfax, a, third
nephew; heraelf reeelvea pro
poeal from Weat, and la Invited
by Mra. Dunbarton-Kent to be
come a member of the family.
Mra. Dunbarton-Kent reveate that
aha baa offered Breck H00.009 for
the return of the Brant-Olwln
Jewela, and Weat boldly telle her
aha ahould have made tba offer to
Mra. Smith."
TENTH INSTALLMENT.
"You Would Make an Excellent
Mrs. Smith.
WILLETTS did not like
West's tone. All Kent
House knew that West was
vastly taken with Marie Angou
leme, and Willetts had expended
some irritated thoughts on the sub-
1 jf The kind of man the little
Jjjpjff ought to marry was the plain
rtsort, like himself. It was all right
. enougn tor Mrs. uunoarton-rvent
to be kind to the little girl, but to
take her out of her station and
foist her hito another, marry her
to her nephew and things like
that, was rank foolishness; there,
was quite an active jealousy stir
ring in Willetts. Possibly it was
Jealously sensing jealousy that
finade West eye Willetts so cooly.
Willetts addressed himself point
edly to Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent.
"The little girl was worrying
about the pup's being hungry, so
while she was with you last eve
ning I got some supper into it and
put it to bed in the garage. When
the little girl came back and went
to her room I locked up the ga
rage and I took the house and ga
rage watch and set Jones about
something else. Well, when I un
locked in the morning the pup
was gone. I circled that garage a
. dozen times last . night, and there
was only one way that pup could
have been swiped, and that was
by some one's climbing the store
house roof and letting vjiimself
down into the garage through the
ventilator windows, then going by
the way he came. I'll grant that
Breck could have done it,
(but I won't grant it to any
one else about the place," Wil
letts said, with decision, "and I'll
grant it to him only when I hap
pen to be off my guard, for I saw
what I thought was his shadow on
his window shade until early this
morning. Now, what I've ccme to
say is that I m convinced he s been
fooling -us' this long time that it's
ummy he sets uo in his chair
whenever he wants to take a mid
night stroll."
"But we searched his room a
dozen times!" Mrs. Dunbartoti
Kent exclaimed. "You know how
we have searched it for the jewels
or some clew to where they might
be."
"Sure. And I searched it again
tonight while you were all at din
ner," Willetts returned, dryly.
There s a big pot-bellied, long
necked water richer in his bath
. room and a walking stick in his
. cupboard and a measuring stick
' just about as long as his shoulders
are wide lying on his jiesk, and a
. f roll of cotton in one of his desk
' Jt drawers. With plenty of soap out
of which to manufacture a nose
- and chin to stick on in the in
verted water pitcher and cotton
y laid on for hair, with bath towels
and his dressing gown draped on
the cross stick, made out of his
cane and the measuring stick, a
stupider man than Breck could
manufacture a dummy that would
throw quite a respectable shadow.
I may be wrong about the soap
face and the cotton hair; he may
, carry a mask and wig about with
him in his breast pocket which he
uses on the water pitcher; but I
. venture that some three nights a
.week, ever since, his trouble be-'
gan, Kreck has been at large. 1 he
other nights he's there, either with
his shades up or down. If yon want
to deceive the public, even a de
tective, establish a habit. I take
my hat off to him."
JJunbarton-Kent's lips had
ed apart and West's face had
grown expressionless. It was West
who asked the practical question:
"How does he get out of the house
and in again.
"How did he get into the garage
SoMceMllfonDoflars
and out again?" Willetts r-torted.
"Jones and I can't be on all tides
of the house at once I There are
two oaks growing close to Miss
Bella Dunbarton-Kent s bedroom
windows, and she's away half of the
time. I've watched those trees
pretty carefully. But while I was
watching them and Jones was do
ing his bet on the other side of
the house, Breck may have been
maneuvering the roof and sliding
down the front porch pillars. Or
the low roof of the servants' quar
ters would terve him nicely or
any down pipe that came handy.
Don't ask me I know I've done
my best."
Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent had re
gained her usual harassed expres
sion. "You have, Willetts you
have been a great comfort to me,"
she assured him. "Go on doing the
best you can. I've hoped and
hoped that by keeping as close a
watch on him as we could that we
might find the jewels. And,' too,
I've wanted the place guarded if
Mrs. Brant-Olwin's detectives were
"You keep avcay from
about I wanted to know it. But I
don't want any more men know
ing a secret that's hard to keep. I
have perfect confidence in you and
Jones, and all any of us can do is
our best. But, Willetts, why should
Breck want that puppy? I don't
understand it."
"Just a bit of defiance," West cut
in. "The same object he had in tak
ing the tires and tools. Sometimes
I can explain him only by think
ing that he's cunningly insane."
"Insane, nothing" Willetts burst
out. "His head's in as good condi
tion as his eyes and his feet he can
see in the dark and he can walk as
light as a cat. He's a clever man,
Breck, or he'd have cleared out
long ago with the loot he know's
there's more to be gained by stay
ing you'd give him more for those
jewels than any one else would."
Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent and West
looked at each other, but said noth
ing. Willetts aw the exchanged
glance, and, as often before, he felt
a sincere pity for Mrs. Dunbarton
Kent. She was a big-hearted, hon
est woman. It was a great pity she
was so bent on protecting the fam
ily name. It was partly because
she adored her husband s memory.
Frequently, when considering the
situation, Willetts said to himself:
"Damned if I'd be worked by the
slick crook! I'd give him over to
the law and brave the scandal."
Nevertheless, Willetts respected
her for the struggle she was mak-
S v- v 4 - - if Mm
FrC;-- , ; '
in though she had no great af
fection for these two, Bella and
West, she was considering their
future and the future of Kent
House. '
He broke the silence. "Well, I
wish we could get at the goods
that's what Jones and Tare here
for, of course. I hope they may
materialize through that Smith wo
man. Mr. Haslctt's working for
that. I guest Ml be off, now I've
told you what I'm certain of about
the dummy. But there's nothing to
be done about it except not to let
hitn or any one else know that we
tuspect. That's important, for slick
though he is. we may be able to
trail him some night and get a
clew to the jewels." Willetts was
anxious to save Marie a possible
scolding, so he added: "It might
be best not to set the little girl
wondering about the way her dog
disappeared, so the lers said about
it to her the better, I should think."
Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent nooded.
"Yes, I'd like someone in this
wretched household to be happy
I could even endure the presence
of a puppy from Colfax hall. Good
night, Willetts."
As soon as the door closed on
him West said, thoughtfully, "I
suppose that is the way Breck
managed his meetings with the
Smith woman. I've wondered.
But where? Hardly at her house
he'd not risk that not after the
night Marie recognized her.
Allen or I'll hill you.'
looked at his aunt's troubled face.
"Don't worry so, Aunt Buelah,
he begged. "What Willetts has
told us doesn't alter anything
what we want is" the jewels. Their
being able to see each other and
confer is a help rather than other
wise; they'll arrive at a plan so
much the sooner. They want to
be rid of the jewels. Let Haslett
try to get in touch with her, and
you go right on with your party
for Mrs. Brant-Olwin. And don't
worry so much." .
"He has my hundred -thousand
dollars, and he's likely to extort a
small fortune from me in addition.
Why exert himself to steal tires
and puppies?" Mrs. Dunbarton
Kent said bitterly.
"To accomplish exactly what he
has accomplished keep you wor
ried sick and in dread of him. The
more he can worry us he cer
tainly worried me tonight by his
looks and what he said the more
we will pay to be "rid of him. That's
an easy sum in crook arithmetic."
"I haven't looked at him once, in
the eye, since the day I begged
him to confess like a man and told
him I'd forgive him, for my hus
band's sake. I begged him to give
up the jewels and go away and
keep straight that I would pro
vide for him and he looked me
coolly in the eye and refused. And
since, for all these weeks, he's sat
three times a day within an arm's
length of me, neither of us looking
at the tlirr." She laughed short
ly. "Vfhat a situation I It would
be conic if it were not so hor
rible." "Try to forget it," Weal urged.
"You'll get the jewels and he'll go
I'm convinced of it. Try to" think
about your party certainly we
owe Mrs. Brant Olwin anything
we can do for her. Go to bed now
Aunt Bulah, do try to sleep."
Mrs. Dunharton-Kcnt rose with
a heavy sigh. "I envy that child
upstairs she can slrep. My bed's
been a place of torment for
weeks."
Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent was mis
taken; Marie had "not slept. Before
midnight the house had settled into
perfect quiet except for the big
clock in the hall below, which
tolled the, hours and the half hours.
When she could be still no longer
Marie had sat up in bed with a
blanket about her shoulders and
had looked out through her win
dows at the black gulf dotted by
occasional lights which indicated
the sound. It was a dark night,
no moon and no stars. She was
afraid to turn on the lights, afraid
even to get up and move about her
room, for she might startle a ner
vous household.
She was wretched; she had de
ceived Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent. She
had told her half-truths, for it
would have been impossible to ex
plain and not break her promise
to Colfax. Marie felt a passionate
affection for the big woman who
had .kissed her as one would a
daughter. "I ought to tell her
everything it is most dangerous,
to her interests, such a man as
Colfax knowing everything that
goes on here and all her plans; yet
it is impossible for me to speak.
If I should break my promise, Col
fax in his anger might do some
thing that would be harmful to the
entire family. It is a miserable
position for me."
Marie had stared into the dark
ness and -had tormented herself in
to a state of dazed distress. She
had flashes of thought, but mostly
she simply suffered. It was abom
inable what Bella was doing, de
ceiving her aunt, giving herself to
- such a m-n as Colfax. If ever a
woman was possessed -by a man,
that woman was Bella it was
written on the face she had lifted
from his shoulder. Undoubtedly
when she was absent from Kent
House for days at a time and Mrs.
.Dunbarton-Kent thought she was
with friends in the city, she was
with Colfax. She was another such
woman as Mrs. Smith, secret and
dangerous. There must be times
when Breck was" wretched over
what he had done. Perhaps by
some means Mrs. Smith had com
pelled him to do it? Though she
ached for a home and kindness,
she should not have accepted Mrs.
Dunbarton - Kent's offer. She
should have left Kent House. But
if she had gone she would have
lived in still greater anxiety, won
dering all the time what was hap
pening at Kent House. She was
between two fires. ' And what was
she going to do about West? She
had promised Mrs. Dunbarton
Kent that she would try to love
him.
Daylight is almost always a
comfort to frayed nerves; com
plexities are better defined, more
easily grasped, and the fear that
lurks in darkness, pressing upon a
distressed spirit, withdraws its op
pressive hand. Marie brought a
white face and a fairly resolute
Spirit with her to the breakfast
table. They were all gathered
there, Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent look
ing tired and grim; West grave
until Marie appeared, when his
face brightened; Bella' looking as
impenetrable as usual and with her
knitting in her lap, and Breclc
wearing his usual stony counte
nance. It was a silent meal. West ate
little, but looked assiduously after
Marie's comfort. Mrs, Dunbarton
Kent's face softened when she saw
her. "Weill I thought you were
still asleep or I'd have brought von
down with me. There wasn't a
sound in your room, and I meant
to let you sleep."
Marie did not say that she had
not slept at all and that for the
last two hours she had been tittinc
dressed and waiting for the soft
notes of the Chinese gong which
had brought the others down to
breakfast. "I have been awake
some time, thank you, madame. 1
sat and looked at the pretty room
and then at the passing boats upon
the water."
Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent eyed Ma
ria'e white face and heavy eyes
anxiously. "After breakfast walk
a little in the park and later on
take a nap. I never sleep well
myself in new surroundings."
Marie thanked her, then, bent
upon giving pleasure to the two
people who were trying to make
her happy, she said to West:
"From my window I saw you
walking in the park this morning,
but if you are not tired perhaps
you will walk again with me?"
It cost Marie an effort which
made the color come in her cheeks,
and then she grew white again, for
Breck lifted his eyes and looked
at her in a way that made her
want to weep, haggard eyes in a
set and stony face. Then, swiftly,
he looked at West, the steady nar
rowed look of the man who would
knife his rival. West met his eyes
as steadily, but without antagon
ism, merely a calm observance of
Breck.
They all saw it. Marie grew
pallid and Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent
looked apoplectic under the re
straint she put upon herself. But
West said with quick pleasure:
"Will I walk with you? Rather!
It's kind of you, little Marie. The
jonquils are coming up in the lawn
border I ordered some for you
from the florist yesterday. Do
you like a garden? To fuss among
flowers?"
"My aunt at St. Felix had a
most lovely garden. I worked in
it often. At the convent I studied
flowers, also." Marie knew only
that she was making some sort of
an answer for it had occurred to
ner suddenly that a jealous man
would look as Breck had looked,
appcalingly at her, then threaten
ingly at his rival. Marie felt a
sudden elation.
West was talking lightly. "You
had a 'Botany Book,' I suppose,
and, 'under a plain little pressed
daisy wrote 'Chrysanthemum Len
canthemum,' and things like that?"
There was laughter in his voice,
but his eyes were bright and keen.
Breck rose. "Excuse me, please,"
he murmured, and left the room.
He moved with extraordinary
lightness and opened and closed
the door in a noiseless way that
suggested vividly the midnight
prowler.
Marie lost all animation; the
weight returned to her chest. For
a moment she had forgotten com
pletely; forgotten Mrs. ' Smith,
everything. The thought that
Breck hated his 'cousin because of
her had made her happy, but the
lightfooted way in which Breck
had left the room made her feel
ill; she felt a sickening self-disgust.
She was glad Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent
was speaking. Then
she was startled by what she
heard.
"I am going to give a dinner
dance for Mrs. Brant-Olwin, so
don't make any engagement for.
the twenty-first," she was saying -to
Bella. "I want you to take
charge of the decorating; you're
good at that." '
A ripple of expression disturbed
Bella's regular features; Marie
thought that she looked taken
aback. But she said quietly
enough, "Very well, Aunt Bulah."
Then, after a pause, "I was going
to Philadelphia on the night of
the twenty-first you wouldn't
mind if I left before the party was
over?"
"No, do as you like," Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent
said with a touch of
irritation; "only don't appear to
slight Mrs. Brant-Olwin. I want
you to go this afternoon to call on
her with me."
Again there was a slight pause.
"Of course, I'll go if you think it's
best. You've called on her once
before, but I never have and she
doesn't love me. Perhaps it would
be better for me, to make friends
with her at the party it would
appear a little less as if the entire
family were suddenly laying itself
at her feet."
Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent consid
ered a moment. "You're right,"
she decided. "Besides" there was
ill suppressed irritation in her
voice "you've doubtless made
plans of your own for today."
"I was going into town this
morning to meet the Brests. I
was going for a week's trip south
with them," Bella returned im
perturbably, "but I can go this
evening just as well, and I can
come back on the 20th instead ol
the morning of the 21st, as I in-