Part 25 (1/2)

”Ask Mrs. Pell to step over here for a minute,” says Sadie.

”What's doing?” says I, after the maid had left.

”I don't know,” says Sadie. ”I've got to give that jewelry back to the silly thing first; then we'll see.”

So I handed the trinkets over, and it wasn't long before Mrs. Pell shows up. And say, the minute them two came together the mercury dropped about thirty degrees. Bein' behind the gla.s.s, I couldn't see; but I could hear, and that was enough.

”Here are your lost rings,” says Sadie.

That's her, every tick of the watch. If she was tackled by a gyasticutus, she'd grab it by the horns.

”Oh!” says Mrs. Pell, gatherin' 'em in; ”And how does it happen that you have them?”

”I'll tell you to-morrow,” says Sadie.

”I'd rather not wait that long,” says Mrs. Pell. ”I prefer to know now.”

”You ought to be satisfied to get them back,” says Sadie.

”Perhaps,” says Mrs. Pell; ”but I'm just a little curious to know how they got away. My maid thinks the person who took them is still in the house.”

”If I listened to all the things my maid says--” begins Sadie.

”There are maids and maids,” says Mrs. Pell. ”I can trust mine. She saw the man. More than that, Mrs. Dipworthy, she thinks he is hidden in your rooms.”

”She must have seen my brother,” says Sadie, ”or Professor McCabe.”

”It's quite possible,” says Mrs. Pell; ”but I shall insist on having the officers sent for.”

”Why,” says Sadie, ”I might have taken them myself, just as a joke.”

”Indeed!” says Mrs. Pell in a polite a.s.sault-and-battery tone. ”Then perhaps you will confess as much to the other guests? Will you?”

And that was a facer for Sadie. She'd been keeping a stiff lip up to this, but she came to the scratch wabbly in her voice. ”You wouldn't want me to do that, would you?” says she.

”In justice to my maid, I must,” says Mrs. Pell.

”Well,” says Sadie, ”if you're mean enough for that, I suppose I--”

But, say, I couldn't stay under cover any longer, with her bein' pushed down the chute in that style. I was wise to her game all right. She meant to stand up and take all that was coming, even if it put her down and out, just to keep the hooks off that kid brother of hers. And me loafin' back of the ropes with me hands in me pockets! I'd been a welcher, wouldn't I?

”Did I hear my cue?” says I, steppin' out into the lime-light.

It was a tableau, for fair. Me and Mrs. Purdy Pell didn't do anything but swap looks for a minute or so. I can't say just how pleased she was, but I've had better views. She wasn't any dainty, lily-of-the-valley sort. She was a good deal of a cabbage rose, I should say, and carried more or less weight for age. She had an arm on her like a fore-quarter of beef. I don't wonder that Purdy Pell skipped to Europe and didn't put in any answer when the proceedin's came up.

”Are you the one?” says she.

”No, he isn't,” says Sadie, speakin' up brisk.