Amarilly of Clothes-line Alley

The members of the household were put through the third degree, but each

declared his innocence in the matter.

"'Twas most likely Iry took it," said Cory, who found the baby a

convenient loophole for any accusations, "and most likely he hez

swallered it."

Gus persisted in his oft-repeated statement, that there was nothing in

the pocket when it was hung up during quarantine. This assurance was

conveyed to Colette by John, who hoped she might find solace in the

thought that none of the renters could have had it, if this were true,

but to his chagrin she found in his information an implied reflection on

her veracity.

"Colette," he said whimsically, "only three persons connected with this

affair have taken my remarks as personal, you, Brother Washington, and

the thief."

With this remark John, despairing of his ability to fathom the mystery

of the article or to follow the caprices of Colette, dropped the matter

completely.