The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-02
THE EVENING STOR
Her Last Alias.
G. Horaee Hemstreet. }


from the girl reused him. Two men
were arguing with her. She, white
/ faced but determined, held her
ground.
There must be some mistake she
| insisted. 7 am Una Ormonde, of De-
troit- am on my way. to meet 4 party
of friends with whom I am going
abroad. II I miss the boat shall not
only lose the trip but I shall find my
self IN New York alone and friend
less. Can't you believe me?''
We believe the going to Europe
4 part all right" grinned one OF the de-
| tectives. That's the only part that
sounds good to rs Come ahead We
can't keep the train waiting for YOU
He laid his hand upon her shoulder,
and the girl gave a little cry. Clay
ton threw down the book and crossed
the aisle.
what IS the matter?" he asked.
! why do you annoy this lady 2"
This amt no lady; she's a conf
dence queen" said the detective
roughly. Don't you come butting in
or We'll have to run you in, too.
There's some mistake here" Clay
ton said quietly. Il presume you are
making the arrest on information ,"
| The detective drew a printed slip
from his pocket and passed 1t to Clay
ton. 1t recited that Loa Cogswell,
alias Prefer, alias Hay, alias Good
rich, was wanted in Chicago for
swindling. She was supposed to be
/
The description in a general way fitted
the girl, but Clayton saw that some
mistake had been made He had
been looking at the girl all the after
noon, and he would have sworn that
| she was no criminal That her dis
! tress was real was apparent.
This is all wrong" he said decid-
| edly. THAT description would fit hum
dreds OF women who have passed
| through this station today. If you
arrest Miss OrmOnde. you viii be sued
! for false imprisonment. I know her
| to be the person she says she is
zone of her pals, eh2' sneered the
detective II guess we'd better take
you, too
Clayton handed the man a card.
| IF ybu want to mess thing up still
further he said quietly, go ahead
The officer looked at tt card. 'sGOt
any letters to back this up" he de-
1nanded Clayton produced several
from his coat. The detective touched
his hat.
Il guess we made a mistake he
said uncertainty Sorry we troubled
the lady. 1 hope this will go no fur
Their sir
ITS ali right I suppose was the
careless answer. eff Miss Ormonde will
excuse you, I have nothing more to
say
The girl bowed her willingness. and
the two men filed sheepishly out OF the
car Arresting confidence queen was
son of the governor of the state was
quite another. They were glad they
were let off so easily.
Una turned to Clayton
IT am very much obliged to YOU.
she said softly. Il don't know what
should have done had they taken me
off the train. am to sail in the morn
ing with Uncle Jim and party or
friends Father sent him draft for
my. expenses and I should have landed
in New York with out funds or friends,
had I been detained"
81 am glad to have been of service,
Clayton said May 1 sit down here for
a few minutes. You see the other pas
sengers are looking. and since so
boldly claimed acquaintance, 1t would
look odd If I returned to my own seat"
ut was daring thing to do she
smiled. How do you know that I am
not this confidence queen?
That's easy" he declared. You do
not look the part. ] think / am q bet
ter Judge Of human nature than the
Il che ps with the badges"
She bowed her acknowledgment Of
the compliment.
Il should hate to feel that I looked
like a swindler," she laughed.
You look more like an angel, he
said daringly, and looking into the clear
eyes. 1T was that that first attracted
my attention..
5 L saw you looking several times she
! said demursly. You certainly made
an exhaustive study"
4 did not mean to be impertinent, "
he said. Il did not know that was
rude"
you were not" she conceded. TT
was moro that I was-well, let's say OBJ
clayton flushed. Somehow the girl
had made an impression on him when
she first came into the car. 1t was
pleasant 10 think that she: too. had
: been interested. The thought gave him
courage and almost before they rea
liked it the porter began to brush the
passengers down.
Mercy she cried. Il did not know
that time was passing so. We are al
most in New York"
II wish we were headed the other
way" he said regretfully. May call
before you go?'
Il sail in the morning" she said. It
am sorry that I cannot say yes. You
see I don't know what plans have been
made for this evening. and i. might not
look we'll TO have you calling when 1
cannot explain"
May 1 write he asked eagerly. Il
do not want to have you slip right out
Of my life
Il think it would be better" she said
slowly. Il wish you wohld even forge.
my name. II cannot explain"
'I'll think of you as Mile. Alias" he
said promptly. Your double had so
many names that I shall pretend that
you are she"
They had risen an5 We're standing on
the platform of the Pullman. She put
her hand in his.
Perhaps I am" she said softly.
THANK you so much for your kindness,
and good-by.'
She had slipped down the steps and
was lost in the crowd before Clayton
had recovered Prom the audacity of that
last speech. He knew that it could not
be true, yet for a moment the sugges-
ton shocked him. He hurried down the
| platform after her, but the boats were
just leaving their slips as he passed
through the gate and she was lost
For weeks Clayton puzzled over
that speech. He knew very wei that