Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-14
JTCHINSON
H A T c H.
gathered up
his OVercOat
andtookthe

andtookthe
steps coming down two
at a time. There was no car in sight, nothing on
wheels in fact, until-yes, here automobile
turning the corner, an automobile cab drifting along
apparently without purpose. Hatch hailed it.
Get me out to Commonwealth have and Arden
st. in hurry!" he instructed Take chance
with the speed law, and I'll make it worth while.
He yanked open the door, stepped in, and closed
it with slam. The chauffeur gave twist to his
lever, turned the car almost within its length, and
went scutt1ng off up street.
Safely inside, Hatch became suddenly aware that
he had fellow passenger. Through the gloom he
him, and there was the fantest odor of violets.
"Hello!" Hatch demanded. Am l in your
way"
Not in the slightest, came the voice of a wo-
"Why-I beg your pardon Hatch stammered.
Il thought had the cab alone-didn't know there
passenger Perhaps I'd better get out ~
No, no! protested the woman quickly. Don't
think of it
Then from outside came the believing voice of
policeman. Hey, there! I'll report you'll
CHANGING back, Hatch him standing in the
middle of the street jotting down something in
note book The chauffeur made few uncompl
mentary remarks about DlueCoas in general swished
round corner, and sped on. With half smile of
appreciation on his lips, Hatch turned back to his
unknown companion.
Z" If you will tell where you are going he sug-
gested, ri have the chauffeur set you down
It's of no consequence, replied the a
little YEARLY. Il am going place particularly
Just riding about to collect my thoughts
A woman unattended riding about in an auto
mobile at fifteen minutes of eleven o'clock at night
to collect her thoughts! And the chauffeur didn't
know he had passenger The reporter sat obliv-
Gus of the humping, grinding, of the automobile.
trying to consider this unexpected incident calmly
You are a reporter" inquired the woman.
Yes Hatch replied. =" How did you guess t."
- From seeing you rush of a newspaper office
in such hurry at this time of night. she replied.
Something important, dare say?
We'll yes, Hatch agreed. "A jewel robbery at
a ball. Don't know much about it yet ust got
police bulletin stating that Mrs Windsor Dilling
ham had been robbed of a necklace worth thirty
thousand dollars at big affair she is giving tonight
The inside of the cab lighted brilliantly by the
electric arc outside, and Hatch had opportuni
of seeing the face to face at close range She
was pretty; she young; and she well
dressed From her shoulders she was enveloped in
some loose cloak of dark material: but it was not
drawn together at her throat, and her bare neck
cleaned.
There being nothing whatever to say, Hatch sat
silently staring of the window the automobile
Whlrled into CommonWealth-ave. and slowed I'D as
it approached Arden-st.
will you do me one favor pleased, asked the
woman
Yes, if l cam, was the reporters reply.
Allow me, please, to get out of the automobile
on the side away from the curb, and be good enough
to attract the attention of the chauffeur to yourself
while am doing it. Here is bill, and she pressed
something into Hatch's hand. You may pay the
chauffeur tip for the passenger he didn't know he
had"
Hatch agreed in a dazed sort of way, and the
mobile came to stop. He stepped out on the curb,