Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1910-06-03

ROOM"
Can't you go from the room above.
argued the woman's voice. THE idea
OF getting me up at this hour because
some imbecile hasn't brains enough to
Keep his letters from blowing out Of
the window. If he'd been asleep as he
should have been at this time he
wouldn't have lost them. Indeed, I'll
not open that door. Go up a flight, or
down one"
"Oh. madame. assure you." broke
In the clerk again.
What's the row. Mary7" growled a
sleepy masculine voice The woman
on the inside and the clerk on the out
side began simultaneous explanation.
In the middle of 1t all the sleepy voice
gave return growl and ordered:
Unlock that door, Mary, and get
back into bed"
There was the grating Of the bolt.
the lifting Of a window, and then a
cry Of horror.
They are gone! They're not herel
Somebody has stolen them. I know
they lit here. l was SO careful to
watch"
Nobody in the hotel got them. No
body round here's got a light" an
nounced the clerk.
Glad they're gone," sounded the
voice known only to the watchers as
Mary" Who in the name of sense
would frolic round on a fire escape at
half past three in the morning picking
man. and go away with him, please.
Probably he'll find what he wants in
the court"
"Frankel. you follow them" suggest
ed Harry Morris. Frankel, waiting till
he heard the door close, slipped down
the hall after the two men, Sothern
with him.
Betty pulled down the shade, closed
and locked the window. Then she
locked the door. looked under the bed
tried the handles of the doors to the
adjoining rooms and spoke breathless-
| ly.
Now, Hartley"
AS If to guard him from unseen at
tack. the boys clustered round him. He
| drew forth the papers. One was an
unmounted photograph that might
have been that Of Cerisse Wayne or OF
the woman in the room across the
court. The other was a letter In the
Identical writing that the envelopes
found in Cerisse Wayne's room had
borne, and was dated only a week pre-
vious.
MY Dear Cerisse-Check- goes by
to-nights mail. Hope you will find II
sufficient Be very careful Think we
are being watched A slight mistake
would spoil all. and the struggle OF
years go for naught Life for me
would be death itself. H."
| I'm going to run across, see that
woman and chat with her while the
man Is gone" said Betty. rumpling ur
her soft brown hair, dull and satiny
as a pecan shell. She threw off her
collar and belt. and pulled her shirt
waist out from beneath her skirt
Then she kicked off her shoes. and in
this simulated negligee ran softly over
| the velvet sodded hall and around
through the corridor.
Let me see," she calculated. II am
the one, two. three, yes, I'm the eighth
door. That would make those doors
eight and nine from the corner on this
side"
Betty told off the doors with care
Sure that she was unobserved, she
raped distinctly several times. There
was no response, so she knocked vigor-
ously. This time the door flew wide
with such celebrity that Betty paled In
earnest.
"Oh, pardon mel" she faltered. But
I was alone and sick, and l saw your
light and thought maybe you could
help me. Have you any ammonia
I am so faint-I might send down.
stairs, but I am so unused to hotels
you know"
The young women rather stiffiy mo-
toned to Betty to enter Her thick
hair was In two long braids; she had
changed her tailored suit for cling
ing negligee of oriental patterned stun
and a girdle Of mammoth diamonds
held It close at the waist. Betty had
never seen such grace In woman be-
fore and her eyes were the most won
derful the girl had ever gazed upon
They shone so brightly that their color
was indlstinguishable. They were
twin wells of unfathomable brilliancy
softness and power.
The woman stepped into the bed
room beyond and Betty. from her sea-
on the couch, heard her call to the
clerk.
This is E44," phoned the double o.
Mrs. Wayne. Kindly send your house
keeper here. A young girl, evidently
n guest of the house, has become Ill
and appealed to me for aid. l canno
have her in my suite. She seemi
afraid to stop alone, SO will you sent
a woman to look after herr
Betty hurried to the door, stealthil!
opened It and skulked down the hall
As she rounded the corner somethinI