El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-08-26

the papers" he said briskly. The
question is, how much are you prepared
to potter out?"
"A chronic state of impecuniosity
tempted me to see you 1 returned,
sadly. You'll have to think of some
| thing requiring little or no outlay"
That's my trouble. too" the lady
said ruefully.
He looked from one to the other,
and slowly replaced the file.
Its a pity" he observed. For a
hundred 1 could have made you gal
liant hero. AS it is, there is but one
thing; We shall have to get YOU into
the courts-the Bailey, for preference
THE Bailey as we'll any other" L
said, smiling. Go on. What's the
charger"
Murder" he raped out the ugly
word coming like a shot.
Nothing less?" I inquired mildly
who's the victim?'
1.-The LADY," he cried. pointing fat
finger at my prospective partner
Let me correctly apprehend your
scheme" 1 interrupted him. Il am pre-
sumed to murder this guileless lady
The circumstantiaI evidence IS strong
enough to justify my arrest, although,
1 take it. the body has disappeared
In due course. I am brought to trial
and possibly convicted
1--WE must have you convicted. IN
terjected Mr.. Prapps decidedly.
THANK YOU" said. Il am SEN
fenced to the s1treme penalty; 1 am
counting the da 8. when
'The lady isNproduced." cried Mr.
Prapps, triumphantly. And there you
are"
THAT'S settled. then" said Mr.
Prapps, rubbing his hands Il don't
a
good thing for me-"
He shook our hands warmly. and to-
gether, laughing merrily, my partner
to he and I passed out
"As preliminary to our further
acquaintance, you will lunch with
me?" I said, as we emerged from the
building i've got to learn all about
you before the fatal day
She accepted my invitation gracious
", and presently we were seated face
to face at a little secluded table IN a
popular restaurant I knew OF.
This extravaganza dOeSn'- run with
the tale of stony-brOkedness. she re-
marked, with a roguish twinkle in her
eyes.
This is an occasion" I said What
of a little extrava gance now? Are we
not TO be in clover presently Tell, me,
what characters have you sustained?
MY ambition is to play Juliet, Mr..
Mugg," she replied, begging the ques-
ton shamelessly. What have you
done?"
smiling. Il rather fancy I could fetch
em in a Martin Harvey part
Il am Grace TO mine" she said. II
am bound to confess, Tom. that I can't
fancy YOU playing the villain You
don't look like one a little bit. and
am seriously afraid that for that rea-
son the brilliant plan of our friend
will fail No jury would convict YOU"
"Ah. but you forgot" I said. THE
deed is unprecedented. and prompted
by furious jealousy or drink. You
may depend our ingenious friend will
have convincing reason for the
crime"
Before the meal was over Grace"
and tom" came as naturally as if we
were old friends.
we talked laughinsly of the days
when we should be stars" of the first
magnitude and squabbled merrily es
to the ratio of our earnings. We were
in the midst of pretty little argument
when a hand fell on my shoulder like
bolt from the blue-bringing us back to
reality.
Looking up, I recognized an old
friend and brother scribe.
How do. Tome" he greeted me. Il
did not know you and Grace Garden
were acquainted. Miss Garden. this
fellow Johnson will have a column out
of YOU as sure as nuts. He's a terror"
Smiling adieu, he went away. leaving
US staring each at the other in panied
surprise which gradually gave way
to unrestrained laughter.
you are Grace Garden. the lady who
wrote those remarkable articles Behind
the FOotlights for The Dial I said
Madam. you are a fraud"
you are Thomas Johnson whose fer
tile brain sees copy in everything" she
retorted. Sir. you are a humbugr
You answered the advertisement for
an experienced" I said.
you went to dear old trustful