Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-18
BY MRS. JACQUES FUTRELLE


And how? And if do the smudge will always be there,
my in the records of the police. Do you suppose
| am going to let you expose yourself my champion9
Everybody will believe It, except perhaps your mother,
and Laura and-and yourself Miss Sargent believes
I'm thief
Louie, will you marry tonight, now, give
the right to protect you?'
NO. | answered promptly.
Its all darned foolishness Natalie accusing you!
She acted impulse. She will be ashamed of her
self when she's had time to think it over
"She didn't act on an impulse; she isn't that kind.
She's she's right. Do you remember | the
balcony the time she thinks her bracelet stoeno'
"Do you know that before you came she suspected
Winthrop?' he asked.
@Yes, know
dts all a lot of tommyrot, her suspicious | believe
she loses things No else has had anything stolen.
If we have thief here, he wouldn't stop Jewel
where there are SO many If she's in earnest about be
ing robbed why doesn't she go to the police and saw so?
"O-o-oh! The poice!" l couldn't resist initiating her.
"Well, perhaps she's going to the police That
that's what | must be prepared for She hasn't had
time to do anything yet but tell your mother Natalie
won't gossip, Hap She's true blue but of course she
will do something decisive after-after accusing me.
Surely your mother will send me away You see can't
not think beyond that! Whatever comes, must face
it with 10 to help me-
"And NEEDN'T leave me out, Louie You're going
to marry me! It's the best answer know to any sus-
picions'
I'm not going to marry you, Hap. I've tried to
make you the the big reason and there
thousand little ones. Don't you suppose everybody
knows about me, that | a salared servant3 No,
there is trying disguise it. Everybody knows
my position; I'm not allowed to forget it. There's
great deal of in the way Natalie indicates
vacant chair when she wants me to fill in at bridge 1t
rather Mrs Hancock sent me for golf balls
the other day, actually! Yes, l know, everybody is
pretty decent since Laura kicked up row about that
episode at Mrs Dykemans; but it only served make
it conspicuous that Mrs Dykeman didn't con-
slider guest was only borrowed for the occasion.
awkward expected it to be. Your mother has been
heavenly to me- and society has taken to me rather
kindly; but marry YOU Graclous'
HEARD the steady beat of motorboat and paused
to listen. Hap heard it too. 1t wasn't anything
unusual except that the insistent beat of the engine
miles an hour
That's Winthrop isn't it," Hap asked.
Il think So He's coming pretty fast isn't he2 Win
throp doesn't always race like that
We could see searchligh only family; for the
SO bright: 1t was coming toward us steadily When
almost opposite landing the boat swerved and
directly head on. 1t stopped with snort and puff,
the searchght was snapped out and some one landed
tied the boat, and Strengthened up against the
light
Hello old man. Winthrop answered He came
toward us. as it Miss Goldman? Did you
ing? l can run away from anybody on this shore
Well" He dropped down the sand, took off his cap,
and turned his face to the breeze.
"Were you running away from anybody" l asked.
"Yes, think was Funny thing happened. | was
away up somewhere along the beach there in front of
Hemmngways' or that old General-whats his name?
Schuyler when my carbureter baked bit | shut
her off and started what the trouble was must
have drifted in shore; for the first thing knew three
men down the beach, yelled, Hands up and was
rather startled when by the moonlight that they
meant me-
"A hold-up!' Hap calculated.
"Why, didn't have anything to steal, Winthrop
laughed. "But decided didn't want to put them to
the trouble of finding that out If | had had anything
but my bare hands and monkey wrench, might have
given them turn; instead gave the engine full power
and away from that place. One of the fools shot
at me got in the sleeve
"Shot you!' | cried.
Just my sleeve he answered. "Made a hole in it.