Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-04
CAROLYN WELLS.

Copyright. 1910. BY J. B. Lippincott Company
Copyright 1911. BY J. B. Lippincott Company

reserve typical of an English woman.
Though not unattractive to look at, she
possessed the high cheek bones and
prominent teeth which are almost uni
versal in the women of her nation. She
was, perhaps. between thirty and forty
years old, and had the air of grande
dame
'Mr. Burroughs" she said. looking
through her lorgnon at my card. which
she held i'm her hand.
Yes / assented, and Judging from her
appearance that She was woman of a
decided and straightforward nature l
came at once to the point
I'm a detective. madam began, and
the remark startled her out of her calm.
"A detective!' she cried out with much
the same tone as if 1 had said rattle
snake.
DO not he alarmed. merely state my
profession to explain my Grand
Not be alarmed when a detective
comes to see me! How can ] help it T.?
Why. I've never had such an experience
before. 1t is shocking, I've met many
queer people i'm the states, but not de-
tective. Reporters are bad enough
Don't let it disturb you so, Mrs Pur-
Wis. ] assure you there is nothing to
trouble you in the fact Of my presence
here. unless 1t is trouble of your own
making.
Trouble of my own making!" she al
most shrieked Tell me at once what
you mean or I shall ring the bell and
nave You 0lSm1SSeI
Her fear and excitement made me think
that perhaps ! was on tho track of new
developments, and lest she should carry
out her threat of ringing the bell, L
plunged at once into the subject
Mrs. Purvis. have YOU lost a gold
mesh bag?" l said. bIuntly
NO, | haven't" she snapped land if
l. had | should take means to recover it
and not wait for detective to come and
ask me about it,
r
she might be telling a falsehood about the
bag. but l didn't think so. She was
angry, annoyed and little frightened at
my intrusion, but she was not at all en-
barrassed at my question
Are you quite sure you have not lost
a gold-link bag?' l insisted. as if in idi-
otto endeavor to persuade her to have
done so.
"Of course I'm sure" she replied, half
laughing now: II suppose L should know
it if I had done So
Its rather valuable bag ] went on.
with gold framework and gold chain
We'll. il it's worth a whole fortune it
isn't my bag she declared; for l never
owned such a one
Well I said in desperation. "vour
visiting card is in it,
my visiting card'' she said with an
expression Of blank wonderment We'll.
even II that is true. it doesn't make it my
bag. l frequently give my cards to other
people,
This seemed to promise light at last.
Somehow l couldn't doubt her assertion
that it was not her Bag and yet the
thought suddenly occurred to me if she
were clever enough to be implicated in
the Crawford tragedy, and if she had left
her bag there, she would be expecting this
inquiry and would probably be clever
enough to have story prepared.
Mrs. Purvis. since you say it is not
your bag, I'm going to ask you, in the
l,-I
can
I'm quite willing to do So sir What
is it you wish to know?''
"A crime has been committed in small
town In New Jersey. A sold-link bag was
a1terWard discovered at the scene of the
crime and though none OF it's other con-
tents betokened its owner, a visiting card
with your name on it was in the bag
Becoming interested in the story Mrs.
Purvis seemed to get over her fright and
was exceedingly sensible for woman
1t certainly is not my bag Mr. Bur-
roughs, and If my card is in it l can only
say that l must have given that card to
the lady who owns the bag
This seemed distinctly plausible and
also promised further information.
do you remember giving your card TO
any lady with such a bag?''
Mrs Purvfs smiled. $50 many of YOUR
American women carry those bags" she
said; they seem to be almost universal
this year 1 have probably given nv
card to score of ladies, who immedi-
ately put it into just such a bag
Gould you tell me who they are?''
mo, indeed and Mrs Purvis almost
laughed outright at what was doubtless
foolish question.
But can't you help me in any wav?,
pleaded.
Il don't really see how l cam she re-
piled. You see l have so many friends
in New York. and they make little parties
for me. or afternoon teas Then I meet a
great many American ladies and we often
exchange cards. But We do it so often
that Of course l can't remember every
particular instance. Have YOU the card
you speak OFF,
Go be continued tomorrow.)