Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-18

able to have Her burst in upon you when you
look ready for the oven, like Thanksgiving
turkey. And Forbes. for all his amatory
flights, was land is) clean. kindly. honor
able young man, capable of rising to heights,
as shall be seen.
X7HAT the blazes are you doing here?'
Numbered the elderly man.
Forbes mumbled behind his handkerchief.
whats been going on here?'
The girl, however, had some sense. She
quickly unknotted the handkerchief Forbes
gasped hungrily, like fish out of water, and
worked his tongue round his cheeks. Some
thing issued from his numb lips that sounded
like "Thank you"
what has happened" demanded the girl.
"A gentleman in black mask"
"Janet, the safe! We have been robbed!
] told you it would happen"
The girl and her father rushed over, get
ting in each others way.
"Never saw the ruby nor the money!
"But he has taken my jewel box!" The
girl stood up, leaning against the wall, her
up and sink to the floor, like one of Piffle's
heroines. "My jewel box!' in low murmur.
Il beg pardon said Forbes, "but Id be
extremely grateful if you'd take off these
things. What time is it?" irrelevantly.
what time is it," bawled the girls father
swell, you're a cool hand! Quarter after
nine
Quarter after nine? Haven't been here
longer than that?'
doing here at all2" The elderly man picked
up the extension telephone.
"Father, what are you going to dor
4Do?" irately. why, send down to the
club for the caterer. What do you suppose?"
"If you call the police, you'll only make
me very unhappy. forbid you'll"
"Good Lord" Her father set down the
telephone. "Have your own way; but some
fine night we'll have our threats cut
Forbes stared at the GIRL much aston
ished. No hysterical wringing of hands. no
rushing aimlessly: only a quiet acceptance
of the inevitable. She did not want the po-
lice; investigation would only make her un-
happy. What had that box contained?
Then his establishment gave place to specu-
1ative admiration. He saw her profile on the
cover of "The World Wide" her arms filled
with goldenrod. Corking cover! He could
use the head for year at least. No hesitant
art editors when they saw this! What find!
will you kindly tell us how you came
here?" The girl turned to Forbes inquiringly.
Il am Mortimer Forbes. he said simply.
Her eyebrows remained elevated.
@The illustrator"
No change in her expression.
She had never heard of him! And she
wasn't foreigner, either. Forbes was rather
abashed.
Il came in here believing it to be the
apartment of Mr.. Jillson, my friend"
ellison? Oh, now we are getting some
where. Know him. Same club. Lives over
us. Moved in last week. Soon find out
whether you're telling the truth or not. I'll
60 up and get him. If he knows Mr.-ah-"
Forbes" DULY. Not that Forbes was
vain man, but he believed it matter of
course that everybody had heard of him or
seen his work.
FORBES. If what you say is true" The
excited parent did not complete the sentence,
but bolted from the apartment.
THE girl walked over to the safe again and
rummaged about. She was as pale as
lily. "You saw a man in a mask3"
Eyes"
"You saw him take box?"
ayes. A Florentine affair" The stole
was biting painfully. @He made no attempt
to open it."
She nodded. Then she held out for his
inspection large roll of crisp green and yell
low bills.
"He couldn't have seen it." replied Forbes,
understanding her gesture.
1DO vo,, know how much &c there2n