The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-10-16
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: AN EMPTY STOREROOM :
BY JOHN PHILIP ORTIZ. /:
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ln6y DOtn nhu btuulOb III tuo nais
building, and they both boarded witt
the same landlady.
All this would not have attracted
as much attention as a raise in the
price of dill pickles but for the fact
that they were always In quarrel
What they quarreled about and what
surprised all their friends was fea
ture of crime-mysterious disappear
ances. They would read in the papers
that a girl was sent to the store OF
started out to her work, and had been
missing for two days. The earth had
swallowed her up She was not dis
satisfied with her home life and had
had nothing to depress her. Then
Miss Evans would deduce:
Some villain has kidnapped her"
"She has been coaxed into an elope.
ment."
"She went to Coney Island and was
drowned while bathing"
She was killed by an auto"
Mr.. Winters would deduce:
very likely the girl was advised
by other girls to assert her independ.
ence."
"She may have been invited to stay
at the house of one OF them while the
two of them ran around together for
a good time"
In two or three days the missing
girl will walk into her home with
defiant air."
Once In a while the missing girl
was found drowned, but 1t was so
rare, and Mr.. Winters was right so
often, that there was hardly peace
full day in the week for them.
One day the owner of a new studio
building called to ask them to inspect
his new apartments with view to a
change. Both we're satisfied to re
main where they were, but Of course
Miss Evans had a curiosity to see the
place. Without a word to any one
she set off, and after a street car
ride of mile she reached the place
The janitor was out.
She went to the top floor at once,
and she was Immediately interested.
She had looked about for quarter
OF an hour when she attempted TO
open door which she found locked.
1t was spring lock. however, and
after a moment she had 1t open.
There was large closet at the rear
of the suite, and it had no windows.
She was wondering what II was de
signed for. and she stepped in as she
wondered.
"Bangl"
A pun of wind from an open win.
dow closed the door on her, and the
spring lock did the rest. She pushed
and battered and kicked and shouted
but nothing came Of II.
Il deduce that it Will be afternoon
tomorrow before / am released" said
the girl as she sat down on the floor.
Il called Harold an idiot this morn.
Ing, and he will deduce from my alb.
sence that I have gone home with
Flora Day to stay all night Just to
bother him. I love Harold, but he
does vex me with his deductions"
Although their studios were side by !
side Mr.. Winters and Miss Evans did |
lot always walk home together, and it !
vas only when she did not appear at
he dinner table that she was asked
lfter.
II saw her on Vine avenue car
wo hours ago." said young man.
Mr.. Winters went to the club
hat evening. At midnight he quit his
billiards and made beeline for home.
lo Miss Evans yet
Look here, Winters" said board
r who had just come in. you deduce
hings. don't your"
Yes, have done So"
Then you'd better get to work on
his case. Miss Winters is steady az
be clock. Something must have hap.
ened her this time N
And Mr. Winters sat down in his
pom with pipe in mouth and deduced
5 follows:
Now. then, what happened during
le day? A little row. Mr.. Billiard
allied. Mrs. Davis called. The owner
the new studio called. He wanted
5 to look them over We didn't 20.
al / didn't go, but didn't Miss
vans? The card is at the studio. II
lie went what could have happened
} herr" 4
At three o'clock In the morning the 1
-tist led the way up the stairs of
Ie new studio. When he came to the
cked door he paused a moment.
Only an empty storeroom!" growled
e Janitor.
Yes. only an empty storeroom with
iss Evans asleep in corner!
Your heels are not too long" said
r. Winters as she cat up and rubbed
IT eyes.
Then you are not a fool" she
niled.
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