Putnam patriot., 1914-08-14

sign of the manager. shaynon or Mrs. Strone
 "story?" the detective suggested at length.
 Plant" retorted P. sybarite as tersely.
 "Salted you?"
 In the elevator, of course"
 1t come to me that was the way of it when he sprung that bunk stuff about you cOarseIy loading said loot into your coat tail" admitted the de- tective. That didn't sound sensible. even if you did have a skirt to fuss into cab. That was one swell piece of goods you bundled into No. 230." What" cried P. Sybarite
 The detective started.
 Wasn't that the number of the lady's eab-two-thirty?
 Good Gedn calculated P. Sybarite. jumping up.
 Whats hit youE" said the detective His words were ldressed to his own conscience and to the horizontal folds of the Inverness that streamed from the shoulders of P. Sybarite as he bolt ed unhindered through the Fifth ave nue entrance. The little man was ex- claiming:
 bolt Blockhead, Imbecile, Idiot, Numskull. Ass! Simpleton. Loonr' The chill air of early morning wiped the blistering epithets from his lips as be fled like madman down Fifth ave nue.
 Deliberately had he permitted him. self to be duped circumvented. over reached.
 Why had he never for an instant dreamed that the words two thirty" could indicate anything but the hour of some otherwise undesignated appoint ment? Of course it had signified the number of Marian's carriage check. s.230."
 If he had ere this entertained any doubts whatever of the ugly grounds for his fears. they were now resolved. by recognition of Bayard's clumsy ruse. to keep him both out of the cab and out of the way while November and his lieutenants executed their in- famous commission.
 And all that was now ten-6fteen- twenty minutes old. Marians car was gone. and if it had not reached the Plaza the girl was lost irrevocably lost On the way to the Bizarre from Peter Kenny's rooms. some freak of a mind superfeially preoecupied had caused him to remark. on the south side of Forty-third street, i'm mediately east of Sixth avenue. long rank of buildings
 Of these. one building boasted the blazing electric announcement, "All Night Garage"
 Into this last P. Sybarite peted at the top of his speed and pulled up pufing. to stare neryously round place gloomy. cavernous and pungent with fragrance of oil. rubber and gaso- line. Out of the shadows behind him, presently came voice. drawling: You certainly do take on like you'd lost a power of trouble"
 Taxi" the little man panted vo- ciferously.
 The other yawned and stretched. ''It can't be done,'' he admitted fairly. "They ain't no such animal on the premises"
 With gesture P. Sybarite singled out the nearest car.
 grily.
 Ten dollars an hour
 "Ill take it.
 But you asked for a taxi" grum- bed the man. rising to press button. Whereupon a bell shrilled somewhere in the dark backward of the establish ment "Deposit?' he suggested, turn ing back
 P Sybarite disbursed golden double eagle. and to the operator who reused by the bell. presently drifted ont of the shadows. gaping and rub bing his eyes, he promised liberal tip for haste.
 In two minutes be was rolling out or the garage ensconced in the body of luxurious and high powered touring machine which he strongly suspected to be somebody's private ear lawlessly farmed out while it's owner slept.
 Self conscious and ill at ease, he pre- scented himself to the amused inspec- tion of the night force in the oilee or the Plaza. made his haiting inquiry and received the discounted assurance that Miss BlesslnCton. although known and valued patron of the house was not then its guest. He turned away. sobered. bafiled. outwitted and miserably at loss to guess what next t0 do
 Gloomily he paused with hand on the open door of his car. thoughts pro foundly disturbed and unsettled. for so long that the operator grew restless. Where next. sir:" he asked.
 Wait" said P Sybarite in man her of abstraction that did him no in justice.
 CHAPTER XII.