The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-05-13
This Weeks Novel a Week!
New Story of Real Mystery


burst into the room through a
window or a hole in the wall. And
she had never heard of j. Morti-
mer Forbes! Well, that was
quite possible.
A young and beautiful woman
who went in for jade snuff-bottles
and pieces of Shah Abbas rugs
was not to be expected to bother
about magazine covers, and
heaven knew there were enough
of them!
Breakfast-foods and soaps and
hair-tonics, He had thrown
away a brilliant career because II
was easier to earn money than to
strive for good work. Now II
was too late.
rs there anything I can do?"
NO"
'If you don't mind. l should
like a drink of water"
"Oh!" She got up quickly.
The bills scattered about the
floor again. Forbes was becom-
ing more and more positive that
he was in the middle of some
wonderful nightmare.
He expected nothing less than
a goblet of Chinese bendable
glass; but as she returned with
an ordinary tumbler, he got him.
self In hand once more.
For the second time he re-
trieved the bills. This time she
tossed them into the safe. Fiji
teen thousand dollars; as he
would have tossed a tailor's bill
into the wastebasket, and often
did!
Then in came the young wom-
ans father, Jillson and a very
pale door-boy.
Mort, you old vagabond, what
the deuce have you been up to
now" cried Jillson. Good even
ing, Miss Mearson.
So her name was Mearson.
Where had he heard that name
before?
"Why, that imbecile of a boy
there told me the third floor, left,
and here it is"
II called up, sir, but you did
not hear me, you were in such a
hurry. | came on new today"
Jillson smiled. You may go.
| shan't report you this time. "
The boy vanished gladly enough.
Now, supposing we send for the
police?"
NO." said Miss Mearson de-
terminedly. 1T might attract
other thieves. l do not want the
police or the newspapers to know
anything about the affair. The
box will be returned when he
finds nothing but letters in it.
Mr.. Mearson jerked his Shout
ders; Jillson scratched his chin
Forbes sighed.
"Well, then, Forbes-but I beg
pardon. Forbes. Miss Mearson
and her father. Forbes, Miss
Mearson, is an old friend of
| mine, an artist"
Sorry, you've had all this in
convenience, said Mearson de-
Gently. 1T was a clever scoun-
drel. Seemed to know about our
affairs. Lured us downtown
false telephone call"
mo harm done" replied Jill
son, locking his arm in Forbes
Good night. Hope the box is re-
turned when the thief finds there
| is nothing valuable in it,"
The girl smiled in a detached
way.
Now, Jill, old man." said
Forbes on the way up to Jill
sons, "a word about this, and
I'll never forgive you. Did Near
son speak before the boys?"
mo. You're safe enough
Mum the word il it will ease
you. Mighty good joke on you,
though. We've been waiting for
you for an hour. Rang up your
studio, your club and your favor
lite bar. Crawford's having his
usual run of luck. Four-card
draws and all that, and he's four
hundred ahead of the game at
| this minute"
"Hes always the devils luck.
But. lucky at cards, unlucky at
love-"
"Oh, punk! There's Wheedon;
happiest married man in town,
and he wins about 5000 year.
Only, Crawford's luck is I'M
canny."
Good old Gravity! Who are
the Mearsons? I've heard the
name before"
Hang it, l mean the girl. And
all those museum pieces. -
"Oh, she's the niece of that
ratty old codger Mearson, the
curio-collector. Left his millions
to the girl and the best of his col
lection. AS l understand 1t, she
must use the collection as furni-
ture. He rowed with all the
museums over a big ruby. Blu,
a