The Springdale news., 1915-03-26

ms IS a trap of the Clutchine Hand, Walter, he whispered addine tehseiy, and we're going to walk right into it."
 But, Craig" I demurred, that's foolhardy. Have her trailed-anv. thing-but-"
 He shook his head, and with a mere motion of his hand brushed aside my objections as he went to cabinet across the room
 From one shelf he took out a small metal box and from another a test tube, placing the test tube in his "alsteoat pocket and the small box in Ills coat pocket with excessive care
 Then he turned and motioned to me to follow him out into the other room. l did so, stuffing my "gatt" into my pocket
 Let me introduce my friend, Mir Jameson, said Craig, presenting me to the pretty crook.
 The introduction quickly over. we three went out to get Craig's car.
 ieH AS hep. at HedIpy garage.
 
 That forenoon Perry Bennett was reading up case. In the outer of. flee Milton Schofield, his office boy. was industriously chewing gum and admiring his feet, cooked up on the desk before him.
 The door to the waiting room opened and an attractive woman of perhaps thirty. dressed in extreme mourning, entered with a boy.
 Milton cast glance of seorn at the little dude He was in reality about fourteen years old, but was dressed to look much younger
 Did you wish to see MT. Bennett 9" asked the precocious Milton, politely. OH one hand, while on the other he made wry grimace
 "Yes-here is my card" replied the woman
 IL was deeply bordered in black Even Milton was startled at reading it. Mrs Taylor Dodge"
 He looked at the woman in open mouthed astonishment. Even he knew that Elaine's mother had been dead for years
 The woman, however, true to her name in the artistic eotere in which she was leader. had sunk into a chair and was sobbing convulsively, as only @Weepy Mary" could
 It was so effective that even Milton was yisibly moved He took the card in, excitedly, to Bennett.
 There's a woman outside-says she is Mrs. Taylor Dodge," he cried
 If Milton had had an X-ray eye he could have seen her take a cigarette from her handbag and light it non chalantly the moment he was gone.
 AS for Bennett, Milton, who was watching him closely, thought he was about to discharge him on the spot for bothering him. He took the card, and his face expressed the most ex- treme surprise. then anger. He thought moment.
 Tell that woman to state her busi- ness in writing he thundered curtly at Milton.
 As the boy turned to go back to the waiting room, Weepy Mary, hear ing him coming. hastily showed the cigarette into her sons" hand
 MT Bennett says for you to write about" reported Milton, indicating the table before which she was sitting.
 Mary had automatically taken up sobbing with the release of the ciga- rette She looked at the table on which were letter paper, pens and ink. q may write here?" she asked.
 Surely, ma replied Milton, still very much overwhelmed by her sorrow
 "Weepy Mary" sat there, writing and sobbing.
 In the midst of his sympathy, how ever, Milton sniffed. There was an unmistakable odor of tobacco smoke about the room. He looked sharply at the son. and discovered the still smoking cigarette.
 II NdS lOU tI1uIu iOi -'i'isOAi o |"N ragged dignity. Bennett did not allow him that coveted privilege. This up- start could not usurp it.
 He reached over and seized the boy by the arm. and swung him around till he faced a sign in the corner on the wall.
 "See?" he demanded
 The sign read. courteously:
 No Smoking in This Office-Please.
 "PERRY BENNETT" "Ieggo my arm" snarled the son, putting the offensive cigarette defi- antly into his mouth
 There was every element of gaudy mixup, when the outer door of the of- flee suddenly swung open and Elaine Dodge entered.
 Gallantry was Milton's middle name, and he sprang forward to hold the dcor. and then opened Bennett's door, as he ushered in Elaine.
 As she passed "Weepy Mary who was still writing at the table and cry ing bitterly, Elaine hesitated and