The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-01-09


force were hunting. My sight swan
for moment in blur.
What is 1t you think have done?"
| demanded
You have. or have had, several
thousand dollars worth of gems on
your person tonight
shrugged The accusation was SO
impossible that my confidence re-
turned.
Mr. Haggerty. you are making Q
stupid mistake. You are losing time,
besides. | am not the man for whom
you are hunting. My name is Richard
Comstalk"
One name or another, 1t does not
matter"
Plenty of gall" murmured one Of
the minions of the law. whom | after
ward learned was the chief OF the viii
lage police.
The card by which you gained
admittance here" demanded the great
Hasgerty truculently.
surrendered it. A crowd had by
this time collected curiously about us.
| could see the musicians on the stage
peering over the plants.
The thief you are looking for has
gone,' said I. HE escaped by the
coal window" BY this statement my
feet sank deeper still,
What did | tell you?" cried Hag-
gerty, turning TO his men. They had
an accomplice hidden in the cellars"
81 beg to inform you that you are
making mistake that will presently
cost you dear. of the polit-
icai pull my uncle had in New York.
Il am the nephew of Daniel Wither-
spoon"
Worse and worse! said the chief
of police.
I'VE shall discuss the mistake later
and at length. OF course you can easily
explain how you cane to impose upon
these people, ironically. Bah! the
game is up. When you dropped that
card in Friard's and said you were 60
ing to masquerade, | knew your
game in a minute, and laid eyes upon
you for the first tine since I began
the chase. I've been after you for
weeks. Your society dodge has worked
out, and III land you behind the bars
for some time to come, my gay boy.
Come, roughly.
Il request Mr.. Hamilton to be called.
He will prove to you that you are
greatly mistaken" Everything looked
pretty black, | can tell you.
You will see whom you please, but
only after you are safely landed in the
lookup. Now. Madame" - turning
swiftly upon the Blue Domino, what
is your part in this fine business?"
'It certainly has no part in yours"
-icily.
Haggerty smiled. "My skin is very
thick, Do you know this fellow"
She shook her head. He stood un-
decided for space
Let ME see your card"
II decline to produce II. t.'-haughtily.
Haggerty seemed staggered for a
moment. Il am sorry to annoy you,
but you must be identified at once"
And why?"-proudly. Was it for
hidden to go into the club cellars for
such harmless things as appes?"
Apples! | looked at her admiringly.
"Apples?" repeated Haggerty.
Couldn't you have sent a servant for
them?"
She did not reply.
You were with this clever gentle
man in the cellars. You may or may
not be acquainted with him. do not
wish to do anything hasty in regard to
yourself. but your position is rather
equivocal Produce your card and be
identifed-if you really can"
Il refuse,"
Then | shall ask you to accompany
us to the hoom up stairs till the police
patrol arrives"
Il will go."-quietly.
Nonsense" l objected. "On my
word of honor, do not know this
lady. Our presence in the cellar was
perfectly harmless. There is no valid
reason for OBTAINING her 1t is an out
rage."
Il am not going to stand here argu.
ing with you" said Hagerty. Let
the lady produce her card; let her dis
close her identity. That is simple
enough
Il have already given you my deter
mination on that subject" replied the
girl. Il can very well explain my pres
ence here, but absolutely decline to
explain it to the police"
/ didn't understand her at all. She
had said that she possessed an alibi.
Why didn't she produce it?
So the two of us left the gorgeous
ballroom. Every one moved aside for
us, and quickly, too, as If we had had
the plague. | looked in vain for Ham
ilton. He was friend in need. We
were taken into the stewards office
and the door was shut and locked.
The band in the ballroom went gal
Looping through a two-step, and the
gaiety was in full swing again. The
thief had been rounded up! How the
deuce was 1t going to end?
81 can not tell you how sorry | am
to have mixed you UP in this" said
to the girl.
you are in no manner to blame.
Think of what might have happened
had you blown up the post-offce!"
She certainly was the least embar-
rassed Of the two of us. | addressed
my next remark to the great Hag-
gerty.