The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-08-18
WESTERLY AND HIS PAL
BY VANE THOMPSON.


girl 1.-the and brown and gypsy-look-
ing, paused to gaze down at him.
She was still regarding the sleeper
with speculative interest when two
men stepped quickly out of the
thicket
One of them caught the girls Shout
der in a rough grasp. The other COW
cred Westerly with gun and kicked
him into wakefulness.
Caught you, haven't WEI" jeered
one of them.
There was a flash of silver stars
beneath coat lapels and one Of the de- |
tectives condescended to explain the |
situation.
ITO begin with, Wickes," he said |
coolly, 'of course you know what |
we're after"
my name isn't Wickes," returned
the other calmly.
"Oh, well, of course you'll deny it,
Call yourself John Doe if you want
to-and your pal here, call herself
Jane Doe, if she likes it better"
pail" echoed the man and girl in
unison. why, we are strangers"
Can it," said the detective with
rude laugh. I've got your descrip-
tons here somewhere. You're wanted
for the Redman jewel robbery"
The girl uttered a sharp cry and
then was silent
Westerly laughed outright, but he
watched the girl with curious eyes.
"Oh, you come along. You can
talk it over at headquarters. And
| Westerly and the girl were hurried
| to waiting motor car and whirled
cityward
Westerly watched the girl with
| growing curiosity She did not look
like a criminal, although the detec-
tives insisted upon calling her French
Mary. She sat close Tipped with an
air of aloofness that puzzled her COM
| panions
AS Westerly studied her profile he
! noted that underneath the. golden
tan was clear white skin, her fea-
lures were regular, the contour of
1 her face exquisitely dainty. Her hair
was a misty black cloud beneath an
ancient panama kat. Her skirt and
blouse of tan linen were muddy and
, stained, and her little brown hands
were scratched and soiled On one
: finger blazed a superb emerald.
5 Westerly's eyes widened. The
story of the Redman emerald had
appeared in every newspaper, to
gether with the list of missing jewels
And this girl was wearing it openly
= brazenly.
! One of the detectives laughed
harshly and touched the ring.
The girl drew her hand away with
. a naughty gesture.
Please do not touch me again" she
0 requested.
Il What fine airs!" sneered the dis
comfited official. And what jewel!
might you be wearing Mr.. John Doe?
T. He turned to Westerly
, "I'll show you when we face tn,
: chief" said Westerly grimly.
! The girl turned and looked at hin
curiousIy. Perhaps she studied hi
l. clean-cut face with its close-lippet
$, mouth and quiet gray eyes too long
d for when Westerly encountered he
!, gaze she blushed holly and turne
N away.
They reached headquarters an
soon faced the chiefs keen scru
tiny.
What the dickens, men," he bt
gan, and then became watchfull
r silent.
j. Slippery Wickes and his pa
rs French Mary-wanted for the Redma
g robbery" announced the detectiv
b. promptly.
d "Yep-caught with the goods OF
g Show the chief your emerald, m
LADY,"
y The girl laid her little soiled han
> on the chiefs big one.
=. rs this the Redman emerald" sh
= coolly said. I've worn it for year
re 1t belongs to mel"
" GO on" he said to her, "tell m
: who you are and how you happene
to be caught?"
The girl laughed musically. ''Wh
am Cynthia Redman," she said.
-. knew this man must be innocent {
, the robbery, for this afternoon N
-, fathers coachman made a full CO.
:. fession of the crime and restored I'll
stolen property"
The crestfallen detectives locke
- upon Westerly as a remaining pre-
q to their official dignity
Shall we run this fellow in?" OF
I asked
i "Oh, run yourselves in for pair
I numskulls." snapped the chief. Gar
you recognize one of your own pole
81 commissioners?
"A Westerly, at your service
8 grinned the dusty man. Il was TT
g ing to find the Redman place-wantt
4 to do a little sleuthing myself"
AS the chief went out with the tv