The Dermott news., 1915-05-20
SEVENTH EPISODE
The Double Trap.

Mindful of the sage advice that a time of peace is best employed in pre- pairing for war. I was busily engaged in cleaning my automatic gun one morning as Kennedy and were seat ed in our living room.
 Our door buzzer sounded and Ken nedy, always alert, jumped up, push ing aside a great pile of papers which had accumulated in the Dodge ease.
 Two steps took him to the hall where the day before he had installed peculiar box about four by six inches, connected in some way With I lens like box of similar sizc above opr bell and speaking tube in the hallway be- low 1t He opened it disclosing au ob- long plate of ground glass.
 T thought the seismograph ar rangement was not quite enough after that sprjng-gun affair" he remarked. so I have put in sort of televlew of my own inyentiou-so that I can Sc down into tho yestibule downstairs Well-just look who's here,"
 Some new-fangled periscope ar rangement, suppose" queried, aov- ing slowly over toward it
 However. one look was enough to interest me I can express t only in slang There framed in the little thing. was vision of as swell a "chicken' as l have ever seen.
 I whistled under my breath
 "Um,9 I exclaimed shamelessly. "A peach Who's your friend2@
 had never said truer word than in my description of her. though I did not know it at the time She was jn- deed known as @Gertie the Peach in the select circle where she belonged.
 Kennedy had opened the lower door and our fair visitor Was coming upstairs.
 Co in there Walter" he said seiz- ing me quickly and pushing me into my room T want you to wait there and watch her carefully
 Kennedy opened the door. dlsclos- ing very excited young woman
 "Oh, Professor Kennedy, she cried all in one breath. with much emotion I'm so glad l found you in can't tell you. Oh-my jewels They have been stolen-and my husband must not know of 1t Help me to recover them -please,"
 "Jnst moment. my dear young lady" interrupted Craig, finding at last chance to get word in edge ways. "Do you see that table-and all those papers? Really, cant take your case. am too busy, as 1t is. even to take the cases ef many of my own clients"
 But please. Professor Kennedy please'" she begged Help me l. means-oh. l can tell you how much 1t means to me-
 She had come close 10 him and had laid her warm. little soft hand on his, in ardent entreaty
 From my hiding place in my room. could not help seeirs that she was using every charm of her sex and per sonality to lure him on. as she clung contidingly to him.
 Gertie had thrown her arms about Kennedy, as if in widest devotion. l wondered what Elaine would have thought if she had picture of that!
 "Oh," she begged him. please please help mel
 Still Kennedy seemed utterly unaf- fected by her passionate embrace. Carefully he ioosened her fingers from about his neck and removed the plump, enticing arms,
 Gertie sank into chair, weeping. while Kennedy stood before her mo ment In deep abstraction.
 Finally he seemed to make up bis mind to something. His manner toward her changed. He took a step to her side.
 'I will help you." he said. laying bis hand on her shoulder. If 1t is pos sible will recover your jewels. Where do you Hvef"
 At Hazlehvrst," she replied, grate- fully. -Oh, MT. Kennedy, how can 1 ever thank your"
 She seemed overcome with grati- tude, and took his hand, pressed it, even kissed 1t.
 Just a minute" he added, carefully extricating his hand. I'll be ready in just a minute"
 Kennedy entered the room where ! was listening,
 What's it all about. CraigY" l whis- pered. mystited. f
 For a moment he stood thinking, st' parsutly rccnasideatpg what he hhd