The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1915-03-12

This Is a trap or the Clutchlng
Hand, Walter" he whispered, adding
tensely, land we're going to walk right
into it,"
"But, Craig" 1 demurred, that's
foolhardy. Have her trailed-any-
thing-but-"
He shook his head, and with a mere
motion of his hand brushed aside my
objections as he went to a 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
waistcoat pocket and the small box in
his coat pocket with excessive care.
Then he turned and motioned to me
to follow him out into the other room.
did so, stufing my gait" into my
pocket.
Let me introduce my friend, Mr..
Jameson" said Craig, presenting me
to the pretty crook.
The introduction quickly over, we
three went out to get Craigs car,
which he kept at a nearby garage.
That forenoon Perry Bennett was
reading up case. In the outer of
fee Milton Schoheld, 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 boy.
! Milton cast glance of scorn at the
little dude" He was in reality about
fourteen years old, but was dressed to
look much younger.
did you wish to see Mr.. Bennett?"
asked the precocious Milton, politely,
on one hand, while on the other he
made wry grimace.
"Yes--here is my card" replied the
woman.
1t was deeply bordered in black.
Even Milton was startled at reading
it, Mrs. Taylor Dodge"
He looked at the woman in open
mouthed establishment. Even he knew
that Elaine's mother had been dead
for years.
The woman, however, true to her
name in the artistic coterie in which
she was leader, had sunk into chair
and was sobbing conyulsively, as only
"Weepy Mary" could.
1t was so effective that even Milton
was visibly moved. He took the card
in, eXcitedly, to Bennett.
There's a woman outside-says she
is Mrs, Taylor Dodge!" he cried.
II 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
IRENE surprise, then anger. He
thought moment.
"Tell that woman to state her bust
ness in writing" he Numbered CURLY
at Milton.
AS the boy turned to go back tt
the waiting room, Weepy Mary, hear
ing him coming, hastily showed the
cigarette into her sons" hand.
"Mr. Bennett says for you to write
out what it is you want to see hin
about" reported Milton indicating the
table before which she was sitting.
Mary had automatically taken III
sobbing with the release Of the ciga
rette She looked at the table or
which we're letter paper, pens and ink
81 may write here?" she asked.
Surely, ma'am," replied Milton
still very much overwhelmed by hel
sorrow.
"Weepy Mary" sat there, writing
and sobbing.
In the midst of his sympathy, how
ever, Milton shifted. There was al
unmistakable odor of tobacco smoke
about the room. He looked sharply a
the son." and discovered the still
smoking cigarette.
: It was too much for Millions out
ragged dignity. Bennett did not ALLOW
: him that coveted privilege. This up
. start could not usurp 1t.
He reached over and seized the DO.
by the arm, and swung him aroun'
till he faced a sign in the corner OF
, the wall.
: "See?" he demanded.
The sign read, courteously:
"No Smoking In This office--Please
r "PERRY BENNETT"
Lego my arm" snarled the son,
putting the offensive cigarette def
J antly into his mouth.
: There was every element Of gaud,
; mixup, when the outer door of the Of
fee suddenly swung open and Elain
Dodge entered.
Calamity was Millions middle name
and he sprang forward to hold tn
: door, and then opened Benefits do6
!, as he ushered in Elaine.
As she passed "Weepy Mary" VIII
: was still writing at the table and cry
4 ing bitterly, Elaine hesitated an
looked at her curiously. Even afte
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