The Elbert County tribune., 1915-04-02

seeIneu 10 approve IL.
This is a trap of the Clutching
Hand, Walter" he whispered. adding
tensely. "and we're going to walk right
into it."
But, Craig" / demurred. that's
foolhardy. Have her trailed-any-
thing-but-"
He shook his head, and with 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, stuffing 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 Craig's car,
which he kept at nearby garage.
That forenoon Perry Bennett was
reading up a case. In the outer Of
fee Milton Schofleld. 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
1t: 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 coterie in which
she was leader, had sunk into chair
and was sobbing convulsively, 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.
If Milton had had an X-ray eye he
could have seen her take 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 bust
ness In writing" he Numbered 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.
''Mr Bennett says for you to write
out what it is you want to see him
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
81 may write here?" she asked
Surely, ma'am." 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 shifted. There was an
unmistakable odor of tobacco smoke
about the room. He looked sharply al
the son" and discovered the still
smoking cigarette.
1t was too much for Millions out
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 OF
the wall.
"See?" he demanded.
The sign read. courteously:
mo Smoking In This Office-PIease
"PERRY BENNETT"
''Leggo my arm" snarled the ''son.
putting the offensive cigarette def
antly into his mouth.
There was every element of gaudy
nixup. when the outer door of the of
flee suddenly swung open and Elaine
Dodge entered
Gallantry was Miltou's middle name
and he sprang forward to hold the
door. and then opened Benefits door
as he ushered in Elaine
AS she passed "Weepy Mary" who
was still writing at the fable and cry