The hummer. (Houston, Miss.) 1914-19??, 1915-08-06

This "a a trap OF the DluLcnlnB !
Hand, Walter" he whispered. adding
tensely. "and we're going to walk right
into IT,"
but, Craig" I 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
walstcoas 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.
l 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 Craig's car,
which he kept at a nearby garage.
That forenoon Perry Bennett was
reading up a case. In the outer Of
fee Milton schofeld, 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 a boy.
Milton cast a 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 a wry grimace.
'Yes-here is my card, replied the
woman.
It 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 a 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 Dodgel" he cried.
If 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 a moment.
"Tell that woman to state her bust
ness in writing" he Numbered CURLY
at Milton.
As the boy turned to go back t.
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 th'
table before which she was sitting.
Mary had automatically taken VI
sobbing with the release Of the ciga
! rette. She looked at the table OF
which were letter paper, pens and ink
Il may write here?" she asked.
) Surely. ma'am." replied Milton
still very much overwhelmed BY he
; sorrow.
"Weepy Mary" sat there. writing
: and sobbing.
In the midst Of his sympathy, how
ever, Milton smiled. There was al
{ unmistakable odor Of tobacco smokl
! about the room. He looked sharply a
Q the son." and discovered the stil
J smoking cigarette.
= Il was too much for Millions out
ragged dignity. Bennett did not ALLOW
+ him that coveted privilege. This ~
}. start could not usurp t.
q He reached over and seized the bo'
9 by the arm. and swung him aroun,
till he faced a sign in the corner o.
T. the wall
, Seer" he demanded.
The sign read, courteously;
Is mo Smoking IN This offlee-Pleas'
II HPERRY BENNETT"
p Lego my arm" snarled the son,
putting the offensive cigarette def
Is antly into his mouth.
s. There was every element Of a gaud
e mixup, when the outer door Of the o.
fee suddenly swung open and Elain
D. Dodge entered.
i GalIantry was Millions middle nam'
and he sprang forward to hold tn
l. door. and then opened Benefits doc
{, as he ushered In Elaine.
AS she passed "Weepy Mary" VII
" was still writing at the table and crl
n ing bitterly. Elaine hesitated an
looked at her euriously. Even afte
Milton had opened BENEFITS door, sh