The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1915-04-23

laugh. "Ned Wilmington Is ut the bot
tom of this. ] am sure" she said. "Dc
you know. one day when | was al the
- hotel he came to my rooms rnan-
nounced disguised rs u bobby and il
cost me pony TO get rid of him. OF
course lac returned the money and
dined me sumptuously.'
you are wasting your time. madame.
am detective. and you may as well
come with me M once" opened my
coat and showed Il badge on my vest.
Gradually changed look came over
her face. indicating IL suspicion that
something. after all. must be wrong.
Are you really in earnest?"
Il certainly am"
any one can want with me ut a police
office?"
You will learn that when we get
there"
She looked at me with puzzled ex-
preston for few moments. then said:
There is something queer about this.
but suppose l must take you ut your
word. | have no knowledge OF such
matters. Can | not send for some one
TO come TO me and advise me?''
The woman looked so puzzled. seem
ed SO uncertain Ills to what course to
take. that | began to cherish faint
suspicion that after all some mistake
had been made. should have clapped
the bracelets on her at once. but had
not the assurance to do so. Instead.
said that IL she would 20 with me
peacefully she would be permitted at
chose. To this she replied that to go
to such Il place would be an indignity
that she would never recover from and
begged me to permit her to send for a
lawyer. There were few telephones In
those days. and | should be obliged to
allow her to send messenger. This
declined to do.
After q long struggle In words l con-
vinced her that further opportunities
would not avail and she consented to
go with me. but on no account would
she leave the house unless permitted
agreed, provided she would permit me
to inspect the room in which she pro-
posed to change her apparel that |
might make sure there was no egress
by which she might give ne the slip.
Whereupon she took me through
hall. then Il boudoir and told me to go
into Il bedroom which was mt the end
of the suit. saw ut glance that
there was no door leading into another
room. and. since the fiat was on the
fifth floor and no roof of another build
ing TO which she could let herself
down permitted her to go in to
change her clothing. closing the door
After having waited fully half IN
hour for her to reappear | called to
her. She replied that She had nearly
finished and would be with me pres
emily. In nearly another half hour |
called to her again and received Il re-
ply. So long us | could hear her voice
it did not seem to me that there was
any danger of my losing her. and since
it had timbre of its own | could not
fail TO recognize it.
Still there surely must be some game
in her taking SD long Il time To put Oft
one suit and don another
At last | called that | would give her
five minutes more and If she did not
appear at its expiration would open
the door. TO this she replied that she
saw no reason for hurry. but If | was
capable Of opening the door to a lady's
dressing room she could not prevent
lowed turned the knob of the door.
1t was locked
Come ont mt once" | called. "or |
will break down the door
IL see no necessity for that" she
pleaded. IL can't possibly leave here
without coming through the room
where You are. To tell the truth. am
hunting mp certain letters which. ii
taken possession Of by the police.
would compromise friends Of mine. !
see no reason why you should prevent
my doing so. 1 assume that you have
promise you that when have finished
what | am doing | will come out aud
20 with you willingly wherever you
choose to take me-"
did not like the idea Of her destroy
ing evidence and knew | should he
blamed for giving her an opportunity
for doing so. but did not see how |
could prevent it without breaking
down the door. Besides, 1t occurred to
me that she had already destroyed the
principal part OF what, she wished 10
get rid of or she would not have told
me what she was about.
III give you ten minutes more. |
said. land il you're not here then this
lOor will be splintcred."
what time is it?' she asked.
Half past II"
what time did you call?"
AT H."
heard the key turning In the lock.
The door opened. and there stood my
quarry In maids costume.
whats this?'' asked sharply.
Nothing except | am the maid. My !
mistress has doubtless been gone long
enough to make good her escape. You
nay run me in IL you wish to. but 1t
will do you no good. for I'm sure there !