The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1915-04-09

Hand, Walter" he whispered adding
tensely, "and we're going to walk right
into t."
"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 cut into the other room.
l did so, stufing my gait iGto 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
flee Milton Schofed, his office boy,
was industriously chewing gum and
admirlng 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 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.
1t was deeply bordered in black
Even Milton was startled at reading
it; Mrs. Taylor Dodge,
He looked at the woman in open
mouthed astonishment. Even he knew
that Elaines 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 convulsively, as only
'Weepy Mary" could.
It 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-
treme surprise, then anger. He |
thought a moment.
'Tell that woman to state her busi- |
ness in writing" he thundered 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 we're letter paper pens and ink.
81 may write here?" she asked.
Surely, maam," 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 sniffed. There was an
odor of tobacco smoke
about the room. He looked sharply at
the SON." and discovered the still
smoking cigarette.
1t was too much for Miton's out
ragged dignity. Bennett did not allow
MIN that coveted privilege. This up
start could not usurp 1t.
He reached over and seized the boy
by the arm, and swung him around
i'll he faced sign in the corner on
he wall.
"See?" he demanded
The sign read, courteously:
mo Smoking In This office-PIease.
"PERRY BENNETT"
'Leggo my arm" snarled the son."
,utting the offensive cigarette def
Intly into his mouth.
There was every element of gaudy
nixup, when the outer door of the Of
Ice suddenly swung open and Elaine
Dodge entered. Z
Gallantry was Milton's middle name,
nd he sprang forward to hold the I
oor, and then opened BENEFITS door,
s he ushered in Elaine.
AS she passed "Weepy Mary" who
7as still writing at the table and cry
ng bitterly, Elaine hesitated and {
1oked at her curiously. Even after
Iilton had opened Benefits door, she 8
ould not resist another glance. In {
Elaine seemed to scent /
rouble. c
Bennett was still studying the black
card when she greeted him. c