The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1915-04-24

climbed the stairs, stopping at the arst landing for
ID recurrence u that slight cough which had come
upon her
An impossibly dirty man stood behind a long Ia
bic. On which were piled huge bundles tied In rough
paper
"Weui' he said grufiy.
81 would Ike TO sew some pants, II you please
said June modrsty.
The man shrugged his shoulders.
you 70 over 10 TINT woman there. and shen
sh"" You what's to be done and how much deposit
lo pay" He indicated another table.
When June went down the narrow stairs she car
RED u7 heavy It handle ms she could conveniently
uII. 1ud her ~nHnty store NJ money was reduced TO
@ very small margin. Little as 1t was, however, she
hnd yet to make q purchase In the first little store
SD" bought am inexpensive little plain black dress.
She hod less than a dollar when she stopped before
q building To which she had been directed by the
shophcrpcr It's lower floor had once been occupied
as "a bank. but f. had been t~cnantIess Tor years. On
the d""rpost Of the stairway was a sign, Rooms to
Let"
June here engaged a mean little hall bedroom from
d dumpy landlady.
Down Broadway tore the black curtainedL inou.
sine, the observed OF all observers. for still attached
to his crayat aud cIamped TO the tires so stitiy that
he felt be would have to be pried on was the well
known and justly famous private detective, Bill
Wolf, faithful In spite Of himself Not more than
two blocks behind came the family car. with June's
handsome collie ON the seat beside Jerry, June's IA.
thcr sterner, and June's mother gentler and more
quiet, Bobby Biethering in patient wonder at the
restlessness OF the world, Junes bosom friend, Iris
Blethering. quiyering with excitement and emotion,
and the deserted groom grittlng his teeth and cllnch-
Ing HIS fists as the black curtained Limousine. with
is bit Of flmy gauze duttering at the door, con.
.t.HtI. t-.t l-. a - 1T 80 = nu
O the wisp.
In the gaudily furnished house Of Mrs. Russell
there was a frantic running to and fro and up and
down stairs. Every room in the house was search.
ed, and At last Grin Cunningham thought to investi-
gate why one OF the windows In the room which
had been provided for June seemed darker behind
It's heavy hanEings than the others. He found the
fire shutters closed and opened them, revealing the
stalwart Christian frOzenly waiting on the Isolated
balcony to be told his further share in June's trick
The young man and the three girls laughed.
June was gone, and Gilbert Blye turned and walk
ed down the stairs.
He paced the hall for a few moments, his head
bent. his black eyes somber aud his long. lean white
fingers stroking his black Yandyke.
There was "A ring at the doorbell A messenger
boy, and he carried a bundle. A stealthy figure
slipped forward into the hall.
mo answer" said the boy as he delivered the
bundle.
Ohm Cunningham at a signal from Blye took the
bundle and passed It TO Mrs. Russell. She tore II
open and drew forth before the jewellers who had
gathered In her parlor the gorgeous rsiment in
which they had last seen the beautiful June. Orin
Cunningham stopped down with an oath and picked
mp something which had fallen TO the door. The
string Of pearls! He stamped upon the floor In rage.
stop that messenger boyr' came the cold, hard
tones Of Gilbert Blye, and the stalwart Christian,
rushing out, brought back the boy.
Where did you get this bundleT' demanded Ohm
Cunningham.
The boy hitched his trousers
Il amt supposed to tell"
How much did you get for not tellingr demand
cd Mrs. Russell.
"All she had-7O cents"
Here's 81 said Orin. Now, where dd yOu get
this bundleY
The boy grinned.
"Tellin's always worth more than not tellin'S he
sagely observed and Ierked his call slip from his
pocket. There's the address,
Gilbert Blye, casting u glance at the slip opened
the door and strobe out on the steps. The stealtAy
figure which had crept along the hall suddenly dart
ed out OF the door after the messenger boy and
hurried mp the street with him. II was Marie.
Down the street there whihsed the black curtsinsA
limousine. Blye hurried out to II a. Il stopped and,
with blazing impotence, called, Come onP'
Cunningham dashed from the house and jumped
into the limousine, while Blye gave swift directions
to his driver. He, too. hoped In and shut the deos
and threw up the side curtains, revealing the car
empty except for himself aud Cunningham. Ths
women In the door called something In shrill en-.
element as the car rushed away, but Scatti paid no
attention, and the well known and Justly famous
private detective, Bill Wolf. groaned.
Around the corner dashed the family car Of the
MOorps, with Ned Warner.
The dumpy landlady knocked at the door Of Juns's
little bedroom and stopped in profound astonish-
ment when she entered At the nckety table sat
her new ledger in a plain, cheap black dress, bent
earnestly forward. She was sewing pants
Why, l hardly knew YOU said the landlady, look.
ing around the room She wsddled to the door Of
the nimsy wardrobe and peered In. 1t was empty.
Where's them nne clothes you hsdf"
They did not belong TO me" June said simply.
81 sent them away after buying this dress"
"Oh, you did What about the necklacer'
That was u gift which | could not accept" and
June's eyes dropped. Il sent It away also"
All the Fuckers in the fat l~andlady's brow deep
ened and knotted.
'Oh, you did, She cleared her throat and looked
at the stack Of pants and at the delicate nngers
which were lOboriously pushing the needle through
the coarse cloth, by the way, | forgot 10 get any
rent from you. | always get Il week in advance"
June smiled wanly and shook her head. 81 am
sorry, - she said. 81 have no money
'WhntF' The dumpy ~landlady Jumped TO her feet.
She was breathing no hard that she wheezed. mo
money Young lady, you1l have TO get outr'
"Oh, MOI pleaded June. "Pleaser'
She turned for one last word OF appeal, but the
landlady's pitiless arm was outstretched.
FRO BE CONTINUED