Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-03-06

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just done. Then his second thought
seemed to approve it.
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
f~oolhardy. Have her trailed-any-
thie-but-"
He shook his head. and with a mere
motion OF his hand brushed aside my
objections as he went 10 a cabinet
across the room.
From one shelf he took out a small
metal box Enc 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.
I 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
Nv WI ohA W 80 NlAlE = VAL
which he kept al a nearby garage.
That forenoon Perry Bennett was
reading up "A case. In the outer Of
flee Milton Schoield. his office boy.
was industriously chewing gum and
admiring his feet. cooked up on the
desk before him.
Tho 1Anr q. th. xmn.4sn. $50.
opened and AN attractive woman OF
perhaps thirty. dressed in extreme
mourning. entered " it'll a boy.
Milton cast "A glance OF scorn at the
little dude" lie 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 d Wy grimace.
"Yes-here is my card" replied the
woman.
II was deeply bordercd in black.
Even Milton was startled AT reading
IL: Mrs. Taylor Dodge"
He looked al the woman in OMEN
ihphAhtu d-NbliSilHitAN Even ne KNEW
that Elaine's mother had been dead
for years.
The woman. however. true To her
name In the artistic coterie In which
SIZE was leader. had sunk into a chair
n was sobbing ~convuSiyely. as only
"Weepy Mary" could.
II was so effective that even Milton
was v.ibly 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 N-ray eve he
could have seen her take a cigarette
from her handbag and light II non
c%halantly 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. lie
thought a moment
Tell that woman 10 state her bust
ness in writing" he Numbered CURLY
At Milton.
AS the boy turned TO go back TO
the waiting o Weepy Mary. hear
ing him coming. hastily showed the
cigarette into her sons" hand.
MIR Bennett says for you to write
out what IL is YOU want to see him
about" reported Milton. indicating the
table before which she was sitting.
Mary had automatically taken up
f. ...l Al - -.
rette. She looked at the table on
which were letter paper. p-ns and ink.
Il 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. T.ere was an
unmistakable odor % tobacco smoke
about the room. lie looked sharply ~
the son" ard discovered the still
smoking cigarette.
II was too much fer Millions out
ragged dignity. Bennett did not allow
him hat coveted privilege. This up
start could not usurp II.
He reached oser and seized the boy
BY the arm. and swung him around
till he faced a sign In the corner on
the wall.
"Sees" he demanded
The sign read. c~ourteously:
mo Smoking In This Office-Piease.
"PERRY BENNETT"
Lego my arm snSrled the son"
putting the offensive cigarette def.
antly into his mouth.
There was every element Of a gaudy
mixup. when the outer door OF the OF
fee suddenly swung open and Elaine
Dodge entered.
Calamity was Millions middle name,
and he sprang forward TO hold the
door. and then opened Bennett's door.
as he ushered in Elaine.
As she passed "Weepy Mary" who
was still writing at the tsble and cry
ing bitterly. Elaine hesitated and
looked at her ~curiously. Even after
Milton had opened Be.nett's door. she
could not resist another gkAnce. In