Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-06-15

the elevator. giving every appearance
of two men so thoroughly angry that
they dared not trust themselves to
speak.
For a moment the two girls stood
staring after the retreating figures.
Then Mona turned swiftly to her COM
They came from Roland Maxwelrs
rooms. They must have gone iu lust
after we left l wonder-I wonder"
She broke off softly.
How would YOU like to do bit of
amateur detective work, dear?"
Mary laughed You mean to follow
them? Have you any idea that there
Is ANYTHING afoot in which we might
You never can tell" was the enig-
matte reioinder. "Il wait here for
you. If YOU hurry you can catch the
Mary flung a saucy kiss over her
shoulder as she darted down the hall.
Had either of the two girls-the self
styled Social Pirates"-a vision of the
strange events. to which their sudden
decision was to lead them. it is prob
able that Mary's departure would not
have been either so assured or so
AS the elevator reached the lobby,
Mary stepped out quickly, and darted
a swift glance about the sumptuously
hostelry 1t was one of the largest and
and was located sufficiently near the
heart of the shopping and theatrical
district to attract always a large and
substantial transient trade. An hour
earlier the lobby would have been filled
with the last of the luncheon guests.
but just now it was fairly clear, ard
the girl had an unobstructed view on
either side of her; For moment she
thought she had lost the two men, of
whom she was In search, and then she
gave little exclamation of relief,
They were mounting the wide sweep
OF stairs on the farther side of the
lobby, evidently bound for the writing
rooms. She strolled carelessly after
them. and followed up the staiSs.
ample time to see them take their
places at one of the row of desks, and
draw a hotel letter head out of the
rack.
Mary sauntered into the room. and
dropped into a chair at the adjoining g
desk, likewise drawing paper and pen
to her. and assuming to be deeply abb
sorbed in the composition of a note. in
reality straining her eyes desperately
In the hope of overhearing some frag-
ment of the dialogue of the two men
that would serve her as a clue to their
purpose and errand. For several mo-
ments her efforts were useless, and she
was drawing deep breath of disap-
pointment when the taller of the two
WORTHLESS at the next desk carelessly
raised his voice. His tones died down
again almost Immediately, but the list
snng girl had been Tswarded with the
up on this-or do time"
Mary's face flushed. and she bent
closer over her note to hide her excite
ment Things were growing interest
ing! 1t was clear that the two men
were rather laboriously composing a
note, or letter, and that they were hav-
ing more or less trouble in the proper
wording of its contents. At length
however, the task was evidently fin
ished to their satisfaction. The speak
er. whose cryptic sentence Mary had
| overheard, finally picked UP the letter
| head, and read its contents to his COM
| panion, but his voice was so low that
| strain as she might Mary found 1t i'm
| possible to follow his voice She saw
the couple push back their chairs. and
| rise from the table, taking the myster-
ious letter with them. sealed in an envel-
ope Mary saw them safely out OF the
room. allowed herself two or three
| minutes leeway, and rapidly crossed to
the desk they had vacated On the
| polished mahogany surface lay the
blotter with which the man had dried
the ink of the address envelope. It was
| a new, one, and this was the first use
to which 1t had been put. The gir
smiled as she sac several .zigzaggins
lines of inverted writing the reversed
Impression from the envelope. with
the aid of a mirror 1t was just possible
that the ines could be read. she slip.
ped the blotter into her handbag, and
hurried excitedly back to the elevator
and back to her room