The Washington herald., 1916-06-18

to live by. She did not care for her
patronynic. and early in her hectic ca
reer she had changed It TO "Lulette For
tescue." But an unappreciative police
force had renamed her 'Light-Fingered
Liz"
Lizzie had left Boston in considerable
haste, as a result of department store
| pickpocket scandal And now. with the
aforesaid unappreciative police force
searching diligently for her. she had de-
cided TO bury herself for few weeks in
this more or less secluded university
town. where she had friends she could
count on to shelter her
She had arrived in town an hour earlier
and in a villainously bad temper. For
on the train a fellow pickpocket had been
so outrageously unprofessional as to
steal her wristbag by means of the simple
old razor trick" And the wristbag had
contained every dollar she had In the
world.
J Guided by memories OF other days, Liz
came straight to Hsrdings cafe. 1t had
been favorite resort of hers in her
apprentice years when she had been
content to lift an occasional stickpin
or cheap watch. Harding, she knew,
would lend her enough money TO keep
| her going for awhile
| LIZ entered the main room OF the cafe
and glanced around with a seeming
1carelessness which, none the less, took
In every detail and ever patron Of the
place. Her rowing glance at last paused
lat sight of something that promised TO
be interesting.
At an alcove table sat a weIl-dressed
young man in front Of whom a waiter
was just then setting a cup Of coffee.
a small steak and bird bath" OF viscid-
lly slim fried potatoes. This by itself
was Of no great interest. But something
else was.
AS the walter leaned over him. Liz
saw the young man raise his hand ner-
vously toward one side Of his vest, as
II guarding something in a pocket there
or else to make certain il was not gone.
| That tip was quite enough for Light
Fingered Liz. Perhaps she might not
have to borrow money from Harding
after all. She crossed TO the alcove.
i Pardon me-" she said politely DO
you mind If I sit here? The outer room
is so smoky"
Not at ALL" said Tom absently. sur
prised, but not knowing what else to say.
And he went on with his meal
The girl picked up the menu and
studied it. But her fingers seemed to be
awkward. For she let the greasy card
fall to the floor. II struck nea< Tom e
feet. He stopped to pick II up.
During the fraction of a second that his
head was below the table edge. LIS hand
shot forward with unbelievable swift
ness, dropped something into the cup
OF coffee and returned as quickly to her
own lap. She thanked Tom as he gave
her the rescued menu and paid no further
heed to hirl-just then.
Il The hungry youth devoted his whole
attention to his greasy potatoes, hi,
tough steak and to his unusually rancid
coffee. The coffee, especially, displessed
him. It had vile taste. II was almost
bitter, in spite OF the extra sugar he
put in It But he was thirsty as well al
far1!shed. And he made q clean Job OF
the unsppetizing meal
He reflected, as he finished. what q
pleasant effect even a bad supper car
have on a mans system. He had beer
tired, nervous, Ill at ease. Now he hat
a sense OF well-being. OF drowsy con
tentment, Of peace with the whole world
Presently he would start home. But fo1
the moment, II was wondrousiy agree.
bic to lean back IN his seat and rest.
The room seemed to grow darker. ant
delicious sleepiness began to creeI
over him. Five minutes nap surely
would do him no harm
And now. the woman across the tabl,
was speaking TO him He could not catct
what she said; but her voice was sweet
Now she was coming around 70 his ovT
side Of the table. Was that her arm
around his shoulder, Or
Tom Blake was aware OF rackini
headache, a rankly bad taste in hi
mouth, a sense OF nausea He sat up anc
brnked. He-yes, he must have been fss
! asleep. For the hands on the clock ovel
the bar pointed TO 1:5o.
! The woman was no longer there
Neither were Harry's group Of summer,
Tom got up feeling very sick and mad,
for me street. AS he turned homewart
through the darkness he wondered IL tn
clock had registered l 80 or only u 80 Hi
hand went to his watch pocket.
His watch was gone. So was his chain
And his vest was unbuttoned. His finger
few TO the inside pocket. 1t was empty
A gursling cry, like that which Fl
wrung from the dying, burst from Tom
dry lips. For an instant all the vorlt
spun crafty about him. Then suddenl,
the shock cleared his brain OF the drug
mists. And he knew what had happen
ed.
He understood now the racldng head
ache, the dryness of mouth the nausea
Yes, and he knew why the woman hat
come around to his side OF the table
What was to be done? And, from lonJ
habit, conscience answered: Tell tn
truth" But his cooler Judgment realizet
that in the present case the truth wa
the one thing he could not tell
Who would believe he had gone to
notorious Summing resort-through shee
accident? That a woman. with whom
he had had absolutely no dealings Of an,
sort, had robbed him without his knowl
edge? It was preposterous.
'All my life" he nuttered 70 hirnsel
in sick resentment. I've told the truth
And all my life I've gotten into troubl
by doing it. 1t doesn't pay. From tn
time I was a baby until the time I toll
MarJorie's father the truth about our en-
gagement people have been Furnishing m
! for truth-telling. I've had enough of Il
Ny whole life's happiness is at stake In
} not going to be cheated out Of II, 70
something that isn't my fault I'll saw,
that money, every cent OF It, and pay
back. But, till then, I'm not going L
lose my chance or my sweetheart. Her
goes for my first lie,'
Retracing his steps he made for tn
, office and stealthily let himself IN witt
his key. Going straight to his own desk
he locked every drawer in it; then, witt
chisel broke all the locks.
After which he strewed papers sbou,
the floor and left the top drawer wild,
open. He performed the same feaf
:, with three other desks. Then he wen
home. leaving the Offices outer dool
' unlocked
Next morning as Roger Lampsor
neared the office Tom caught IN with