Omaha daily bee., 1916-06-18

has been established that there is nc
more infallible witness than the tell
tale marks of the thiefs own hand
This envelope"--holding out that
which Mrs. Burton had given her
revealed a peculiar set of finger
prints. And now" producing the
vanity box. II have another set oil
finger prints, which comedies exactly
As the envelope was recovered from
Mrs. Burton's desk, there is only one
course can take. ] must telephone
for the police, and give you into Gus.
tody on the charge OF purloinine
documents of your employer. May
4 use your phone Mrs. Burton?"
4 The mistress stared as though faxed
by the sudden development. For a
moment Mimi stood, surveying her
| questioner with wide-eyed amaze
ment. Then with gasp she sprans
forward and caught Mona's arm.
/ Mono, not the policep she
walled. Anything but the policel
confess! ] will tell you everything
but not the policep
i Mona's ingenious ruse had worked
perfectly. The girl swiftly yelled her
satisfaction and pretended to consider
the maids request.
Il don't know that you can help
us-that we need your evidence" she
said obviously.
4 "Oh, but you do not know--you
do not know all that | can tell you, y
pleaded Mimi swiftly. ~ can take
you to the man who paid me the
money for the letters, who"
You wretchP cried Mrs. Burton,
who now saw, the others duplicity.
Minis tears redoubled.
/ His name is Runkle, and he told
me that he would pay me we'll for
any information ! could give him for
his newspaper. But even he is not
| the man you want. He is only an
agent. The real man is"
| "Who7" snapped Mona.
i Mimi smiled craftily. "You promise
! me that ! shall be protected-that
| shall not suffer-"
| If you tell the truth and keep
faith with me-" conceded Mona
| grudgingly.
i Very we'll, then. 1t is promise
i The man you want, who employed
Runkle, is Reginald Wentworth"
j MRS. Burton gave cry Of in.
credulity.
(, 'Impossiblel Why, I know Mr.
| Wentworth welli He Is above any
such infamy. There would be nc
need for him to stoop to such meth.
DDS to gain money, for he is rich
in his own right, popular, and {
caller in all the best homes of town.
Mona smiled graphically.
Doesn't your description tally ex'
actly with the idea you gave me o,
!; the mysterious informant OF The Tat
tier in Society," All but the finaneia
standing Of Mr.. Wentworth--and per
haps his income may be largely bluff
Mrs. Burton frowned obviously. 20
course, you may be right" she con
ceded. after the revelation OF Mi
mis- treaehery i could believe alnos
anythingl" She turned on the mai,
angrily. III it were not for Mis-
Dssenport's promise Of protection
would be tempted to turn YOU owe
to the police myself" FL
"You forget that you would hav,
to tell them about-the lettersl" re
torted Mimi sullenly.
Mrs. Burton, stiffened. "Oh, wha
. shall | dof" she moaned again, Al
the realization OF her situation again
broke upon her. Even if Mimi ha
told you what she did with my cor
! respondence, how does it help US
How are we to get back the letters
I And, remember, unless they can b.
returned to me intact, without thei
!, contents becoming known, | an
ruined-ruinedl'
Mona patted her encouragingly OF
the shoulder. Mimi is going to re
!, !, deem herself by helping me to max
! the acquaintance OF Messrs. Runkl
: and Wentworth--and unless l ar
! more mistaken than | ever was be
fore, / think | can promise. you
gratifying report in the very near fu
turel To begin with, now that Min
is out OF your service, she Is goin
i, to enter mine--for the time being.
: She scrubbed the address OF thei
|, apartment on card, and gave it I
the hesitating maid. u am trustin
you absolutely You will report t
: me this afternoon. II you so niue
/. as try to warn either Runklc or Wen,
!. worth OF what has, happened. | sha
: give you to the police--no matte
what the results may be to Mr.
? Burtonl"
!. For moment she and Min
y stared into each others eyes-Mor
colby determined, and Mimi fluct,
). ating between sullen defiance an
fear. In the end Mona's superit
will won, and Mimi moved to ii
, door.
: = you will hear from me in the at
ernoon." she said.
"And now, Mrs. Burton erie
= Mona as the door closed behind II
5 other, you must do exactly as ! te
!. you, If you expect me to be of ar
y assistance. In the first place, yc
4 must plead with the man, Runkle, {,
y more time. Tell him anything ye
|. p!ease--that you have to borrow Il
4 money or pawn yor jewels--anythir
y to. gain time until / have chan,
: to act. Do you understand"
I'll Perfectly" agreed Mrs. Burto
!, dropping into chair. Il am like
+ drowning person clutching at
!. straw"
5 Mona spent the remainder Of Il
!. day in silent, speculative stud
from which Mary did not arouse he
"A even when Mimi put in appearance