The Washington times., 1916-01-21
Continued from Yesterday

~ UDDENLI Mary ealiZed that June
was not in the little thron. OF
~ searchers. She Jumped up anX-
iouslv Mrs. Travis was standing
at one of the entrance arches, Ia king
spiritedlv to a pleasant looking man OF
middle ase. The old nurse approached
her with some hesitation. In snite of
her long years Of service in the family
and her close relationship with June.
Mary had always felt slightly in awe
of Mrs. Travis.
She disliked to interrupt the converse
tion. but her anxiety ovcrCame her tim
idity She touched her mistress lightly
on the arm.
II beg your pardon. Mrs. Travis she
said. .1uietly. "but could YOU tell me
where Miss June is?'
Miss June? Why, l don't know, Mary.
But she's well taken care Of wherever
she is. | think she's with Mr.. Lamar
SO don't worry about her"
Mary wandered about looking into
room after room. with no result. She
decided that Lamar and June were
walking in the grounds. 1t would be
impossible for an old woman with fail
ing sight to hnd them out there in the
pale moonlight.
Discouraged ana tired out with worry
and the unaccustomed slale and noise.
Mary entered one OF the little rooms off
the main corridor. She sank into
deep. hich- backed chair, upholstered in
some soft. NelYetN. materlal. and put her
Her ina eination tortured her. The
very thing that she had feared had
happened She bad come to the ball
for the express pu, pose Of Watching
over her it'll, girl, She had relaxed
her >isilance for moment ana IWne .,,,s
had disappeared in comnany with
Lamar. Will gin horrcr Mary CO NJ
ilred in all The terrible things tnat
might harrer.
Not twenty feet from the room in
which, fatigue had overtaken MaLa s
Hotel S. rGton. II had been decol atcI
and furnished by an artist who snew
his work.
Of a pair OF rorti"rcs worel. from raw
Japanese silk. was n long teakWcnd
scat. June and Lamar had been St
ting there for the past half hour: some
times talkin" animatedlN. sometimes
1T wrlrics me more than ANYTHING
I've had to solve ~ Years. I-n,''an n
was saving. "' We had the woman u IN
ways she's succeeded in giving me the
sir l wish .hat---''
Just then man in "Neiins clothes
appeared III the, doorway Cat ;h,ns
sight of Lamar he hcrkored to him
eagerly. With :. mulmuied apology to
,Iune ths riime srecialist got ur and
went ever 20 him.
What can | do for you. SIR" he
Of n5 l." nos sGrEs Mr f'HasT 'He The
Apoke hurrindlv as IL distressed. "Sev-
"ral guests have lost articles Of iHWrirv
tonight. am afraid a profess onal thi"f
is at work among them. Can't Won do
something about it. Mr.. Lamar? | hate
to trouble Won. but-
"Oh. that's all right that's all r.ght,'
a inIistinCtly
anyone who reported loss to YOU said
snythnG about Red Circle. Mr., Rad
.No. don't think so. Nobody has
de slightest clue. It's the cleverest sort
5f theft I've ever known. There's a
master crook operating here, I'm GER
~ usee what I can do. Mr., Radner
,.st 20 out and rNncle with the guest;
as though nothing had occurred. VII
you? 1'N hc out in minute
Lamar came back to the bench and
sat down. his hands clenched tightly
his lower jaw protrudnG in an ugly.
draperies behind him moved slightly a.
II In obedience to a gentle breeze. June
put her hand over his, soothnGlV
'You are terribly worried over this
mystery she said softly Let ne
help you solve it, won't YOU? Whc
regular detec--er-crime specialist"
ANNOYED and worried as he was, Ia
mar threw back his head and laughed
II don't see why you're laughing,
nouted June pretending to he nightly
offended. You inplv that I'm an in
consequential featherhrain. OF course
I couldn't hope to be second MAJ
lamar rripped her hand. He hac
stopped laughing. His face was set ant
All right Miss Travis" he sal
gravely. "I'li appoint you my first as
sistant on this case. Perhaps you ca
help me-"
June turned toward him. her fac
atght
'I'n do my best" she promised
Lamar looked his appreciation. III
admiration of her was growing,
leaps and bounds. 1t was hard to kee
from saying things that crowded to HI
lips. He took out his watch ana locke
at the dial full half minute before n
really saw the hands. 1t was twelve
twenty. People would soon begin leaN
ing. II he hoped to set a single trac
of the Red Circle crook 1t was time |
be moving. He turned TO June.
Will you let me come to see you tc
morrow morning to tell you a few mor
details of this case?" he inquired eaGel
ly I'm 50 anxious to have YOU know
They say woman's intuition is
wonder capon-and Infalible j!