The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1916-11-28

And they have this detective who fol
lows me. lie will find me some day
TOR the reward and will tell the truth"
The reward"
"Yes--a thousand dollars. Don't you
remember reading"
The girl stopped short as if to check
herself
"You-you are Lblprence Gibbons 20
gaspcd Constance aSNsith a rush there
came over her the recollection of
famous unSokcd mystery Of several
months before
The girl did not look up as Constance
bent over and put her arms about her.
who was he?" she asked persuasive
ly.
"PrcSton-Lansing Preston" she sob
bed bitterly. "Only the, other day
read Of his engagement to a girl in
| Chicago-bcau'iiul, in society OH
could kill him" she cried, throwing on,
her arms pasSionatcly Think of it
He-rich. powerful, respected. /
poor, almost crazy-sn outcaSt.
Constance did not interfere until the
tempest had passed.
What name did you give at the tea
room" asked Constance.
Viola Cole" answered Florence.
REST here" soothed Constance. Here
at least you are safe have an idea.
shall be back soon"
q The Betsy Ross was still open after
the rush of tired shoppers and later of
business women to whom this was not
only restaurant but club Constance
entered and sat down.
"1s the manager in2" she asked of
the waitress.
"MrS Palmcr3 No. But. il you care
to wait, | think she'll be back directly"
As Constance sat towing absently with
, some food at one OF the snowy white
tables, a man entered A man in a tea
room is an anomaly For the tea room
is womans institution, run by women
for women Men enter with dlfiidence.
and seldom alone This man was quite
evidently looking for some one
His eye fell on Constance. Her hear,
gave leap. II was her old enemy
Drummond the detective For a mo-
ment he hesitatcd, then bowed, and
came over to her table.
Peculiar places, these tea rooms"
observed Drummond.
Constance was doing some quick
thinking. Could this be the detective
Florence Gibbons had mentioned,
The only thing lacking to make them
complete he ratified on. "is a license
Now, take those places that have a
ladies' bar-that do openly what tea
rooms do covertly. They don't reckon
with the attitude of women. This il
New York-not Paris. Such things are
years off | don't say they'll not come
or that women won't use them-but no,
by that name-not yet
Constance wondered wha, his cynical
inconsequentialities masked.
i think It adds TO the interest" she
observed, watching him iurtiyely. "the
evasion OF the laws"
Drummond was casting about for
something TO do and, naturally. 10
mind like his, drink was the solution
Evidently, however, there were degrees
OF brarennesS, even in tea rooms The
betsy Ross not only would not produce
a labeled bottle and an obvious glass but
Stoutly denied their ability TO iii such
an order, even whispered
Russian tea1" suggested Drummond
eryptically.
How will you have it-wi,h Scotch
90 rye' asked the waitress.
bourbon" hazarded Drummond
When the Russian tea arrived il
was IN a neat little pot with two other,
the first containing real tea and the
second hot water. Ii was served yir-
tuously IN tea cups, so opaquely con.
cealed that no one but the clandestine
dr'nker. could know what sort of poison
was being served.
Mrs. Palmer was evidently later than
expected Drummond fidge,ed after the
manner of man out of his accustomed
habitat And yet he did not seem To
NJ interested really in Con,tance or
even IN Mrs Palmer. For after few
moments, he rose and excused himself
How did he come here1" Constance
asked herself over and over.
rs tar as she could reason II ou,
there. could be only one teason. Drum'
nond was clearly mp with Florence
pa ne also know that Constance was
shielding herr ""'
he more she thought of Il. the more
she shuddered at the ,ac,les wav in