The Washington times., 1916-01-26
(cOntinued from YesterdayD

M on a run down the sand, the
other spectators following
closely Mary looked after
the little group tearing down the beach.
and leaned against the pile weak-and
faint from the terrible strainu. At her
feet was the old battered hand organ
forgotten.
Suddenly she remembered that there
was a great deal of danger still to he
surmounted. She must find June inIme
diately and warn her. The wlldness of
this particular prank worried her
cruelty. How far was this stain in the
girls blood likely to go? She stumbled
through the sand keeping a sharp looK-
out.
Reaching the sidewalk. she hurried on.
watching for a glimpse of pale pink
frock and a white hat. Her heart
thumped in her breast and her throat
felt parched and feVerish
She fancied that every woman in light
clothes was June, until she came along
side. A desert mirage could not have
been more elusive than her quarry.
People turned to watch her with curious
interest.
At last a spot of pink against a
background of green came to her eyes.
She knew the free, easy stride and the
line of the straight shoulders. Ii was
June coming out of the park. Mary
hurried UP to her.
you broke your word to me-" she
charged. Indignantly. not waiting for
explanations. There is no excuse for
what you have done, You have ROBBED
u poor man of Ms means or making a
II haven't" June came back defiant
y. I'm the first place. ! didn't promise
you anything n oss MsrE ior hat the fve seGone dome
I've saved a helpless animal from a
cruel master. AS for deprving that
Italian of his means OF making living
that's a fine way for a great big.
husky man to make a living, isn't II!
BY grinding out wheezy tunes on little
hand organ and kicking and beating a
little monkey! .
THAT doesn't make any difference" :"
argued Mary, stubbornly. IT was none
interfere. And no matter what excuses
you make-you can't take away the
fact that it was robbery"
well, II it was robbery, I'm glad or
1t, June said, sullenly.
Let me see your right hand" COM
manded the old woman.
June raised it listlessly 1t was free
of the mark. She threw her arms
around Mary's neck. in sudden shame.
Don't be angry with me"' she plead
ed softly. IT can't nelp these things l
do. don't want to worry you or
make you unhappy, dear; but this thing,
whatever it is, gets the best of me.
Don't be angry, dear"
Mary's heart softened at the helpless
ness OF the plea. She put her arms
around the girl and led her down side
street toward the Travis home. On the
way June regained her high spirits.
When they reached the house the nurse
was laughing heartily-all fear and
dread forgotten.
Coming along the walk. toward the
house. June broke away from Mary and
ran VI the steps to greet Mrs. Travis.
who had Just come through the doorway
Where have you been, shild?" asked
Mrs. Travis anxiously. i've been un-
easy about you. You and Mary 20
wandering off and forget to come home.
Stay with me little while won't you?
I've hardly seen YOU since we've been
at SuTfton. Don't you ever get tired
rushing about so. dear?"
"Yes. I do. I'm tired right now,
mother, Are we going to have lunch
soon? I'm starved!
"It will be served in fifteen minutes
and we're going to have something that
you like. too"
WHAT"
Guess"
'1ce cream with marrons."
Correct. The very first time. Well,
well! What Is coming in here"
Mrs. Travis looked toward the OBJ
Servauon porch. She seemed to be both
perplexed and amused. Mary turned
nervously. and looked in the same direc-
tion. June knew. without looking.
Tearing down the path leading from
the porch to the main entrance was a
squat, greasy figure carrying a hand
organ and pursued by uniformed DO
liceman. Yama. the protesting butler
brought up the rear. his excitement
making him accelerate his accustomed
stately tread into a dog trOt.
The Italian stumbled up the steps,
tripping over his hand organ; so the
patrolman reached the little group of
women first.
Madam, l did not wish that the
man beggar to annoy your honorable
self" painted Yama, greatly distressed
Now, that's all right. son-thats s
just all right for you" interrupted
description from this lady ami then
we're through. l had to bring Job
Lots here with me because he's the
guy who lost the monk, See? Now
lady" addressing Mary, "if YOU
wouldn't mind I'd like a detailed de.
scription of the woman you saw with
the monkey"
He took out an important-Iooklnp
memorandum book and a pencil thai
looked as though it had been sharp,
ened with a hairpin. Mrs. Travis, al
at sea at this sudden intrusion, looked
from one to the other, seeking an ex.
PLANTATION. June alone seemed calm
Her mouth corners twitched suspi
Ciously as II she were resisting
laugh, or, rather, mischievous gig
gle. ,,,- .
now MISS mary, repeated the OF
This woman had bright red hair.
began Mary staring fiXedly a. June
brown head, land blue eyes. But
didn't see any circle on her hand, a
you talked of down on the beach ant
as the Italian seemed to think"
well, no; of course not That's eas
lily understood" The patrolman ha
sleuth ambitions also. You were To-
far away from her. You didn't know
1t was there, so you weren't looking
for 1t. And again the light may hav
been 30 that you couldn't have seen
even II you had looked. See? Al
those things might have happened
he wound up. Importantly.
"Of course. they might" echoed June
coming forward. your argument !
very logical officer,
THANH YOU. miss" stammered m
amateur crime specialist. Good day
Good day to YOU, mH anl.
lie swung around with almost mill
tary manner and dragged the halt-dea
Ptetro off the porch. June watche
them go, gayly disdainful smile o
her lips As they disappeared iron
view she swaYed, catching at the bac
OF a chair tor support.