Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-06-25
"Helpl Helpr.

daylight requires an elastic magma
tion-but to the two young women
who had heard the smothered cry it
was both very real and very poignant.
For a moment they stood, dumb with
amazement, staring after the curtained
motor, from the recesses OF which the
curious appeal had emanated. Then
simultaneously they whirled and faced
each other, asking mutely the same
question.
1t was Mona Hartley who found her
voice first.
"You heard II, tooi A woman's
voicel Are we awake, or dreamnigs"
In answer Mary Burnett caught her
->snpanion's arm and whirled her
aside, just In time to avoid q heavy
truck.
IF you need physical proof that you
are awake, you will soon have it II you
stand where you arel'' She threaded
her way hurriedly through the traffic
to the curb, searching for q vacant
taxicab. But there was none in sight,
and in the meantime she realized that
the machine, from which had come
the cry Of distress, was drawing farth-
er away each moment. The sound OF
her own name, in q hearty, masculine
voice, brought her spinning about with
little gasp Of delight.
"Mr. Carsonw she cried. You are
just in timei Where is your carr"
The tall, rather serious-faced young
man, who had stepped from the en-
trance of the corner Office building,
glanced kecnly At the girls flushed
features.
"What Il wrcng1"
y don't knowl III tell you about It
later. We want you and your car to
pursue . mysterious taxicab-if we
haven't lost I"
Casper Carson, the young million
ARE social worker and reformer, was
man accustomed to think and act
quickly. Without another word he
sprang across the walk and threw
open the door OF dark blue, up-to-
date touring car. Az Mary and Mona
jumped into the machine he threw
In the clutch, for blocks they chased
the taxi until II mysteriously, and to
the disgust Of the trio. disappeared
down = side street.
II took down the license number,
anyway" said Mary. ;.
Eve ought to have no trouble then" "
he declared. "But, Of course, by the
time we had traced the owner Of the
vehicle and located the driver II would
probably be too late to do the ur-
known woman any serviceT He
lighted cigar thoughtfuly and turned
the course OF the machine toward the
garage. I'll 60 down to the district
attorneys Office, anyway" he decided.
Burke, my driver, Is waiting at the
garage, and he can take you back to
your fiat III report progress to-
night"
Carson left them at the garage, and
his driver took his place, Carson prom
Using again to report any develop
ments a. soon a. possible. But his
manner showed more plainly than his
words how dubious he regarded the
promise OF encouraging news.
The two girls settled back In their
seat a. the car backed out Of the gar
age and began the return trip TO their
apartments.
They were passing the brownstone
front OF what had obviously once been
pretentious residence, but which was
now given over to select commercial
purposes, On the windows Of the
building appeared the gilt inscription;
Madame Sutro,
Beauty Parlors."
1t was not the building which drew
Mary's whispered cry, but the sight Of
. taxicab, drawn up before the build
ing, evidently waiting for passenger
inside. II was the same machine from
which had come the vain cry for help
the machine which had eIuded their
belated pursuit. Even as Mary's wan
dcring glance noted the telltale license
tag, the door Of the Beauty Parlors
opened and a middle-aged man, In Q
stylish spring suit. hurried down the
steps and across the walk.
He climbed into the machine, with .
curt direction to the driver, and Il
moved off. Mary ordered Carson's
chauffeur to follow The curtain Of
the taxi had been rolled up and the
two girls could see the occupant with.
out difficulty. He was leaning back In
his seat, putting at . thick brown
cigar.
DO you know, Mary, ! have seer
that man beforel" said Mona sud.
IDENTIFY, knitting her brows.
THAT is exactly the idea ] have
had, too" answered Mary. Maybe
We have seen his picture somewhere,
There, his car Is stoppingl He !:
getting outi'
The taxi ahead drew up at the curl
and the occupant, tossing the driver
a bill, and without waiting for the
change. made his way across the
walk, and into the entrance OF ar
Office building as the taxi continued
on its way. The girls studied the
building for a moment in silence, un'
certain as TO whether or not to try
10 follow the man further. The frs
floor was given over 10 the use of .
bank. On the corner windows of tht
second floor appeared the legend
Daniel Slatcrn, Attorney-at-Law."
we might as well give il up fol
the present" said Mary finally. witt
what we have learned no doubt Mr.
Carson can suggest the next stepP
"You seem to have lot Of conf
dence in Mr.. Carson's Judgment
smiled Mona. Mary blushed. "Wh,
shouldn't N" she retorted.
The girls did not have long to wal
for the appearance of Casper Carson
3 at their fat. They had hardly fin
ished dinner when he was announced
and his face showed that he had ne
news even before he shook his head
AT Mays excited story Of the Sc
quel Of their fruitless pursuit Of III,
taxicab he looked grave, and wher
the girl described how 1t had ended