The Washington times., 1916-01-10

II
mischief" croaked old Mary. as
she paused at the door of June's bed
room, early next morning. her arms
piled high with clothes.
"Yes." said June. drearily. with
guilty glance at her handbook. I've
thought so, too"
1T was there last evening. 1t isn't
there this morning." went on the old
woman. depositing the clothes on q
chair and beginning to arrange them.
one by one, in wardrobe trunk
What were you up to, dearie? Tell
Mary"
Nothing at ALL" declared June. her
eyes fixed anxiously on the trunk Mary
was packing. please don't let's talk
about it. 1t makes me so miserable.
I've packed part of the trunk" she
added. Don't disarrange that part OF
it. Mary"
Before breakfast, June had gone to
Mrs. Travis; and, on plea of feeling
''run down. had persuaded her 10 close
the town house that very morning and
TO go for the season to their summer
cottage at Surfton.
1t seemed to the distraught girl that.
once away from the city, a change Of
air and of scene would perhaps free
her from the grip of the strange i'm
pulse which of late had so mercilessly
governed her. Moreover, in town. the
problem of disposing OF her suit OF
discarded masculine clothing and wig
offered many obstacles. At Surfton. the
things could safely be tossed into the
sea. off any pier.
Mrs. Travis had worried. as had
Mary. over the light-hearted girls re-
cent manner and had willingly consent
ed to the plan. So the household was
abuzz with hasty preparations for de-
parture.
Don't bother with that side OF the
trunk, Mary" repeated June, as the
nurse began to rummage there, I've
packed it,
"It looks as if YOU a packed 1t in
your sleep!' reproved Mary her love
OF neatness terribly Jared Just look
at It! How many times do have to
tell you to lay things flat and smooth.
at the bottom. and to build up. as even
ly as you'd build stone wall? Why
these things in here are all lumpy and
stuck in every which way. And at
the .bottom-at the bntton-tnere' n
great big bundle all full of Jumps!
Such mussiness l never did see. in all
my born days"
Mary hauled forth from the bottom OF
the trunk a great irregular package,
hastily tied together with blue twine,
and presenting a dozen bump surfaces
in every direction.
What on earth is this thing" she de-
manded
'It's-it's nothing at ALL" feverish-
" protested June. snatching the bundle
OF mems clothes away. IT'S something
| rappod up and hid here. myself. It's
some bathing togs and-and things"
Let me open 1t. then said Mary.
'I'll lay 'em out smooth for you and
pack 'em the way they ought to be
packed. Such shiftlessness, as piling
ell that stuff into g paper parcel and
then stuffine Il into trunk that's got
to he hacked close. I never did,
'Maryr' intcrrupted June, tears in
voice and eyes. This is nv own trunk
and I'm going to put things into it
the way want them. Please leave my
package alone! 7 mean it. ! want you
to leave II lone. Promise me-"
The old woman looked up. amazed
at the girls pathetically childish
earnestness over so trivial matter.
But the sight of June's fearful eyes
quite won the day.
nurse. all patience. old Mary didn't
mean to scold her baby. She's sorry
No ones going to disturb your sillv
bundle. Fill the trunk with bricks IL
YOU want to-. There. there! Don't cry"
And June knew her parcel OF mascu-
line attire was safe. for the time. from
pryins ewes.
Max Lamar had been closeted for an
hour with Chief of Police Allen. They
had twisted the new DEVELOPMENT Of the
"Red Circle" mystery inside and out
studying 1t vainly from every imaginable
able.
First of all. they had ascertained-
what they had already been sure of
that no tailor in city or State was
named Altman: and that neither city
nor State contained any master tailor
who was a mute. Also a Vigilant
search OF every tailor shop. bv a dozen
detectives. had failed to identify arv
employer or emrloHe with the dumb
youth of the preceding night.
That's the queer part of it to me"
the chief was saving. and YOU needn't
guy me for making such a close hunt
OF the tailor joints. That Young chap
was tailor. I'll bet a months pay
on it." .. ,, .>r...
Just a clever crook. playing tailor. It's
safe to say he was ANYTHING but tailor;
or he wouldn't have run the risk of be-
ing traied by passing himself Off as
one"
There's where you're dead wrong.
insisted the chief Ibid YOU ever notice
how the average man handles coat
or a dress or anv other garment that
belongs to a woman? WhV. when You
and ! were looking over that black coat
YESTERDAY We acted like our fineers were
all thumbs. We could hardly tell tor
from bottom of it, either of us. And It ;
the came wsv with any ordinary man.
well what then II"
"IklS dumb chan took hold OF tie