Omaha daily bee., 1916-05-14
Story No. 6 The Master Swindles

bottle Of milk. Filling enough. such food
might be. bat II was neither appetzing
nor satisfying IN any real sense, and
their surroundings would have amazed
those who had known them In the days
OF their prosperity. They we're In cheap
room OF a cheap lodging house and their
clothes were shabby. Their personal be-
ionglngs had been reduced TO a minimum.
The iandlady had been insistent IN de-
nanding the rent
OH said Mona despairingiy. AZ she
picked up a bun. "Mary-If we could
only have real dinncr~in place where
the walters know what you want before
you DO yourself and the linen II clean
and the silver bright
"Dontt" said Mary. sharply II only
makes Il seem worse ~ we think Of
things like that"
aoh. I know said Mona Mary.
something has got 70 turn Up pretty
soon. 10 you realize that we haven't
bod such run Of luck since we first de-
clded that we had right 70 make Tho
world pay us the living n owes us2'
Buns again" and Mary, next day
Rhe looked reeretfnlly az the single dime
she held in her hand, Ten cents apiece
for dinner Mona. Come op-lsfs dine
outl Wen buy our buns and eat them
sin tho park or some place like that"
IAN right" said Mary llstlessly ~
Jaw a store yesterday where tho buns
looked bigger than at this place we've
been going TO- Let's try them. IT'S not
much farther"
Important events have hung on de-
cieona as triflinK and ms wholly die
tated BY chance as that one Of the two
RirH 10 try new bakery. While tney
were selecting their buns they saw n
young man who was giving an order ut
the desk. lie was flashy-ooeng
youth. with touch Of tho Bohemian
about him. And Mona. psering at him,
was convinced that she had seen him
somewhere ia the past. Hs paid no Rt-
tentlon to either Or the girls, and Mona
had o good chance 70 study him, bhe
noticed that he kept bin left hand care
fully IN his pocket But an accident,
the dropping Of sons q The coins he had
received IN change compelled him TO
remove it ana now Mays attention was
attracted AZ we'll rs Mona'a. Both were
striIek by the curious tattooed Design on
tho back 81 tho hand-a sign familiar 10
them az "The neyil's sign" consisting
Of small demono dancing on mn IN
varted GROSS. But II was only Mona who
seemed to see any real Significance IN
this. Mary Understood her signal, and
they both followed him
but wby2' asked Mary, when they
were on his trail.
4 think know him" said Mona.
And If ] am right ! believe we'ro not
wasting our tins. There's no reason why
we shouldn't follow him. IL theref
There's nothing else that We have TO do
that IL more promising"
u supDose not said Mary, But that
doesn't moan muchi"
Even when tho young man turned In
nj the impressive entrance OF tho Co
lumbar Art museum, Mona insisted on
following him. And when she saw him
At down before a certain picture. unpack
small easel and net 10 work copying
the picture. aho was greatly excited.
come on" said Mona. = want to see
the picture. think l know II, but
want 10 make sure"
efts tho 'Monna vannaP said Mary,
after they had slipped up behind tbs
painter. without attracting his attention,
and glimpscd the nams plate on the pio-
tufe.
u thought sol" said Mona, trium-
phantiy Come on-I want 10 show you
something In the catalogue.
There" she said. Raphaelo-Monna
yanna~l5a2 Considered by many to
represent the greatest phase OF tho mas
ter Loaned 10 the Columbian Collection
~ J. de veers crogan. Value estimated
81 $4,000. /"
= don't SEQ what good Il does u.s."
said Mary, practically.
watt Now l know who that young
chap Is who Is copying itl Harry the
Hun, Mary-the most famous picture
thief In the world. Hos done impossible
thinga. and he's mover been cansht~and
held. II he's copying that picture itn
because ne means 10 stoal u"
aweil~ihats hia business" said Mary,
= suli don't sec whore No come in--'
HIf we know what he's planning to do
why Il nit there chance for us 10
cut Ia somehow" asked Mona. We
can surely find some way 10 profit By
what we've found out And don't moan
slying him away either
Well. iii admit frankly that l don
aee any ehaner said MARY. "hu'
there's nothing elHa in slght l sup.
pose We migh. a. well wait for htn
20 set ,hrough here and soc where he
snes No harm IN that"
80 harm and lot 90 good, per
hana said Mona. i've Eot feeling
thar anve stumbled on some good luck
Mary
There vas a small park opposite tie
gaaseam. ana here theg ana and ats
their decidedly trasal repast The,
hna same tsne tn wait. hul theF wufs
slai % 80, when Harry go arpeaf
that be pata no attention IA an 20 them
"a hurried IN Instead a. II BE- had ~
appointment ie hesp and thRy bad o.
Nals fast q seHp hna @ slant Tines
hAnA3sA "a haaetff, hHa ssw him s..
fatn 5 cHuaat nlHa stslw The Raon
II lsa Htga eeaA d believed vas hepi
IS ere Melnptte aaa lie wiHAows lndl
sailed lhat tn5ihiaa uiahl be- haaahi
aiihiH er sata Tie inset sfttae4il
ns4F talisfitn q oAas asa snaa Nal
tstiia ARD amaa2 afHef thmat a faa
ramsiaaA etth MHaa ssit Nsfs ef O.
asat valMs - m4egsaHsa rae Maaa
was tasaihlaa lasl naas ~ lssk
Mslaetie sha saif Ne@ lm sefa
NsHt 8aa stas s hst nilai Msl
nsfia m aAa So tAa msi famaas ef
fss u lta faaif5 enn.lassafl
wha afa mase shaut sinai - @ iNaH
sal.sstlaa itaH fas thHH atlAia ftsH