The Detroit times., 1916-02-10

search.,s. She Jumped up anxious
| Iy. Mrs. TraviS was standing ut one
Of tho entrance arches. taking spir.
itedly to q pleasant lookiuG man OF
middle age. The ola nurse approach
ed Der with some hesitation. In spite
u her long years OF service In III,
family and her close relationship
with June. Mary had always felt
slightly In awe ~ Mrs. Travis.
She disliked to interrupt the con-
versation. bu; her anxiety overcanne
her tin.idity. She touched her mis-.
tress lightly on the arm.
Il beg your pardon. Mira. Travis"
she said quietly. but could you. tell
me where Miss Juno is?"
"Miss Jun e: Why. I don't know.
Mary. But she's well taken care OF,
wherever che Is. ! think she's with
Mr.. Lamar. 80 DOM worry about
her"
Mrs. Travis resumed her converse.
ton. She didn't sec the old woman
wander out OF the ballroom. into th.
large corridor and disxppear down .
little hallway. The eurfton hotel
had many wings. and perfect laby.
rinth OF passagewsys, large and
small. Mary wandered about look.
ing into room after rocm. with no
result.
She decided that Lamar and Juno
were Walking In the grounds, II
would me impossibls for an old wo-
man with failing sight 10 lind them
out there In the pale moonlight.
Discouraged and tired out witE
worry and the unaCcustomed glare
and noise. Msry. entered one OF the
little rooms or the main corridor.
She sank into . deep. highbacked
chair, upholstered In some soft, vel.
vety material and put her head
back.
Her imagination tortured her.
The very thing that she had feared
had happened She had come to the
ball for the express purpose OF
watching over her little girl. She
had relaxed her vigilance for . mo-
ment and June had disappsared--in
company with Lamar. With grim
horror Mary conjrred up all the ter.
rible things that might happen. Her
thoughts resolved themselves into q
waking nishtmare--then they faded
slowly. A gentle futtering In the
soft lace ruffle ut the neck Of her
soft black satin dress, spoke Of 4
light, rsstful sleep. The tricky dose
Of approaching old age.
| Not 20 feet from the room In
which fatigue bad evertaken Mary,
was the oriental smoking room Of
the Hotel Surfton. II had been dec.
Grated and furnished by an artist
who knew hts work. Everything,
from the priceless Chinese rugs to
the pamasceae knives In elaborate
.shsaths, was authentic as well as
beautiful. Squat Hindu gods with
silly smirks on their dull. bronze
faces. shifted at the burning In
censc beneath their shrines. Heav
lily embroidered draperics from Per
sia huns In rich folds behind Turk
ish lamps OF roughly-boaien brass.
And here and there, on the hoor.
We're the huge hassocks--really
chairs--covered In silken materials
Of weird colorine--that are q vital
factor IN high.class Siamese houses
Over In ons corner, directly In
front OF q pair OF portieres woven
from raw Japanese silk. was q long
teakwood seat. June and Lamar
had been sitting there for the past
half hour; sometimes talking ami
inatedly. sometimes strangely
silent.
1t worries rae more than any.
thing I've had to solve In years."
Lamar was saying. 1--WE had the
woman in my very fingers several
tlmes and always she's succeeded
in giving me The alp! wish that"
| Just than man In evening
clothes appeared In the doorway.
Catching Sigh. OF Lamar he beck.
oned to him. eagerly. With q mur.
INJURED spology TO June. the crime
specialist got Up and went over to
him.
What can I do for you, sir" he
asked pleasantly.
II am Ssorse Radner. the man.
sser OF this hotel. Mr.. Lamar!" The
man spoke hurr!edly. a. II distress-
Cd. Several guests have lost arti.
cles Of jewelry tonight. am afraid
q professional thief il at work
among them. Can't you do some.
thing rbout II. Mr.. lamar? I hate
to trouble YOU. but"
"Oh. that's al, right-that's all
right" Lamar muftered indistinctly.
Has anyone who reported . loss to
you said anything about . Red Ctr.
Gle. Mr.. Radne:!"
mo. I don't think 40. Nobody has
the slightest clue. It's the clever
est scrt Of theft I've ever known.
There's a matter crook operating
here, I'm certain"
III see what ! can DO. Mr.. Rad.
ner. Just 30 out and minsls with
the guests 90 though nothing had
occurred, will your I'll be out IN
minute" 81
Lamar camc back 70 the bench
u0d aaty douru hts hands clanched