The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-03-02
THIRD EPISODE
The Capture.

Sphinx Kelly halted abruptly at Mrs.
Van Nuys' table, still toying with the
handouts. Pat sat breathless for an
instant, looking Kelly square in the
eye.
every dramatic, Mr.. Kelly" Pat
finally said, with a sarcastic smile.
"You seem to want everyone in the
place to know that you are a detec-
tive, or somebody trying to show Off"
Kelly's face flushed hotly. He was
on the point Of making a sharp retort,
but his better judgment mastered his
impulse to rudeness. Without word
he returned the handouts to his peck
ct, stood looking for a second, straight
into the defiant eyes of the beautiful
girl and then walked away.
Fastening to the main entrance,
Kelly posted one of his assistants at
the door and demanded:
''See that no one leaves the place I'M
til everybody has been searched"
Then the Sphinx returned to ia
kobski's table.
The old money-shark had only been
stunned by the blow that suddenly
fell upon his head as the lights in the
Cafe Chic were snapped off at the
switchboard.
'Do you know If it was a man or a
woman who struck YOU" Kelly asked
the still befuddled Jakobski.
"Oh, it was a mainland a strong
man, too," was Jakobski's retort, as he
r11hho6 tho lupp that hod hoop roica6
upon the back of his head where the
blow had fallen.
Kelly instructed the walters and at
tendants in the Cafe Chic that every
guest in the room must be searched,
and under direction of the Sphinx, the
work of investigation rapidly proceed
ed. While Pat and Mrs. Van Mugs
were waiting in the ladies' retiring
room to be searched by the girl at
| PENDANTS, Kelly stood near the por-
there's that formed a protecting screen
separating the main cafe from the en-
trance to the ladies' room.
So intent was Kelly in supervising
the search that he failed to notice a
small white hand, as it projected from
behind the portieres. There was an
instantaneous flash Of cleaning
pearls, set with diamonds, as they re-
Elected the brilliant light, then the
dainty hand quickly deposited its
precious burden in the outside breast
pocket of Kelly's coat.
Soon Mrs. Van Nuys and Pat
emerged from the retiring room and
resumed their seat at the table. And
when everybody had been searched
the disquieting report came to Kelly
from his assistants, that the Jakobski
pearls were still missing.
The baffled detective was the object
Of derisive jeers and much mockinl
laughter from the merry throng his
actions had SO unceremoniously incon
venienced.
Kelly stood the haunting and com
plant for some time, and then, hi
again approached Mrs. Van Nuys' ia
BILE and said:
IF you will take my advice, ladies
you will soon leave this place. In m,
insistance upon doing my duty, hav,
angered the crowd and they are apt t.
start general disturbance at any mo
ment. If you will allow me to escor
you home, my cab is waiting outside
and / will feel honored If you will per
NIT me to serve you"
The Sphinx was looking steadily a
Pat during the time he was speaking
never glancing at Mrs. Van Nuys. TIL
girl seemed conscious of a gentle GLOW
overspreading her cheeks. She scenes
to note in Kelly's eyes a CLEAN sh
had never seen there before.
"We had better accept Mr.. Kelly
offer, auntie dear" said Pat, when tn
Sphinx had finished speaking. "W
have had excitement enough for on
evening, I'm thinking"
Mrs. Van Nuys agreed, and the tri
moved to the door and made their ext
amid an uproar of jeers and cat-call
directed, Of course. at the baffled an
Inundated sleuth.
When Kelly seated himself betwee
Patricia and Mrs. Van Mugs, the gil
WAS careful to place herself on the sid