The Carlisle independent., 1917-03-22

open ponderous lOose-leaf ledger which lay upon his desk, contains the names and addresses of all with whom we have had dealings, and here" running his finger down the page, "are the names of those who bought the books which you are seek ing. You will notice that the twelve books comprising Lot 32 were sold separately, so I'm afraid that it will require considerable time and trouble for you to run down all of them"
 'I see that the leaves of this ledger are detachable" remarked Olga "As we are greatly pressed for time won- der if yau could not let me take the page which has the names we wish. will have them copied and return the page to you in the morning"
 T am very sorry, madam" said Mr. Dawson respectfully, but the city or dinanees require us to keep list Of those to whom we have made sales always in our possession. The police are very strict about this, as it often assists them in tracing articles that nave DEtI SlOltds 4NOL lldL Mc al . accustomed to deal with thieves" he added, smiling. If you will wait but five minutes, madam, my secretary will copy the names for you"
 Within quarter of an hour after Olga and Sextus left the auction rooms with the list in their posses sion, a second taxicab drew up before Dawson's door. Gerald Morton en- tered.
 q am a friend of Miss Cleo Burke's." he explained to the auction ger. AS she has been detained in Valdavia she asked ne if I would drop in here and get the names of the peo- pie who bought some books about which she telephoned you"
 But some other friends of Miss Burke's have just been here after the same list" said Dawson. They left with it not fifteen minutes ago"
 "Other friends of Miss Burke?' ex- claimed Morton. plainly startled Who were they? What were their names?"
 "It never occurred to me to ask their names" said Dawson. There were two of them; slender, foreign looking man and tall, dark, hand somely dressed woman l imagine that she was a foreigner, too
 "A tall, dark woman and a foreign looking man" repeated Morton, mak- ing no effort to hide his perplexity T haven't the vaguest idea who they could be. Perhaps someone to whom Miss Burke telephoned after left Val david. I'm afraid I've a reputation for being very careless and she was probably afraid that I would forget all about the list. Still, you had better let me have a copy of it so that can prove to her that I'm not as forgetful as she imagines."
 When he departed a few minutes la- ter, with the list in his pocket, Ger aid Morton was much-puzzled man Who could they be, these foreigners who had so suddenly obtruded them selves?
 At five minutes to six there stopped before the Dawson establishment a snorting motorcycle. Entered Satsu- ma, dust-covered and perspiring.
 T nave come to inquire about some books belonging to Miss Burke he began, in the precise speech of an ed ucated Oriental, when Dawson inter- rupted him.
 You're another friend of Miss Burke's, I suppose?" he shouted. T suppose you've come to tell me that Miss Burke has been unavoidably de- tained and that she has asked you to obtain the names of the purchasers of the books, eh? I've stood for that story twice this afternoon but you can't come in here and put it over on me third time.'
 What do you mean?" asked Satsu- ma, in undisguised astonishment, T do not understand"
 T mean exactly what I say" shout ed the exasperated auctioneer Half an hour ago in come a girl and man who say that they are friends of Miss Burke and that she's sent them to get the names of the people who bought her fathers books. I give them the names. Ten minutes later a young fellow arrives in taxi and in tear ing hurry and tells me the same story So give the names to him. Now you come along and try to give me the same song and dance. It's too thin. my friend, it's too thin.''
 "I am not a friend of Mss Burke" said Satsuma quietly, 'and l know nothing of these other people I wish to obtain the books for private req sons. If you will give me the names of the people who bought them I am quite willing to pay you for your trou- ble, and he displayed twenty dollar bill.
 Well, money talks" said Dawson, abruptly altering his tone, and hanged if l can see what harm there is in giving you the names. Sit down a minute while l copy them"
 When Satsuma left he was so ab- sorbed in his speculations as to the 0f h1