The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1917-10-12
John Lawlor,
Detective
"
pS
By KATHERINE HOWE


ike my business" said John LawlOr
to the comfortable looking matron
who sat opposite to him in the tidy
little living room Of her home.
Don't like your businessT" she ex-
claimed. "Nhy, aren't you one of the
best detectives on the forceT'
"Well the chief as good as told me
that last week, and they raised my
pay. But being on the police force
doesn't strike Stella as being quite
high toned enough. She asked me if
l couldn't get into the bank, or go into
brokerage or something"
brokerage shifted his sister,
"She'd rather you'd make money-or
rather swipe somebody else's money
that way than get it honestly the way
you're doing"
"Mary!" he flashed out. "You know
I won't stand hearing a word against
Stella! You've got it out of me, and
you've known all along she's the only
girl in the world for me-"
20 dear!" thought his sister, as he
went out, 81 just wish something
would happen to bring him to his
Senses"
Meanwhile Stella Barker, all uncon-
sclous of the wish hanging over her,
went her way with the t%houghtless-
ness and inconsequentlal ways of youth
In general. She loved John, but not
with the understanding and depth Of
q woman Of more experience in the
world might have done. She was only
eighteen, very romantic, and a silly,
shallow mother had not contributed
much of real worth to her education.
Only about two weeks after the talk
between John and his sister, a letter
came to Stella telling her she had in.
herited about forty thousand dollars
through the death of a distant rela-
tive. 1t was not an enormous sum, as
fortunes go these days, but enough to
draw around the girl a good many new
acquaintances, and would-be suitors.
There had never been anything more
than a kind of taclt understanding be-
tween John and Stella, but the young
man had never given up his determine.
ton to win her.
The change in Stella's fortunes
seemed somehow to also alter their
relations. He could never get any
time alone with her now. Her mother
meant mat she should now see some
real society," and entertaining alb
sorbed the two completely.
A new admirer of Stella's named
Cecil Brent began to pay very assid-
uous attentions. Mrs. Barker regard
ed him with favor. His manners were
so polished, 80 English" she was sure
he must belong to a very "high fam
ily." Brent was certainly something
Of a dashing figure. Good looking, ex-
ceedingly well dressed, of ready wit,
and pleasing address, he might have
captiyated a much more sophisticated
young woman than Stella. He took
her to the theater and suppers a few
times, and spent money freely.
John felt that the time had come
for an understanding. If Stella pre-
ferred this man to him, he must know
it. He cam in his usual straight.
forward way, and asked her If she
was engaged to Brent.
Stella looked a bit conscious, then
she laughlngly asked: "What makes
you think soT'.
"Well you're going about with him
a great deal, and"
"And what?" she smiled.
"Most anyone would think so"
LET them think SO If they Ike" she
retorted.
do You wish me 20 think so?"
why Johnw she parted. "Does II
really make much difference to your
Does it make much difference tC
mel" he repeated in slow amazement
"Why you know it does"
'I-don't know how l was to know
it." she again parted. "And anyway
suppose 1 did. What is the harm II
having a good timer"
mo HARM" said John. "But with
him don't see how you can"
what have you to say against Mr.
BrentG' she asked Indignantly.
HE doesn't ring true, he is not whar
he seems"
"Oh!' she answered with pointed
sarcasm. "Is hat your acute detec
tive talent, or just simple, unadulter
ated jealousyf"
It was In vain that John tried t
convince her there were good grounds
for his assertion, she maintained !
was nothing but miserable jealousy
and declared she would not be die
lated to, while John, feeling that Bren
had entirely supplanted him, left will
a desperate resolve to never see he
again unless she asked him to come
Stella realized after he had gOn,
that she had not meant to really sen,
him away for good and all but Cecl
Brent's attentions becoming more per
slstent they were engaged, and she be
came the proud possessor Of a dia
mond ring.
John IL his efforts to forget hi
%heartbreak, applied himself NOR
steadily to business than ever. On
day at police headquarters he was In