The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-08-18

back to the hotel TO await Harper's
return there and to pledge that
pahout to the secrecy OF the chauf-
Nur tribe. He was none too soon.
Maggart, while flanagan still scout
ed around the Richmond, had
taken a direct path to the hotel
to locate the chauffeur who had
driven the first car. But when he
found him, the shrewd Tommy had
done his work. Harper knew moth
ing more than that he had dropped
his passenger at the corner of Full
ton and Baker sts., received an or
binary tip, and turned back for the
hotel without noticing which direc-
ton the man took.
But, when flanagan finally ar
rived back downtown, the curious
thing was that Harper had told
Maggart substantially the truth.
He had dropped HIS passenger. not
at Fulton and Baker sts., but at a
street corner a few blocks away;
Fell an Lyon. The essential
thing was that neither flanagan
nor Maggart was in possession of
house number.
The loss of the Allison pearls
was on every tongue. Now and
then one of Leslie's men would
drift into the Allison buffet, or
some Of the newspaper men. So
far as the upper office men were
concerned, as flanagan learned
from Brady, who was working on
the case. nothing had developed at
headquarters from the sweating of
the maid, of Masters or of Carol,
and nothing new had turned UP
since the disappearance of Masters.
Other detectives were seeking
out the transient guests who had
been at the hotel for the night, or
guests who had been there at all
and left during the day. Thit lat
ter information flanagan received
with quickened interest.
"But I'm just one jump ahead OF
friend Leslie on that line" he re-
Elected in satisfaction. "Altho L
suppose Maggart is straining his
immaterial gray matter puzzling
out who | was chasing and why"
Raymond Kinkeppner finally
came in. In glance flanagan saw
that he had been drinking.
Something is riding my dapper
friend strong" remarked flanagan,
iudicially. Possibly it's that
100000 he's caught short at his
brokers the last ten days"
Winkeppner noticed him, hesi-
tated a moment, and then walked
rapidly over to where he sat.
81 was looking in your paper
this morning-you're the 'Enquir-
err aren't you9-but | saw no ref
erence to the scene last night. OF
course you are not going to men
ton that"
Enquirer men are not expect
ed to discuss what their paper is
or is not going to do" replied
flanagan, indifferently.
Winkeppner frowned. "That
means, l suppose, that you are go
ing to use it tomorrow"
You may take it any way you
like"
81 only want to say" Winkepp-
ner went on, evidently laboring for
self control, that what little wine
l had last night seemed to have
gone to my head. l insist on cor
recting the impression | made. 1t
was unreasonable and inexplicable
in me TO speak to and of Masters
as did. You will understand from
this. will you, that my insinuations
were absolutely groundless - in
spired by a minor personal differ
ence we may have had?"
81 will understand something of
that sort, yes" answered flanagan,
with the same exasperating inso-
lence. 81 WISH" he continued,
holding up one hand. warningly as
Winkeppner's eyes flashed omin-
ously. Ito ask you question. Why
did you so dance last night that
you kept close to Miss Allison and
Masters after the episode of the
boot buckle?"
Winkeppner stared down at Ian
agan for an instant without speak
ing.
at never occurred to me until
this moment that | had done so,"|
he replied slowly. Possibly II
did," he added, reluctantly. 'If SO,
1t was merely some desire to watch
her, ] suppose: there is something
about her that is always-charm-
ing to me-"
81 see," said flanagan. eff you
will pardon the familiarity. might
suggest that 1t isn't quite so easy
for you to substitute Miss Cadogan
for Miss Allison? Isn't that about
it,"
81 suppose I ought to resent that
remark" said Winkeppner, tenta-
lively. But I won't; my temper
got me into enough Of a situation
last night without yielding to It
again. However, II is one you can
not expect me to answer"
mo" replied flanagan. hardly.
You might tell me, tho. what your
theory is regarding Masters dis
appearance?"
Ito Be Oontinued.)