The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-08-20

1kuSeti. why Shouiu INV"
anything about that?" he said
violently. why do you all ask
me that question? We are not
friends-it is hardly likely he
would have taken me into his con-
fidence II he had decided to skip
out
"Who else has asked you the
: question:" flanagan was imper-
turbable.
who else? Why, ! have just
gotten thru with half an hours
sweat box down at police head
quarters with that accursed Leslie
doing eevrything but charging me
with numbering the man! I'll have
a defamation of character suit on
him when this thing is overl.-
If flanagan was surprised at
this information as to Leslie's line
Of activity, he did not show 1t.
"Of course, he didn't go quite
that far" Winkeppner corrected.
"He thought / might have known
something about his habits or
where he might go to spend a
few days while things quoted
down Bit"
"But you didn't?"s
81 certainly did not" respond
ed the broker, warmly.
'You danced near Miss Allison
for several Dances" continued
flanagan, watching Winkeppner
from half-closed lids. When did
you first notice the necklace had
disappeared"
mot until the unmasking, and
we walked over to where she and
Masters were talking" he replied,
promptly.
MAY l ask what time you left
your office this afternoon" Lana
gan asked.
Winkeppner glanced at him
with a momentary suspicion and
uncertainty. The fleeing express
sion OF unrest was not lost upon
flanagan.
"About 3 O'clock" he said. II
had some business matters to at
tend to. My office closes at four
and | telephoned at four and
learned the police wanted to see
me. | went to Leslie's office, re-
manned there for half an hour. at
tended some more business for a
couple of hours, had a drink or
two at the Yellowstone and came
here"
"Where are you going from
here? If there are any develop
ments / may wish to get you on
the wire"
81 am going to my club-the
Bachelors'-for dinner. l have no
engagement for the evening and
will probably remain at the club
until | retire."
They ordered a drink and after
greeting friends for a few mo-
ments Winkeppner left. No soon
er was he out of sight than Lana
gan, making his way to the street.
hurried around the corner to Ste
venson ST.. where the faithful
Tommy was doing on the seat of
his taxi.
Bush st. office of the tele-
+ phone company" said flanagan.
MAKE time"
They we're there in a few mo-
ments. "Wait for me up at Grant
ave. and Suffer-" said flanagan,
crisply, "if you wait all night"
1t was shortly after eight
o'clock. The manager had gone
for the day. flanagan found the
chief operator. To her he hand
ed a letter She glanced at 1t and
walked with flanagan to another
part of the building, where a
woman sat at single switch
board.
s'This is Mr.. Smith," said the
chief operator to the woman. He
has inspector authority for the
night. Give him whatever privi-
leges he wants at the listening
GARD"
"What number or numbers Is 1t
you wish to listen to-" asked the
operator at the desk.
Franklin 2026," replied Lana
gan. !
1t was the telephone number of
the Bachelors Club.
CHAPTER V.
During the same evening that
La1dRdn sat dl TIC iAotOhAh
board of the telephone company,
there were several other incidents
occurring involving persons con-
cerned in one way or another with
the Allison pearls. For instance,
the the man with the alligator
skin suitcase had some hours
since reached his destination, and
now. in a bay window, behind
heavy lace curtains, in an apart
ment in the Panhandle district, |
was anxiously peering up and
down the street A woman, heav-
fly yelled, and walking rapidly, ;
came around the corner of Lyon
Ut. and he appeared relieved.
In a few moments she was
within the room.
81 am glad you are here he
said, anxiously. II was followed
sNo, Here?"
sT think not. There were two
taxis. I lost them turning into
Devisadero st. from Golden Gate.
/ cannot exactly understand that.
It is not likely they both broke
down on the grade"
She has been removing her veil
and heavy coat and stood revealed
=. +. bril1iant-eyed. keen looking