The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-08-22
1.-THE Allison Pearls"
~ EDWARD n. HuRLBuT
copyfisht. Ps.st Newspaper Service

4
CART was not having an entirely I'M
interesting session. Allison, thkins
his Que from flanagan. had. returned
10 the drawing room Of tho suite
whore be greeted Maggart.
Allison stepped TO tho inner
rooms. In few moments Miss ALL
son came out.
Have you located himf" she ask
cd. quickly.
Not yet. miss" replied Mag
CART. Hell discover himself quick
enough once we get our fingers on
tho pearls. That's the only way
10 ret at H. Anything been hap
pening1"
"a woman toicphoned me about
hhlrpast 10 O'Clock" she said. "Hhe
said hhe WAS friend OF Mr.. Mas
tera. and asked II knew where he
was. or course did not. and
told her so"
What kind Of n friend did she
say she was7" Miss Allison's face
suffuned deep red. You can't
| hold things out on me. That ID
very important" urged Mnggart
"Shs said-she was In love with
him"
II see. Kind OF rubbing II into
you. eh1 And what did you tell
herr
IL asked her II she was tho won
nm who sent tho pearla back-the
woman. YOU know. who was sup
posed to come out 81 Mr.. Masters
rooms. She said she was not; but
the way she said II makes me think
she was"
After the fashion of his kind.
Maggart made a iabored note or
two In his memorandum book OF
& this important circumstance.
4 Good. want 10 see tho girl.
Jeanne"
Miss Allison went within and IN
IA moment Jeanne came into the
/ room.
"sit down" said Mnggart, briefly.
I'm MagEart OF tho Adams agen'
/ cy Are you ready TO spill out this
thing now. or have wc got 10 throw
you In the tanks?"
Il am not so YER familiar with
your American slang" she replied,
as her hands clasped and unclasped
/ In her nervousness. What Is II
you mean-rpiil7
flanagan might. with his mag
nation. have suspected that she
was simply a woman fighting for
composure and possibly for time.
Il mean are you going 10 give
me the facts about the necklace :
[ Wo don't want TO send anybody TO
tho pen. All want Is the string
OF pearls. Where are theyI And
there might even be n piece OF
change in II for you--tumble7
Where are they7
Il know nothing. Do what you
please. You think II is 10 brighten
moi Poufl do not care for you.
DO what you like-spy, Do what
you like But do not come 20
bother with me again unless you
wish 20 arrest me-and II you do
that. why. watch outl"
She bad arisen. and without more
words. turned and walked 20 tho
inner rooms. leaving Mr.. Maggart
properly astoundcd.
"Humi" he finally managed to
mutter. That's n hot one for you.
wonder, now. just wonder. II !
am wrong in th!s7 ! figured that
girl would be duck soup TO break
downfall she was one Of them.
flanagan has a limo: and IL isn't
this line. Now. what the devil f.
/ he working ont He doesn't seem
20 be hothering much about Mas.
iers. ! wonder. now. just won
der" Maggart jumped to his feet.
Whatever II was he wondered II
was sufficiently electric TO inspire
him To rapid action. He jammed
his hat on his head and started out.
THAT would be a hot onel" he
muttered. And tho girl might kick
thru with a good chunk OF change.
even to talk TO him only over the
phonel"
flanagan. stroIling from the tele-
phone office. caught n glimpse Of
Maggart. hurrying thru the lobby.
Il guess. my gumshoe friend. I'll
turn the tables" he unused. You
have been devoting much time and
attention 10 me. Suppose | follow
you for n changer"
So he drifted along after the
hurryIng MagEart. who went
straight TO the Enquirer" office.
Somewhat puzzled. flanagan step
ped 10 n telephone and asked for
Sampson. But before that individ-
ual came on the wire the telephone
girl said:
"Oh. Mr.. flanagan. There was a
gentleman Just i'm here inquiring
where you lived. He didn't leave
his name He Just this minute
went out the door"
II was some five or six minutes
later that Maggart. perspiring and
all out OF breath. raped loudly at
room 10. OF the Inverness Hotel.
but, receiving no answer, pulled
out a bunch OF keys containing sew
| eral that were very thin and
fragile. and one OF these delicate
instruments he inserted in the
lock. worked Il for few seconds.
and the door swung open.
| He was staring into an empty
room; bearing general resem-
| blance to the room In which Ster-
rett Masters. earlier In that same
evening. had enjoyed his oyster
loaf
Maggart stepped within. shifting
He leaned down. and withdrew n
cigar butt from the cuspidor. feel
ing II critically and then smelling
II. He left the room and dropped
down In the elevator. speaking a
word TO the night clerk.
AS we used to say when we
we're kids. IT'S warm" he unused.
as he stepped to the sidewalk.