The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-03-03
John Lawlor,
Detective
*
By KATHERINE HOWE
Copyright, 1917, by W. @. Chapman.J

VINO sat opposite 10 MIN III tne uuy
little living room of her home.
Don't like your buslnessT" she ex-
claimed. "Why, aren't you one of the
best detectives on the force?"
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
/ won't stand hearing a word against
Stellal 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, II just wish something
would happen to bring him to his
senses"
Meanwhile Stella Barker, all uncon-
scious of the wish hanging over her,
went her way with the thoughtless-
ness and inconsequential ways of youth
In general. She loved John, but not
with the understanding and depth of
a woman of more experience in the
world might have done.
Only about two weeks after the talk
between John and his sister, a letter
came to Stella telling her she had in
hertted 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
a~cquaintances, and would-be suitors.
There had been anything more
than a kind of tacit understanding be-
tween John and Stella, but the young
man had never given up his determina-
tion to win her.
A new admirer of Stella's named
Cecil Brent began to pay very assid-
uous attentions. Mrs. Barker regard
ed him with favor. His manner were
so polished, 80 English she was sure
he must belong to a very 'high fam
fly"
John felt that the time had come
for an understanding. If Stella pre-
ferred this man to him, he must know
it. He came in his usual straight
forward way, and asked her if she
was engaged to Brent.
Stella looked u bit conscious, then
she laughingly asked: "What makes
o think so?"
"Well you're going about with him
a great deal. and"
"Why John !" she parted. "Does 1t
really make much difference to your"
Does 1t make much difference 10
me?" he repeated In slow amazement.
why you know it does! !"
"I-don't know how l was to know
It," she again parried.' "And anyway
suppose l did. What is the harm in
having a good timer"
mo HARM" said John. But with
him don't see how you can"
what have you to say against Mr..
BrentT she asked Indignantly.
HE doesn't ring true, he is not what
he seems!"
oh' ShV dhS"C1Cu Will pOlnIeu
sarcasm. as that your acute detec-
tive talent, or just simple. u~nadulter-
ated ~jeslousyr
Stella realized after he had gone
that she had not meant to really send
him away for good and all but Cecil
Brent's attentions becoming more per-
sistent they were engaged, and she be-
sannn tho nrnIlH nndoncSnr 90 Slto
mond ring.
John In his efforts to forget his
heartbreak, applied himself more
steadily to business than ever. One
day at police headquarters he was in
troduced to a young lady, and was
told she had become a valuable assist
ant in the detective service.
"Miss Remson," said the chief,
'thinks she has a clue to those coun-
terfeit tens and ifties."
zone of the men 1 have my eve on
Is an elderly man masquerading as a
clergyman" said the girl detective.
John Lawlor and Miss Remson were
detailed to work together. They found
where the Elderly clergyman" lived,
III hCDt u NAOoC uNNOuuL VI III ROllk
and coming. One day John cav him
leave the house with a dress suit case.
He followed him to the station, and
took the same train, not meaning to
lose sight of his man for one instant.
Had he only been aware that an auto
mobile was leading the train a close
race, and had seen the occupants, he
might possibly have lost sight Of the
man In clerical clothes.
AS the train slowed into the first
station. the automobile -whizzed past.
If John had not been so intent on
watching his man, he might have seen
the people In ahe car. The reverend
gentleman walked to a small hotel,
fytth joan closely In his wake. He
vsaw him assigned to a room, and as
soon as he went up with the bellboy,
contrived to get a room for himself
quite near the other. He read on the
register the name of "Rev. Joseph
Baker" and concluded he had not
come to this little town for nothing.
John intended to find out what that
errand was.
He had been In his room about half
an hour, the short winter day had
drawn to a close, he had lighted the
gas and was reading a paper. when he
heard speaking In the hall. The voices
were so subdued he could make put
nothing, and almost instantly a door
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