Judsonia weekly advance., 1917-03-14
THIRD EPISODE
The Capture.


 Sphinx Kelly halted abruptly at Mrs. Van Nuys' table, still toying with the handcuffs. Pat sat breathless for an instant, looking Kelly square in the eye.
 "Very dramatic, Mir. Kelly" Pat finally said, with sarcastic smile. You seem to want everyone in the place to know that you are detec- tive, or somebody trying to show of" :"
 Kelly's face flushed hotly. He was on the point of making a sharp retort, but his better judgment mastered his impulse to rudeness. Without a word he returned the handcuffs to his pock- ct, stood looking for second, straight into the defiant eyes of the beautiful girl and then walked away.
 Fastening to the main entrance, Kelly posted one of his assistants at the door and demanded:
 "See that no one leaves the place un- til everybody has been searched" Then the Sphinx returned to Ja- kobski's table.
 The old money-shark had only been stunned by the blow that suddenly fell upon his head as the lights in the Cafe Chic were snapped off at the switchboard.
 Do you know if 1t was man or a woman who struck you," Kelly asked the still befuddled Jakobski.
 "Oh, it was man-and strong man, too," was Jakobski's retort, as he rubbed the lump that had been raised upon the back of his head where the blow had fallen.
 Kelly instructed the walters and at- tendants in the Cafe Chic that every guest in the room must be searched, and under direction of the Sphinx, the work of investigation rapidly proceed ed. While Pat and Mrs. Van Nuys were waiting in the ladies' retiring room to be searched by the girl at tendants, Kelly stood near the DOT tieres that formed a protecting screen separating the main cafe from the en- trance to the ladies' room.
 So intent was Kelly in supervising the search that he failed to notice a small, white hand, as 1t projected from behind the portieres. There was an instantaneous flash of gleaming pearls, set with diamonds, as they re- fected the brilliant light, then the dainty hand quickly deposited its precious burden in the outside breast pocket of Kelly's coat.
 Soon Mrs. Van Nuys and Pat emerged from the retiring room and resumed their seat at the table. And when everybody had been searched, the disquieting report came to Kelly, from his assistants, that the JakObski pearls were still missing.
 The baff1ed detective was the object of derisive jeers and much mocking laughter from the merry throng his actions had so unceremoniously incon- venienced.
 Kelly stood the taunting and com. plaint for some time, and then, he again approached Mrs. Van Nuys' ta- ble and said:
 If you will take my advice, ladies, you will soon leave this place. In my insistance upon doing my duty, I have angered the crowd and they are apt to start a general disturbance at any mo- ment. If you will allow me to escort you home, my cab is waiting outside, and I will feel honored if you will per init me to serve you"
 The Sphinx was looking steadily at Pat during the time he was speaking, never glancing at Mrs. Van Nuys. The girl seemed conscious of gentle glow overspreading her cheeks. She seemed to note in Kelly's eyes gleam she had never seen there before.
 ''We had better accept MT. Kelly's offer, auntie dear,' said Pat, when the Sphinx had finished speaking. we have had excitement enough for one evening, Pm thinking
 Mrs. Van Nuys agreed, and the trio moved to the door and made their exit amid an uproar of jeers and cat-calls directed, Of course, at the baffled and humiliated sleuth.
 When Kelly seated himself between Patricia and Mrs. Van Nuys. the girl was careful to place herself on the side next to the sieuth's outside breast pocket. She knew what treasures the pocket contained and was determined to regain possession of the pearls. } Pat insisted upon conyersing, with