The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-08-24

udNluS lclL tue SlOIc Ut uh
"No." ~
"That means for me that this part OF
the story is Of no moment whatever
We must look for the girls abductor
for 1 believe from what / already know
that she has been abducted by the per-
son with whom she was last seen. The
story that this woman solicits custom
ers for her candy on the street is not
probable. If the police pretend to be-
lieve 1t they only pretend; they know
better. Be Of good heart, my good wo-
man. I think I see an outlet to the
matter. / shall do some investigating,
and In the meanwhile say nothing of
this visit. We can keep secret as well
as the police"
Miss Barlow suspected the police Of
collision with the candy woman.
What object they had In screening her
she did not know She had heard that
the police Of the city were VIGOROUSLY
corrupt, and it was known to most
persons that they were bribed for per-
hitting houses to be used for gambling
and other Illegal purposes.
She reconnoitered the candy shop.
1t was a small place with very poor
stock. She. asked frOwsy girl behind
the counter for certain kind, of can
dy Of which the proprietor made a
speciality and was handed something
of which she bought small quantity.
Meanwhile her eyes were open. She
noticed that the shop was on the
ground floor and there were three
stories above. There was no way to
reach the upper stories except through
the candy store.
| Miss Bartows mind was concentrat-
ed on what those upper stories were
occupied for. How could she find out !?
If she called on the police for informa-
ton, In case the missing girl were
there and the police were protecting
the candy woman the girl would be re-
moved, after which quite likely the
house would be openly investigated.
Miss Barlow faced a problem. Be-
| fore going further In her detective
! work she must learn what was In
| those upper stories. The matter seem.
ed simple enough. Indeed, it was too
simple to be used in a detective story.
But 1t stumped Miss Barlow. She was
obliged to call I'm man to assist her.
Tom Armstrong was an intimate
friend of Miss Barlow. Indeed, he
would have liked to be more than a
friend and might have been had he not
been considered too much of man
n
that he was far more competent to fer
ret out anything in the way of gflded
vice than she was. One of his sins
was disposition to gamble. He
would likely know or be able to find
out whether a certain house was used
for gambling or, indeed, for any illegal
purpose.
Grace wrote Tom an invitation to
call upon her. He responded with
alacrity. thinking that she had relent-
ed toward him. Grace told the story
Of her detective work and asked him
to find out for her what the rooms
above the candy store were used for
without his Investigations being
known. Tom said he would do his
best. When he reported he gave no
detailed account Of his proceedings,
but he gave the Information Grace
needed. He said that the premises
paid premiums to the support Of a po-
lice insurance fund.
Miss BartOw's next move was to
gain access without warning to those
In the candy store building. For this
she was no more fitted than to learn
the contents. She was obliged to call
again ON the man whom she consid.
cred too wild for a husband. Tom
Armstrong promised to help her.
1t was not long after this that one
evening party of young men rolling
along the street, supposed to have been
drinking, turned into the candy store
and, after making purchases, walked
deliberately into back room and, de-
spite the efforts Of the girl behind the
counter, stumbled upon staircase.
They found bedrooms, one of which
was locked. Bursting open the door,
there on bed lay girl, who, fright
ened at their approach, shrank away
from them.
"Who are you?" asked one Of the
men.
"Helen Bowers"
1t was Tom Armstrong who asked
the question, and the moment the re-
ply was given he wrapped blanket
around the girl, took her I'm his arms
and, guarded by his companions, car
ried her down the stairs and out to
an auto standing near. 1t was like
carrying a football guarded by inter
ferers to goal. He had scarcely left the
candy shop before several policemen,
summoned by the girl In the candy
shop, dashed up to the door.
'Therev' said the girl, pointing to
the auto, which was Just turning a
corner.
The police were too late. Having no
conveyance, they lost their prey.
Miss Grace Barlow was sitting In the
living room Of her home when there
was sharp ring at the bell. She
opened the door herself, and Tom Arm
strong, followed by his friends, car
ried Helen Bowers into the house and
laid her on a sofa, for she was too
weak to stand.
Tom received pressure of the hand