Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-05-22
us there any other evidence Of her
having left the store at anT'

the story Is OF no moment whatever.
We must look for the girls abductor,
for 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. II the police pretend to be-
ueve it they Only pretend; they know
better. Be of good heart, my good wo-
man. I think I see an outlet to the
matter. I 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.
It was a small place with very poor
stock. She asked frowsy girl behind
the counter for q certain kind OF can
dy of which the proprietor made q
specially 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 nc way ,
reach the upper stories except through
the candy store.
Miss Bartow's 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 detective story.
But it stumped Miss Barlow. She was
obliged to call in a 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 a man
about town. Grace knew very well
that he was far more competent to fer
ret out anything in the way of gilded
vice than she was. One Of his st2:
was a disposition to gamble. he
would likely know or be able to find
out whether 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 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 a 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 a staircase.
They found bedrooms, one of whicA
was locked. Bursting open the door,
there on bed lay a 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 in his arms
and, guarded by his companions, car
ried her down the stairs and out to
an auto standing near. It was like
carrying 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,
'There!' said the girl. pointing to
the auto, which was just turning
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, caf-
r1ed Helen Bowers into the house and
laid her on a sofa, for she was too
weak to stand.
Tom received pressure Of the hand
that made his heart leap. A telephone
message was at once sent to Mrs. Bow
ers that her daughter had been res
cued, and there was joyful meeting.
The police were not charged with
knowing that the missing girl was in
the house above the candy store They
were receiving money for protecting
| the place from prosecution for illegal
purposes and thought It best to believe