Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1918-07-12
My | ady
b. Midi Fiunu PIe;6se

I4l6e p(lue or eXtfay8880I nOuO0S, StIl1s
lacked a wedding suit and Nora q
tTousseAu. and both Of US set at work
saving sensibly to acquire the same.
She worked In artificial flowers at
six dollars week. was chauffeur.
That was in the days before the taxi
cab had invaded the land. A few OF
the wiser cabmen sold their rigs and
rented automobiles on an income shar-
ing basis. I was one of them.
was returning from trip to one
Of the depots when lady crossed the
pavement from a fashionable millinery
emporium, lifted her daintily-gloved
hand and I rounded. to the curb. She
was young and beautiful and dressed
with marked elegance and taste. !
noted that she was i'll at ease, with
something Of annoyance or suspicion
in her glance.
"Take me along the boulevard" she
directed, and there followed the out
line Of a route after that, veritable
maze Of windings inland out that made
me open my eyes wide, studious and
bewildered. II engage you for the af-
ternoon-possibly for the whole eve.
ming"
We traversed the boulevard for
mile or more, cut off to the west, round
ed at five-points center and regatned
the smooth asphalt again. The plan
was repeated bit further. 1 Won
dered what these zig-zag tactics meant.
Then there came the suggestion OF
clew. had noticed a magenta-colored
auto with yellow wheels more than
once. AS for the third time my ma
chine circied back to the boulevard
slowed down and addressed my fare.
madam" said, I'VE are being fol-
lowed"
"Have you just discovered that" she
asked me, with a somewhat nettled ac-
cent. I fancied. II suspected it: Pay
no attention to them. Just make fair
time to"
She named fashionable residence
locality and obeyed orders. The num-
Der was an old-fashioned mansion
with 4 concrete carriage road round
ing to brick stables which seemed un-
occupied. halted my machine as she
ordered. directly near a porte cochere.
II will send you word in few mo-
ments." she said, and disappeared with
in the house. It was perhaps fifteen
minutes later that good looking, neat
addressed maid opened the door.
"You are to come into the house,
please" she said, and led me into
little dining room adjoining the kitch-
en- quarters. 1t was getting towards
dusk and she lit gas jet and indicat-
ed chair at the table.
II am to get lunch for you," she adj
vised me. 1T will probably be some
time before my mistress is ready for
the auto" and spent a pleasant hour
with the chatty, agreeable girl. She
got me up an appetizing meal and
vas not 10th to see the time 60 on
earning fare without working for it:
Then she was summoned by tinkling
bell and returned to usher me into a
magnificent drawing room.
1t was brilliantly lighted, all the
windows were open and my lady was
conspicuous and dazzling. She was ar
rayed in the most beautiful party robe
possible, Of light cream color with a
scarf of light blue thrown over her
shoulders.
"You will wait outside till come,"
she said, "then drive to the entrance
Of the new opera house. When your
passenger leaves you there, your task
is DONE"
I took up bank note she indicated
on the table. I looked my gratitude,
for 1t was fifty-dollar bill.
A long opera cloak and a veil partial
ly obscured her as she stepped into
my limousine AS we circled to the
street again noticed at the opposite
curb the magenta and yellow car.
Again it took up our trail.
The street was glare as ran my
machine to halt at the opera house.
As opened the door for my passenger
to alfght I drew back in stolid amaze.
Upon the seat lay the finery of silk
and satin. Trim, neat, smiling, In her
ordinary dress the clever maid stepped
into view and disappeared down the
street.
At the same moment the magenta
and yellow car halted. noted it's
sinister looking occupants fairly glare
after the maid. Then they put on full
speed back in the direction Of the man
sion.
grinned, chuckled, for saw the
light. My lady had sent her maid to
represent her. The trailers of the
track she had probably got away while
they were on false trail.
ran across the maid a week later.
She recognized me pleasantly. She ex-
planned thus far: the husband of her
mistress was In hiding and the two
trailers were trying to trace him to
blackmail him through some knowledge
they had Of past business tangle long
since adjusted. My lady and her hus-
band were now thousands Of miles
away in new. country.
"And the silk and satin plumery,"
I questioned.
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