The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-06-07

New Ork Indl nut
Ter named Paraons was quite unknown
to the Vander:yl family, and Toosey
Attriu had just reported that Citrate
Sam had given her the slip.
Now, will yol explain this most ex-
traorGinary situation to me, IL you
please2" demanded Mrs. Woodw orth.
No, until I've had a look EVER the
room Of that maid you call l. icile," I
announced And I'd prefer that you
took me there yourself"
Can you tell me If Parsons was
away from this house on the same az
ternoop that the swartzdorp star was
stolen?"
He went to MacMilan's IN a taxi
she explained.
And the same taxi brought him
back%
It can't be sure of that But he at
least came back IN a taxi"
In another minute / had Rabbit
himself on the wire.
Rabbit. have your office verify that
phone call went from the Norman
Woodwork house to Padd, Moran. on
Van Dam street. who drives taxicab
with the State license number 1918.
AS soon as you're sure OF that get
good reliable man from the city staff.
come here to the Woodwork house.
And bring a tape line with you. for
you're interior decorators. and you've
| got a couple of walls to measure up"
I hurried back to the maids room
without the loss of moments time
and began to search.
Bhbbitt and his plain-clothes man
arrived. Two minutes later the Wood
worth limousine also rolled up. with
Parsons beside the chauffeur and the
red Tipped maid inside with Norman
woodwork. By the time they had
entered the house. Bablitt and his big
plain clothes man We're busy measuring
the drawing-room walls. minute
later Mrs Woodwork vas somewhat
startling the plainly fretful Lucille by
requesting her to pack her bag and
precede her mistress to the station to
make a drawing-room reservation.
And she had only five minutes to get
ready.
Two minutes later, by the watch,
Mrs. Woodwork rang frantically for
her maid. AS the sullep eyed Lucille
stopped in the midst of her prepara-
tons to answer the summons. 1 stood
waiting behind the closed door within
ten PAGES OF her room. The moment
the coast --as clear slipped into that
! room. turned the key in the lock and
caught up she almost completely filled
travelling bag.
But 1 found nothing Beyond those
things which any fastidious- minded
maid might need and carry. This in
Guided one full jar OF pfnkAt tinted con-
l coction bearing the label of "Ruvina
. Face Cream" turned this over in my
5 hand, detected by what was clearlya
( disappointment to me. Then, as I did
so, I noticed that the bottom of this
f jar, already Infused, was stained. as
; though by a flame from lamp or gas.
, Then, quick as a shot. 1 caught up
, a hat pin, unscrewed the top from the
l jar OF perfumed grease, and sent the
} pin point probing down into its pink
tinted center But that pink-t tinted
r center, 1 saw. refused to be prohed.
Something much harder than face
/ cream stood in the way
5 The next moment I'd unearthed a
: Offering white crystal almost as big
as a crows egg. I knew as 1 wiped 1t
with my handkerchief and stared down
a at it that it was the Swartzdorp Star.
I Then / unlocked the door and went
r noiselessly down the stairs.
Y At the foot OF the second stairway l
e met Mrs. Woodwork and her husband.
J. with the dead faced Parsons not more
= than six PAGES behind them.
r You" I said, Indicating Parsons. as
. Babbitt ran out his tapeline. please
lift that picture down from the wall"
! It was a heavy canvas. and I waited
. until it was fl ee of its hook before
Z moved. Then. as Parsons stood with
s both hands above his head. I threw
q Babitt and his big-bowed confederate
D the sign they were waiting for.
e Parsons fought like wildcat, and be-
fore fhA cuff --yara IN hia paok
patch OF tslse sideburns had been
3 brushed away from his cheek revealing
scar just in front of the right ear.
] Scar Parker" 1 announced, as I
= heard the telltale snap Of the bracelets.
n Then a lou .er sound filled the room,
] followed by a spit Of plaster. The
n French maid stood in the doorway
t with a smoking revolver in her hand.
Her face vas white but her hand was
T, steady as she raised the revolver for
K the second time.
d It was Norman Woodwork himself,
e who sprang for her before she could
n fire again. The impact OF him sent her
i staggering back, and before she could
+, recover her feet he'd wrenched the
= frearm from her fingers. AS he held
I her there, quite motionless. she stared
into his face. ana he stared back into
= hers. Knowing what knew. waited
Y 10 to your rocm' ne commanded
v as he pushed her toward the door.
mol" counter ordered. but !
: spoke too late. II this girl GETS"
e Then 1 stopped. There were two
persons in that room who knew why.
= And there were three that didn't So
( it was really Babbitt. having passed his
= prisoner over to the plain clothes man.
Y who broke the silence.
What d'you want next2" he some
/ what testify inquired.
e You can wire Sloan that we've got
I both Scar Parker and the Swartzdorp
9 Star" 1 told him. And you might add
j that I've also recovered the Blue Pear,
e but that Marie Deschamps. alias
I Maiden Lane Mary, acting as gay
D cat for Parker. unfortunately made her