The Lamar register., 1919-09-10


ticomb as Willard prepared to leave
The latter smiled enigmatically and
dio some shoulder Struggling on his
own account. 81 think | can find your
daughter for you" he said. and went
away.
The next day Mr.. Holmes opened a
new Office. II was on the south part
of building in the theater district,
ard In the elevator directory II was
referred to as "Talbott's Dramatic
Agency" This new enterprise came
out with prominently placed sdvsr-
usement III all the morning papes,
reading:
Gan place young lady In coming
new broadway production. Must he
exactly five feet four inches In height,
with black eyes. light brown hair olive
complexion. Persons with no stage ex-
perience desired None others apply.
tall at noon sharp"
Willard smiled as he rend the ad.
seated himself AT his desk waiting for
the influx.
It's ridiculous" lie reflected In
fact it's absolutely foolish. but II will
bring results"
II did. The would-be actresses
stopped The elevator service and lined
the StalrwHys all the way down the
SIX fights to the street The first
girl To apply had yellow hair and blue
eyes. The second had freckles. red
hair and eyes Of no particular shade.
And 50 they came. and MS fast as they
entered one door Willard politely es-
curted them to another and let them
"ui without ceremony
The thirteenth applicant put dif-
fer-nt aspect On matters. As near as
Willard could determine she filled the
bill.
My name is Minnie F'lonton,' she
aid In voice thut was so pleasant
It started II humping In Willard's
breast. lie suddenly discovered that
th-rr WAS an organ inside him that
pui>at-d regularly and could be af-
ftctri 10y shocks. Willard was shock
eel. there was nn question. Pos
s-~sing II nature with only II void where
sentiment was supposed To have a
place and with mind that was an
odlcal. he had not dreamed that
pretty paiE Of ewes and an equally
pretty voice could bring to life that
blood-pumping device OF his that he
hnd come To believe was no more
animated than the ones found on val
entin.s.
Mimi. Flonton was from Sparks
Lurg. she said. and she was seeking
II position back nf the footlights only
bscuus- every other thing she had at
tempted as means of providing food
and shelter had failed. She was d-s-
perately In need Of some kind OF job.
she said. with tears welling In her
eyes. and II she didn't get one soon she
would just stnrv-. that was all.
''She certainly has the making Of nm
actress" Willard was forced to con-
f,ss to himself. Her story rings so
tue am almost inclined to believe II
ia spite of my contrary knowledge"
Then he added: II almost wish II was
true. believe could learn-but
nc, not rich mans daughter. Impos-
sible"
''I'll try you out for the place" he
told her. and he obtained room for
her In n nearby hotel and started
campaign TO break down her story 80
lie could take her home to Papa With
comb and earn his fee. which was not
going TO he frugal what with Office
rent. newspaper advertisements. etc.
All his traps failed. however. She
clung to the Sparksburg-out-o -of-a-job
tale. He qulzzed her over dinner Ia
bles and during theatrical perform-
ances. but all without result except
that some strange spell which she
seemed to have woven about him tight
ened It's talons.
At last the detective gave II up and
decided the only plan was to bring
Papa Witticomb TO his daughter He
would rather have delivered the miss
ing daughter TO her parental abode in
taxicab. That would have been
more buslnesslike and detectified: but
II couldn't be done. So he went back
to his regular office and called Nr.
Witticomb on the phone.
"Oh. that's Mr.. Holmes. is it?' said
tn, voice ON the other end Of the wire.
well. that reminds me. Intended
calling you up 10 tell you about IL. but
1t slipped my mind. My daughter came
home the same evening | employed you
on the case. You see. she changed