The Washington times., 1919-09-07

For several hours these saIeswomen remained in the
conference raekng their brains for something upon which
the detectives might build hope Of running the senior
to earth There seemed to be nothing they could lend to
the prospect Of success until, suddenly, there came
memory to the keeneyed efficient young business woman
who had been assigned to the during his first ca
at the store which described above-he where he
purchased wentyfOur gowns and returned fifty others
for refund.
I don't suppose this win help but noticed that in
making his selections the senior always seemed to espe
cally like gowns which designed upon color foun.
laton Of French blue-the blue tone you know which
is reminiscent Of the French flag. It is very popular
color this year. but it not everyone who likes it pre-.
dominating in gown. Only. brunettes always
It. The senior was always struck by the gowns which
showed great deal of this blue tone and nearly every
garment he selected done mainly in this tint
The young saleswOman offered her recollection DIFF
fdentyt seemed such trivial thing. Yet the chief Of
detectives for the association on his feet instantly
'Thst viii help That is the first thing we have to work
on" Within twenty -four hours the hunt had begun
Young women Of marked Spanish type, who seemed
to from nowhere, but quite evidently bent upon
important mission appeared In the Spanish quarters
in the hotels where Spanish and South American people
cOngregate in all Of the larger cities In the East In all
these cities there large colonies Of Spaniards and
South Americans and quite naturally they In coll
Ones frequent hotels and places Of amusement together
Among these colonies the strange young women
moved They were bright clerks from large department
stores who either Of Spanish parentage or who
were familiar with the Spanish language and they
acting under the instructions of their store detectives
seeking dinner and evening gowns designed upon color
foundations of French blue.
The keen minds Of the detectives had figured that
a dapper young Spaniard such as the senor Just
having succeeded in series Of clever shopftng raids
In which there was much danger and which must have
kept his mind unusually alert while he was bringing
them to their fruton would most likely celebrate his
success by rendezvous with such young women as might
ENJOY his acquaintance-young women Of his race of
course And what more natural the detectives thought
han that ne should bestow his favore-or favor.
les II ne had more than one might well be likely one
OF those wonderful gowns which he had retained rather
than risk asking refund for than fifty garmentsf
ana Freneh blue was such new color among American
designs that 1t could hardly escape attention
In Philadelphia there is famous hotel which is one
OF an international string of fashionable hosteres
operated by the same general management as that which
conducts the most famous hotel in Buenos Ayres Un-
oouDtedly the senior had spent long time in Buenos
ARES, as ne was familiar with the names of the impor
tan merchants of that city, if they knew nothing
OF nm And many rich visitors from Buenos Ayres as
well as from other Spanish cities make this PbIadeI
pha motel their headquarters their meeting place
In the roof garden Of this hOstery there appeared
one evening not long after the escape of the senor
charming Spanish girl surrounded by her gallants In
that company OF richly dressed and beautiful women
such as always found in the roof garden of this hotel
Inc Spanish girl might not have been especially noticed
ne quite evidently was not accustomed to such atmos
phere OF luxury and renemen-bu one Of the tables
near the orchestra where she could command clear view
the whole roof and the dance floor Of the Young
women detectives She saw and marked the Spanish Or
because her gown done in the new and fashionable
French blue.
The girl was followed to her home-a modern roomino
house, the tenants Of which could hardly be expected 70
wear expensive evening gowns Representatives of the
New York store were sent for and the house was watched