Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-06
BY ARTHUR STRINGER

either. He was travelling alone, that
man. l remember that, for he stopped
at the postoliice and asked about the
chances of any oil leases in this dis
trct."
Then he was going through in a
cara" | prompted.
yep! Got as far as Gottlob's and
paid for bed and breakfast. Then he
found his car out of killer and gave
Eph S. bill for storing that car
in his cowshed until he'd get back
with a couple of new parts from the
Detroit factory. It's worrying Eph
! guess. what he's going to say when
that car owner gets back
Then the car is still there?" I in
dolently inquired.
Had look in Eph's cowshed as
went by. And the car WAS still there"
My guide ushcred me into a sur
prisingly orderly general store. Then
he disappeared from me into a tele-
phone booth, where l could hear his
shouts, even through the glass panel
ed door.
"All right they're waiting" he an
nounced, as he opened the door and
motioned for me to take the receiver
from his hand.
A moment later I was put on a New
York wire and I could distinctly hear
the voice of Sloan calling for our
password.
Say, Balmy you'll have to call in
on that Spider Beeston case" said the
voice over the wire. It's closed. One
of Rabbits men gathered Beeston in
last night at Detroit"
And how about the haul?" asked.
There wasn't thing on Beeston.
But Babbitt reports he can't third de-
gree a thing out of Beeston himself
That's the situation. except the Tiff
fanny people have doubled the reward.
They're Offering $4,000 now for the
stuff intact"
You're to come back" was the
Enthusiastically curt comment. And
the wire went dead and the connec-
tion was lost before l could as much
as add a word.
] promptly decided to take my time
about going back to Sloan. and as
Postmaster Burley conveyed me back
to the Gottlobs' found considerable
thinking to do. l found supper await
ing me, set out in lonely state on a
rickety center table. 1t was Mrs.
Gottlob who waited OH me. l was
tired and ] was glad to take the un-'
shaded oil lamp and climb to my attic
room. l was half way up the stairs,
when gust of wind blew my lamp
out.
/ stood there wondering what to do.
Then l heard Eph Gottlob emerge
from his seclusion, and that decided
me to return to the kitchen So l
turned and CROPPED my way down the
padded steps. Then l stopped short.
For beyond the partly open door at
the foot of the stairs l could hear a
sudden sound of knocking. l could make
out. through the doorcrack, theNburly
figure of the householder as he an
swered that knock. Yet it was a mo-
ment or two. even after he'd opened
the door. before l could make out his
belated caller. l saw that it was a
peddler with pack.
You want to buy jewelry? Verree
che'p?' inquired a suave and mellow
voice. 1t was quiet voice, and a
softly modulated one. Yet it shocked
me. startled me like a blow in the
face. For the moment / heard that
voice l knew 1t belonged to Angelo
Pareto.
There, within twenty PAGES Of me,
stood the only enemy of whom I was
afraid.
You wanta buy, eh?" said the in
sinuating voice.
mo-" almost shouted the irate man
Of the house. 1t was plain that he'd
had enough of rings of late, and
equally enough of unwelcome callers.
Then, maybe, eef I paya you. I
sleepa here for the night-yes?"
This house is full"
Then perhaps, on the 'ay, in the
barn?" persisted the humble sutton
for lodgings.
II don't want you round here" was
. Eph Gottlobs ultimatum.
"Veree WE'LL go and make no
troubl'-veree well!"
l bolted myself in my attic room. I
was no more excited than the quiet
ness of the place seemed to warrant.
] didn't undress, for I had no inten-
ton of going to sleep. Hearing the
sounds of the Gottlobs stirring below
stairs, l unlocked my handbag. took