The Lamar register., 1920-05-12
tCopyrish. By Randall Psrrish)

right of Enright and Dougherty."
Miss Donovan's fingers gripped hard
on the footboard of the bed. her teeth
cllnched to keep back sudden excla-
nation of surprise. This was more
than she had bargalned for, yet the
other woman, coolly watching, in spite
of her apparent flippancy, observed no
change in the girls manner. Appar-
entity the disclosure meant little.
"Enright, you say? No. 1 think not.
He claimed to know mef That Is
strange. Who did he think l wasf'
Miss La Rue bit her lip. She had
found her match evidently, but would
strike harder.
"a reporter on the Star. Naturally
we couldn't help wondering what you
was doing out here. You are In the
newspaper business, aren't your"
"Yes," realizing further concealment
was useless, but on my vacation. l
thought explained all that to Mr.. Bea-
ton. 1 am not exactly a reporter. I
do feature-stuff."
"Whatever that is"
"Human-interest stories; anything
unusual; strange happenings in every
day life. you know"
Murders, and-and robberies."
occasionally. If they are out of the
ordinary" She took swift breath
and made the plunge. like the Fred
erick Cavendlsh case-do you remem-
ber that2"
Miss La Rue stared at her across the
darkening room. but II she changed
color the gloom concealed 1t and her
voice was steady enough.
mo" She said shortly. 81 never read
those things. What hsppenedf"
"Oh. nothing much. He was rich,
and was found dead In his apartments
at the Waldron-evldently killed by Q
burglar. The case is probably forgot
ten by this time. Let's speak about
something else-I hate to talk shop"
Miss La Rue stood up, and shook out
her skirt.
That's what say; and It seems to
me II would be more social If we had
something to drink. You sIn't too nice
to partake OF cocktail. are youf
Goodi Then Wen have one. What's
the hotelkeepers name?"
"Timmons."
'Do you suppose he'd come up II ]
pounded on the floorf"
Miss Donovan slipped OF the bed.
81 don't believe he is In the office.
He went up the street just before dark.
You light the lamp while I'll see II I
can find the Chlnaman out in the hall"
She closed the door behind her.
strobe noislly down the hall. then ST.
lently and swiftly retraced her steps
and stopped silently down to where a
crack yawned In the lower panel. That
same Instant a match fiared within
the room and was applied to the wick
OF the lamp. The narrow opening gave
only glimpse of half the room-the
wash-stand. the chair. and lower part
of the bed. She saw Miss La Rue drop
the match, then open her valIse and
go through 1t. swiftly. She found
nothing, and turned to the wash-stnnd
drawer. The latter was empty and
was Instantly closed again, the girl
staring about the room, as though at
her wits end. Suddenly she disap-
peared along the edge of the bed, be.
yond the radius of the crack In the
door. What was 1t she was dolng7
Searching the bed, no doubt: seeking
something hidden beneath the pillow,
or mattress.
Whatever her purpose, she was gone
scarcely a moment, gliding silently
back to the chair beside the window
With watchful eyes again fixed on the
closed door. Miss Donovan smiled and
Strengthened up, well satisfied with
her ruse. 1t had served to demonstrate
that the ex-chorus girl was far from
being as calmly Indifferent as she had
assumed and 1t had made equally EVIL
dent the fact that her visit had an OBJ
ject-the discovery of why Miss Dono-
van was in Haskell. Doubtless she
had made the call at Enright's sugges-
tlon. Very well, the lady was quite
welcome TO all the information OBJ
tanned. Stella opened the door and the
eyes Of the two met.
"The Chinaman seems to have gone
home" the mistress of the room said
quietly. AT least he is not on this
floor or in the office. and l could see
nothing Of Tlmmons anywhere"