The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1920-01-16
rarily safe-Hnd staggered right into
AZ. ,~rre n;lly .Rtvorc f

to having a thick policeman to take
care of me I'd rather have a thin re-
porter. Billy might not be able to save
my life now, but he and his paper
would at least avenge my death.
BILLY, where are you gOingw
"Just come. Left the mater at Gilt
ton Springs this morning. Meeting
you now is what you might call
Finding your aunt from home J
suggested.
Much better than any aunt l ever
had" returned Billy gallantly; which
didn't mean much, since all he had in
the world was an only m 'ther. He
added: "Say-I was just mixing OF
you, too. l was coming up to see you
and get some really, truly advice.
While l was over there in Paris l sort
Of got the idea that I'd try my hand
at the literary game"
Don't !" I cut him short. "Stick to
the daily news and live things" 1
was at the moment thinking of the
things l was living. Also that l was
living so much l was afraid to 60
home! BILLY. take me to a show to-
night-any old show"
He swung me into a hotel-I haven't
the remOtest idea which, for l had lost
all sense Of place-and was back in
five minutes with tickets, and we went.
Il was a musical show, and Of all
things in the world I detest a musical
show about the most. Billy. however,
seemed TO find it to his liking, and
commented on it freely-I remember
his speaking Of a miss at one end of
the sextette as a "sweet bunch of pet
ticOats" and l wondered what his
mother would say t that. But the
thing dragged along in its meaningless
changes. and l sat there trying to find
some Conference in it's plot-or at least
some CLEAN Of real humor besides
h%orseplay, and all the while there kept
running thrOt n my head the words.
"Your fiat 4 being rObbed-robbed-
robbed :"
Billy and I came home on q local
that dumped its passengers at One
Hundred and Thirty-seventh. and 1
said, Let's walk up" and pulled him
out of the station ana then into a side
street and around a block until we
were out Of earsllOt of other pedes-
trians: then l said: Silly. I've got a
hunch that I've been robbed while We
were at that show. You've got 10
come up with me"
Jaw, now-dcn't go Worrying he
began soothin@iy. Lots OF people
have lunches 1l.aT never III to any
thing. But of course III 20 up with
you-calI the police &fierward, TOO, IL
YOU want"
"Dcn't Joke" I begged. 1--WE got
five hundred dollars i'm the h%Ouse-it
would le inst Eay luck" This was as
good an explanation as any. and ii was
true. didn't dare to tell him about
the diamonds and my afternoons adj
venture.
Billy whistled. Good chance for
me-if YOU haven't been burgIed al
ready. Three months i'm Paris for
yours truly"
BILLY. liSten.' I begged. ignoring his
attempt 10 he funny and cheer me mp.
If George has zone of the elevator.
all right-we walk up; but if George
is still On-nOw listen. Billy, and play
your part. for if I've been robbed
George mustn't know it: if George is
ON I'll tell him you're from the office
and have come up for some papers,"
George has his virtues and the de-
fects of his virtues-he keeps tab on
everybody in the house, who their
friends are, how often they call and
how late they stay. For me-whO
ap~ple-cheeked young man to my fiat
after midnight would be nothing short
of an adventure in Georges eyes-a
thing TO he told through the house for
q month of Sundays afterward. So l
got out a q~uarter-tO be ready with
my thanks. in case he'd stayed on,
waiting for me, as he often did; and
there he was, smiling.
l slipped the quarter into his palm
and told him how glad I vas that
didn't have to walk up-and this en-
tIeman. too. who had come Up from
the office 10 get ON papers, didn't
say what Office.
The car slid up-rly heart Slid down:
monsieur vas in int fiat waiting for
me and I knew it. Don't ask me to
explain how l knew it, knew it
and / knew that he vas in the kitchen
or would be in the kitchen. when the
car stopped at the sixth; that he
meant to let me come in, close the
door on myself. and then appear; that
he had the kitchen window open ready
to retreat by the fire-escape if should
happen not to come alone.
1 say I knew this. At the same time
l knew that / must give him the chance
to get away must let him know /