The Elbert County tribune., 1920-02-27
srr4nred away and turned south on


tionery store and bought an ink eraser.
Mr.. Mann passed the door and glanced
in. motioned him to wait but ne pre-
tended not to see He was some dis
tance ahead when l came out. ran
after him and caught up.
'sDl1 I hurt you very badlyf" asked.
"No-not very" he answered. eying
me narrowly. I'm afraid you're CIV
ing yourself too much concern over a
little accident" He was. saw. be-
ginning to wonder which of us was fol-
lowing which,
NO" said l quietly, "I'm not giving
myself the least concern over your
stepped-on toe-rm simply using II as
an excuse to get good look at you In
garious lights so I'll know you agnin
in any possible disguise you may as
sumo"
have always regarded that episode
and those last words-as a stroke of
genius on my part. II do say II II
came to me on the spur of the moment
without thinking about 1t. and nearly
bowied Mr.. Man over. Before he had
decided what to say. or what to do to
sliuy my suspicion of him, l bolted
across the street. diagonally. ducked
between two trolley cars, one of which
hid me from view long enough for me
to get into the corner drug store where
i dashed into the telephone booth and
called up Mrs. Delario.
1 had considerable difficulty in get
ting her and felt every second was
precious. My detective man was lurk-
ing about somewhere looking for me,
and l rather guessed she had one
watching her. My suspicious seemed
confirmed. for the moment she recog-
nized my voice she said. II can't talk
to you" in a tragic determined sort Of
way and felt her in the act of hang
ing up.
Wait" / shouted peremptorily.
"why can't you talk to me? Are you
wstched7 Is everything you say over
heard?"
"Yes."
"AIl right-then I'll do the talking.
You can answer yes and no, can't
your"
Yes"
"Well, we're both in the same boat
I'm watched too-fOllowed by a detec-
tive. This is the first chance I've had
to get you and don't know how soon
I'll be able to get you again. Is your
house watched?"
yes"
"Coud run the blockadey
mo- This was fairly shouted at
me-
rs there any way i could get those
n ffrIa I'm oh 10 do ~
'eNo-none whatever now. No-not
under any consideration"
Couldn't you come up and get
them?"
"No-Of course not"
Couldn't you send up7"
"Whom could l send? impossible
totally impossible" Her tone was so
emphatic that / knew there was moth
ing to be hoped for In that quarter.
felt she was about to ring of and
leave me with that and shouted at her:
''Here-hold on, l don't know what
to do-you'll have to advise me-"
But l can't! You must do as you
think best-you understand It,"
81 don't! That's just the trouble.
Listen. There are some things I've got
to know about. You keep on answer
Ing yes and no-that isn't going to give
anything away Mt your end, and I'm in
drug store and l don't think any
thing will get out from this end.
You knew was at your house yester-
day7"
'Yes-after you had left"
you knew was accused? And that
/ denied everything?"
81 thought 1t happened that wny-I
wasn't sure"
'Were you accused. too?"
''Yes."
'.Of the same thing?"
Il presume So"
"You denied everything?"
absolutely"
Now l really must know this-did
you bring those articles in yourselfT
"Yes"
"You said friend did,"
"Well-I didn't feel ! could explain
at the time. There were circumstances
connected with it"
AT the time we crossed tog ether
this last trip?"
"Yes. Can't you see how things have
been worked? If I'd followed my in
buttons, l shouldn't have allowed"
"The girl to come with you?"
"Yes. 1t was planned"
"Wait There's another thing I want
to know
"I'll tell you later"
"No-now. How did they get through
the
81 can't tell you"
But must know-it's a matter Of
praat irnportanca fo mo"