The Press., 1920-01-08

naQ the DrllllancN SIfetllleu out Delole t him than he drew back astOnshed.
 At the entrance to the mansion, in the silence of this midnight hour, alone and waving toward him desper- ately. stood a slight girlish figure. He noted Her broad black hat, and soft black fur which seemed to frame her face and bring out it's wistful beauty.
 twill you please" she called, give me lift?"
 Forest stopped the car. The girl jul- medately sprang into it, hugging in her arms small bag.
 You do not ask my destination,' he said. q am travelling down an unfre- quented way.
 The girl nodded.
 But you will have to go back to the city," she said.
 'I may be detained," he warned her.
 His passenger settled back with q sigh.
 "Then I'll just have to wait for you, " she said. "It's my only hope of get ting to the city tonight"
 And it is necessary that you re- turn?'
 She motioned toward the desolate house.
 One couldn't stay there" she re- sponded
 Forest bent toward her, earnestly searching the sweet, upraised face.
 "One might wonder at you" being there alone at this hour," he sug-
 gested."
 And one might explain" the girl re-
 piled, that coming from the city un- eXpectedly on the trolley, one was dis. appointed in finding the family away from home. Ones only hope of return
 ing to shelter being dependent upon some generous driver" "You might" Forest said, be some witch of the night bringing me under your spell"
 And you night" she retorted, "be a daring highwayman, intent upor | stealing my purse. He wrapped the rug about the gir when he went into the home of his | client, and it was with strange reluc
  cupying more than an hour he haStened, after it's accomplishment back to his waiting car. The girl had completely disap peared A thorough search failed tC
 reveal her presence anywhere. Slow ly, ever hopelessly searching, Fores drove his way cityWard. But when he oIo possible.
 AnXiously, eagerly, thought of the witching girl possessed him. Why ha(
 she come to him? Where had she gone?
 Weary-eyed, he opened next morn ing his paper, breakfast untasted be 1 fore him. In glaring headlines a sen tence caught his eye: ''Emerald necklace stolen iron i Dingly country residence while famil! | spend evening in city," Jim Forest turned cold. So he haC l been the dupe to assist in the get away. Not for moment, remember ing that appealing face, did he blame 1 the girl. She must in some way have been imposed upon by the real culprit | Perhaps she had tried, in invading hi! l car, to elude her prosecutors, only tC | be discovered during his absence in hi! clients home.
 The heretofore calm heart of Jame! Forest contracted painfully. Upper most in his conflicting emotions was determination to protect this little un ,,I | phone and called the house of Dingly As to the necklace? Oh, yes, The, | were sorry that they had been so hast, | in notifying the police. Isobel thei | only daughter. being in the city upOI visit, had decided to hurry out tt
 her home to procure the necklace t, l wear at an evening affair. She had he 1 own key and was surprised at the alb 1 sence of her family. Awaiting thei | return until late iII the evening" sht i had at last despaired of it. and sough 1 assistance from d passing autOiSt, Whl ] drove her to a certain house where ht | was detained. A second chance drive took her in his car carrying her bacl l to the city. From her friends hOm
 she called her mother on the phone 1 telling of her hapleSs evenings errand l this information coming ton late t | prevent the papers startling publica 1 tion'
 "Where," interrupted Forest, eager 1 ly, may l find Miss Dingly?'
 So it happened. Ill the morning sun | shine, that two drove together down 1 hilly road.
 l You were not a highwnynan." Ms 1 D.ngly conceded. ''cr you would hay
 captured the necklace in my hag'
 You were a witch ..irl," Forest in l sisted. He smiled with serious eyes | For you have mp.--nnhpi. vni'r ~n..f | Navy's Great fi:c>ip Hangar.