Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-09-27
A SWEETHEART AT THIRTY
The Story of, Woman's Transformation.
BY MARION RUBINCAM.
STRANGE HAPPENINGS.
ssorAs OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS


Ata5 Aunt Enid Haines looks so, and is
considered BY her family and the village
10 be hopeless old maid. The family
consists of a critical sister-in-law, Esther,
Jim. Ends brother, and three grown
children, Laura, James and Violet. Enid
Is taken from this hopeless rut by Violet,
who wants 10 90 70 college. Enid gives her
her own little legacy and they go to the
city together.
There they awake TO the possibilities
of lfe-Enid begins TO make herself
Young again and pretty, Vi natures IN
20 a charming young woman. Vi Is IN
love with Bud Pearsoll, of whom her
family disapproves; Enid falls IN love
with Francis Meade, Buds employer.
Bud falls IN with a crowd OF unscrup-
ulous men. and when he Is robbed OF
some money he WAS carrying for his firm,
everyone believes hun guilty OF theft
Enid and Francis become engaged. and
try 70 help Bud when the hearing of his
case comes up. Vi Is heartbroken.
CHAPTER XCI.
But it's Christmas night, ! said,
when Francis and ] were once more IN
he motor, on the way 70 Buds tr1al-
Il thought all this thing was off for
this one day At least
OrGlnarlN i suppose u WOGI4
Francis answered But, you see, there
are all sorts of odd circumstances about
this. There so much money In the fnan-
cial district of the city, that all sorts OF
special precautions are taken to guard it.
In fact, 1t is supposed to be so well looked
after. that robberies below certain line
of the city, sometimes called dead line,
have been almost unheard OF.
However, some very clever people
lately have been trying a new plan.
Vaults and safes and such things are
too difficult 10 do anything with and
the chances Of detection are too great.
So they got up a plan which IS simpler,
far more daring, but more likely TO sue
coed because OF It's very daring.
'It sounds like q melodrama," l COM
ueoted, watching the quiet streets and
the light snow falling, as we ran down
through the business district.
1T IS, in many ways" he answered.
This gang, OF it's head, is playing up
ON one thing weaker than bolted vault"
What is that"
Human nature-'T certain types Of
IT,"
Bud has explained to me some of
tho system Of taking the actual money
around" j said. THAT is, the messen-
gers from the different brokerage houses
cary large amounts Of money and bonds
and .ssnck-and things like that, ! went
on vaguely, I'm big wallets strapped to
thBsr walsts"
USUALLY" Francis said. Sometimes
they carry the wallets slung over one
shoulder, or even carry papers and money
IN thear pockets. These boys come highly
recommended, and we usually watch
them In the Office. After all, We all have
10 use our judgment IN trusting them,
as We must all of Us use our judgment In
trusting anyone. The very size of the
sums they carry, IS protection for the
hrms-It's almost impossible to get away
with anything"
but one man, or group of men, gets
them 10 hand over money-or has their
corporation In the robbery" ] asked.
"Ys, be answered. "If the boy is
knocked over and hurt, he is apparently
quite innocent. And if he is, he doesn't
know who has done it; If he isn't, all
be tEas TO do is TO keep his mouth shut
and not let on he knows. There's no
proof be is In league with anyone else
ON the surface"
But there's always a weak point some
whore" | argued.
Usually" he ssid Criminals are
rapely supremely clever. When they are
they can make as much money with less
risk IN some more open profession. Still,
some OF them like 70 do it this way-the
Jesse James spirit In a less romantic
setting
j smiled, thinking over all he said.
but about Bud" Ibegan. "Do you
Ehlk be Is, guilty7"