Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-26

would like to learn a little somethin,
about her"
Quite a pardonable curiosity. Tn
sure" admits Mr.. Robert.
Thanks awfuliy.' says Mrs Jones
you nave such a sympathetic ma
ture. And you're so clever at findin5
things out; almost psychic. aren'
your
"Absoltely not, Mrs. Jones'" say
Mr.. Robert. mo, the only departed
spirits ! care to commune with ar.
these, and he indicates the de.
cantr.
She chuckles and taps him playful
on the arm. What a terribly com.
plicated joke" says she. "Just for
that l shall commission you to fol,
low this mysterious young person
find out all about her, and tell me
the whole story"
you really wish to know" asks
Mr.. Robert.
last hour" goes on Mrs Jones. ~
have run across her in a dozen differ
emit places in the house and about the
grounds. And always with those GU
riouS blue eyes eagerly looking about
almost as though she had lost some
thing. Several times l have tried to
speak to her. but she has looked right
think she meant to be rude, but she
seemed so absorbed in just gazing
around that she didn't see me. I've
not seen her speaking to any one
else. though, so 1 can't feel sighted
And if she doesn't know any one
here it is high time she did. At least
she ought to know nae. See, there she
is now; down there watching the
tennis Do go and discover her, Rob,
ert. Flirt with her, if you like"
Now, that's what / call generous
says MIR. Robert. "and if I had not
just promised Teddy Royce that
would follow him to the billiard
but the request of your hostess
breaks in Mrs. Jones, SHOULD be unto
you@
$50 it is" comes back Mr.. Robert
THAT is why I am delegating my tai
ented private secretary to go, observe
reputation. and his. that within an
hour you will have full information.
En- Torchy?"
Course. there's nothing for me to do
but grin and register modesty. Also
to trail off after the unknown ash
blond. I wouldn't say. though. thal
this is the sort of sleuthin' I'm any
star at Not that I'm skirt shy, but
it's kind of a delicate piece of work,
hailin young lady guest at week
end party and askin' her who and
what. It's so easy for 'em to counter
with We'll. what's that to you?
However, l drifts down where she
is wanderin' kind of aimless around
the crowd that's watchin' the mixed
doubles She acts like a Stranger. all
right BY her stride and build she
might be lady tennis shark herself,
but if she was she'd be taking some
interest in the game, which she amt.
crowd along the side lines. and oc-
iistenfn in on the chat.
didn't get any real slant on her until
finally l noticed her fish out little
pad and jot down some
thing.
"Hnhw thinks L. might be stray
or maybe a woman re-
porter collectin' society notes"
That last bunch seems to be worth
followin' Anyway. it was time l
made some sort of break, so ! edges
in casual until I'm almost at her ell
bow and then remarks Inland:
Gould / help you any with the names
of some of 'em, miss?"
.I-I beg pardon?" says she, after
nervous little jump.
"Oh. l used to be in the newspaper
game myself" says l. Doing society
stuff, amt you?"
"Not-not exactly" says she. I'm
not reporter"
"oh,' SAYS l. MY error: But 1 saw
YOU taking notes, didn't II"
No no. s1 1ssst she not s the kn at
mean. Really. 1 wasn't"
So YOU see I had her goin', almost
from the start. After that 1t was
simple. Merely a case of stringin'
Lets see," says /. did I get your
name right when you came?"
'Lucille Blodgett." says she.
"Riodgett?" says I. shakin' my head.
Sorry, miss. but it amt on the list"
That was a bit raw. I'll admit, but
it seems to work. She glances around
nervous, to see If anybody's near. and
then she grabs my arm.
"Piease" says she. I'H go right
away Tiff it's necessary"
"What makes you think it might
be-" l asks.
"why. says she. "you-you're a de-
tective, aren't you?"
Not so bad as that" says l. 'On1y
private sec"
OH" says she. twistin' her fingers