The Washington times., 1921-02-06

I-Skory ~ Sne Wscke0 Oto "o'
TT was late In the afternoon Of November
~ that an exceedingly wsli-dressed wo-
man. somewhat heavily yelled, rustled
up to the desk of the McAlpin Hotel in New
York. Behind her came an attendant car
rying . suit case. The CLERK, looking up.
noted with practiced eye the naodishness
OF her hat, the excellent fit and fashion of
her dress; he observed also with approval
the trim figure, the clear. gray eyes and at
tractivs face behind the veil. Here, out
wsrdly ct least, was class"
Mrs. Charlotte Sharpe. Providence, r.
L." she signed tho register ne politely
pushed toward her. and, followed by the
attendant With tho suit case, was shown
her room.
A little later she came down and saun-
tered out upon Broadway.
Perhaps an hour after this she returned.
Hastily she went to the telephone exchange
and with lily repressed agitation gave the
operator the telephone number of Dr. E. T.
Sharpe, Of Derby. Connecticut, asking her
to get II - quickly as possible,
Then Mrs. Charlotte Sharpe. Provi-
dence. r. L." went to the booth assigned
noi' oue euh soeistoi"6 osAIsion a~3tcu
her call.
Why the quotations!
Because the well-dressed lady with the
receiver at her ear was not Mrs. Sharpe at
all No. She was the ingenious MYs. Ruick-
holdt and the stage was all set Tor one of
her ingenious exploits. And although her
name was feigned her agitation was real, for
the actual Mrs. Charlotte Sharpe was the
favorite cousin Of the man she was calling.
and his wife and she were intimate friends.
Mrs. Ruickholdt knew all this because she
knew all three, Could she successfully
initiate Cousin Charlotte's" voice, answer
satisfactorily awkward, unforeseen ques-
tions that might come up In the course of
the conversation, avoid betrayal? Could
she get away with It? No wonder Mrs.
Ruickholdt's nervousness, at least, was
real!
In their Elizabeth street home DR.. Sharpe
and Mrs. Sharpe were unsuspectingly eat
Ing supper. DIR. Sharpe had just remarked
that he hoped II would be a quiet night
without calls, for even doctor needs some
rest. The maid had just brought In some
hot mince pie and coffee when
Rr-r-r-rr!
II was the telephone bell, and ingenious
Mrs. Ruickholdt. miles away In the Nc
Alpin, had gotten her party, Sadly DR.
Sharpe put down his piece of hot mince pie
and hurried to answer.
why. Charlotte!" Mrs. Sharpe heard
him eyclaim. She saw his face run the
whole gamut Of shocked indignation and
sympathy. And Cousin Charlotte must
have been talking very fast on the other
end OF the phone, for all her husband could
say was. "Dreadful!" "Such boldness!"
Certainly" How much do you wantY
Decidedly something had happened to
Cousin Charlotte, and something very un-
pleasant. Mrs. Sharpe, forgetting her own
bot mince pie. jumped to the wire.
"Cbarlotte's been robbed In New York;"
explained her husband hurriedly. Hasn't
got cent? What's that he turned
back to the phone, Telegraph it2 $500?
III send 1t right away Wait-here's
Emily"
Much distressed, DR.. sharpe paced
about the room. railing at the wicksdness
Of New York and Its careless police who
could let such thing happen to Cousin
Charlotte, while Mrs Sharpe took up the
conversation with the unfortunate one.
II may be, OF course, that Mrs. Sharpe's