Evening star., 1921-09-18

thought you were trying to cut
loose"
ut was only because you were so
| brutal sometimes. ID" she pleaded.
Il never really meant It. We're mar
"Oh. that-" he exclaimed. as one
! who held marriage in light esteem.
II don't know whether we are or
| not. il you married this man first. l
know you ladies! Any one Of you
would double-cross man to get rid
Of him"
Listen. Ed" she pleaded. Did
tell you to come to this house? Did
1? And he. says 1t is his house. You
chose this house yourself"
rs this your m hot house," use, ask asked the
' Il say yes:" said Morley smith:
"All rishtr said Ed. "All right!
Go in the parlor there and switch
on the electric<."
Morley Smith hesitated. The trap
was too evident; If 1T had been in
walk into the parlor. and put his
hand on the button instantly. He
could not do that. He had no idea
! where the button might be.
"Right-o!" he said. you win. old
chap. It's not my house" 90.
"Hah!" cried Ed. II knew 1t! It's
not his house. and it's not your house.
Oar. You sent him word. and he fol-
! lowed you. You think I'm a fool. do
you? If you were not told to follow
why did You come here?"
"a friend of mine lives here" said
Morley Smith. Il ran out to drop 'in
on the old chap"
You did. did you: At 10 at night.
and sober? What's his name?"
Morley Smith hesitated. A suburb
antics name is apt to be proclaimed
in. a thousand places-written In
books. on envelopes. shown by tell
tale initials on silver and linen. II he
/ II say, yon Know" he said, lust
what are you doing here. II it comes
to that, old lad?'
The eyes Of the man called Ed
| narrowed.
I'm the one that is asking" he
your business why I'm here"
! Morley Smith had little doubt what
had brought the man to the house.
! II he was not a burglar. he was
| engraved watch from his pocket and
I've had my bit Of fun he said,
i holding the watch. $50 I'll stop
spoofing and tell you the truth, old
chap; ,so I'm I'm, .g elgbman M, - sit all day DAY
in a while I go forth ana look for
adventure. Pick out house at ran
dom. don't you know. like a bally
old Arabian Nights chappfe. and butt
right into adventure and romance
and all that sort of thing. Run into
bally burglars at work at their trade.
and go forth. don't you Know. No
end of lark! But a chappie has to
look out fr his own. don't you know.
SO set an hour" he lied. "and a
in and rescue me. In three minutes
| the lad outside will come in for me.
Jove. yes!' ....-...
He looked, at the watch steadily.
| What was out there" the man
called Ed asked the woman:
| "a black -and-white taxi" she an
| swered.
Listen. Dar." he said. "there may
be cops in that car. see? This man
has told us lies right through. You
back and report I'll hold this one
here"
| CHE went without replying. She
opened the door ana slipped out
side, and as she closed the door the
man called Ed backed away from
Morley Smith. He backed down the
hall. covering the amateur advehturef
with his gun untils his hand touched
the swinging door that led into the
back hall: then he swung the door
outward and disappeafed
The woman returned as she flad
gone. When she had closed the door
she looked about with surprise.
"Whefe II he?" she asked
| 1.-The burglar chappie?" said Nor
ley Smith. He went away, don't
| you know. He got tired Of my com.
p6iiy when there wAre no ladies'
] present. Deuced impolite old lad,
| too! Didn't say farewell"
| "Cut ana left me, did he, the cur?"
she asked bitterly. That's like him."
She seemed to remember that the
man named Ed might be lurking
Enear, and she lowered her voice.
II thought he was straight when
| took up with him." she said. He
1 told me he was in d clean business
samblihg-aff0 I married