Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-02-21
LADYFINCERS
BY JHCKSOV CKECURY
Copyright, I9fyD bv Circles so,toner,s sons

kbu tltIl1 toulg HUIIeENu AuUEost,
"You little fool"
II heard you the first time" said
Polly. lightly, But for all her attitude
and steady eye, a faint flush warmed
her dushy skin.
Ambrose fell TO plucking at his lower
lip with big thumb and forefnser, his
gaze deeply thoughtful. Polly watched
him, swinging her foot back and forth,
an upward curve at each corner Of her
mouth.
But in spite Of her she started at
Ambrose's next quiet words.
mIiowd'd you Ike to go to Jail.
"Jail:" She looked At him wonder.
inzly. Then she lifted her shoulders and
laughed again. "You can't come a
blazer like that on me, Ambrose. I'm
nobody's incubator baby"
You Sec" went on the officer quite
impersonaliy, quite as though he were
merely thinking aloud. "it's Just a trife
odd that your thirst Wait a
minute"
lie stepped across the room to tn.
wall telephone while the girl watched
him curiously. He gave a number, got
Ambrose speaking" tc announced
into the trnnstnitter. did young Ashe
I.adyfngers, YOU know .
dine ut your place tonishty With a
girl? Well, damn it, fnd out. Hello.
iiow,s that? You are sure he was not
there? That's all" =
He came back 10 Polly and continued
in the same thoughtful strain:
IT'S little odd that your thirst
should bring You downstairs just when
i did. It's a little odd that about the
hrst thing you. said was an alibi for
Ashe. It's funny, Polly, that Labeile's
safe should have been p,undercd to-
night: don't believe overmuch in
condolences,
GO on" said Polly. You said
You didn't know. suppose. that
Labelle's safe had been crackedt"
Was itf'' said Polly ianocently.
Amt IL a shame!"
A.As' ~afs'' ia The %iSJs, iss, your swell friend
thoughts, Polly's eyes wer. dancing as
she leaned forward. "No more Dsso.
red and fake jewels for Polly! 1tii be
bubbles and real cut glass! viii yo,.
excuse me a minute, Dick, while call
up my dressnakery"
She slipped down from the table, ran
to the telephone and called her mum.
bcr. Am brose, close Ht her side now,
watched her suspiciously.
say, Polly was saying gaily.
Congratulations! And forgot 70
thank you for that swell f-ed We had
tonight at Coppa's. in the little room,
Amerose's hand snatched the receiver
from her.
None Of that he commanded
sternly. He wrsnched her foycib,T
from the instrument.
Polly returned to her Rcst on the
table and managed to coax half a dozen
drops from the bottom OF her Lemonade
glass. Ambrose's eyes, as he followed
her, were full Of Gre. =
I'm going to get Ladyfnse.s inside
twenty four hours" he told her
biuntiy. You are free to, tell him, if
you Ike. II won't make any difference.
Ana when ! get him he'll be glad if the
Judge lets him on with ten years! Az
.'You stop like u story in moc
azine!' Polly informed him in SINH.
lated breathlessness. What's the neg,
You little davil!' With a sudden
quick movement he srasped her two
wrists, holding them hard, bia s,cs
close 70 hers. You viii be s,ad lad to s do
Understand?
you'd play fast and loose with me
would you? BY God, I'll frame you for
an accomplice IL you dyive me 20 t."
She understood we'll enough. Her
eyes grew hard, but there came no LOOK
OF fear into them.
when you get through with nv
hands she said coollS. "iet me know.
will you? I want to srratch my nose"
Ambrose. drawing tho cir! G.rehlr
toward him. dropped her hands aud.
denly as there came discreet knock
at the hall door.
: a man wants to see Joe risht
away 1t was the soft voice OF tae
night bartender. ''He says it's i'm
portant that there's money IN
:pspa's upstairs" cri.d Polly
WHO i, heY" demanded Ambrose
But at this juncturc Joe lie Dwn's
heavy tread was heard on the stsirs.
Joe's oily voice deman ndinx the same
thing. In moment the gsnEster, has.
tily but fully dressed even to the brown
derby hat set far back upon bis giisten.
ing forehead, came in.
II don't know what's up" he said
quickly. a guy out there wants 10
see me in private. lie knows you're
here, too. I think he's got something
on Ladyfnsers. ."
A sharp look from Ambrose checked
him. He swung upon Polly, OF whose
presence he had until now taken no
note.
GOOD night" said Polly. seeing
what was coming. I'm OF 10 bed
again" And from the door, in n-ch
pretensc of q demurc shyness which
il was nothing short Of wonderful that
he could even comprehend, her eyes
downcast, she murmured You may
ask my paps's consent, Mr.. Ambrose
With q aigsle she was gone.
Damn the sirl!' srunted Lc Brun.
What's she driving at:'
But Ambrose, single puTposed again,
did not seek 20 answer.
who Is this man, joe he asked
almost uneasily, How does he know
I'm here
Don't know. ! told the barksspcr
TO send him along in. III lnd OUT. II
you don't want to stay = ."
out OF tonight" he added with slow
significance, "it won't be hard for me
to give q reason for looking you up.
Only mind you call noe Lieutenant Am.
brosc while he is hcre. Don't get too
damned familiar"
The man who came in was subjected !
TO sharp scrutiny which was evidently !
not overpleasant 20 him. lie drew his !,
already low-drawn hat lower over his