Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1922-11-17
The Case and The Girl

understand iuIN clearly
an a measure that is quite true
feeling the sharp sting 81 her words.
yet the comparison is hardly fair, is
il? am not 4 detective in the sense
with which YOU employ the term You
knew | was not serving you for pay"
Did L.
81 should hope you did," his voice
hardening slightly.
"Eut for what other end all You
volunteer Your ServiceSf'
perhaps that is not 50 easily eN.
planned, 1t was a spirit OF adventure
which first He'd me to answer your adj
yerttScment, | presume. At least, |
can give it no other name, Then, when
we met, You appealed to me PERSONAL
ly; felt a desire to further our ac,
quolntance and well, your story
aroused my interest.
us that all?'
ut might have hcrn had nor Yon
chosen methods of procedure which led
me to other thoughts
She laughed.
"uh, see, All this has happened
because introduced yea to the others
as my hance. Why, that Is positively
funny, DIDN'T YOU know that was
only a part of the game being ployedf
Yes he said, Ignoring the humor
of 1t, and feeling oddly sober i un'
dcrStood, and was playing, the same
as you. Only both of us, think, for
get an Important fact"
what, pIeaSef
"Ihat we were young, socially on a
level, and that you were nm exceed.
inEIy charming young woman
She laughed again, yet this time with
more restraint.
"rhat Is quite ridiculous, Captain
West. Surely, you are not actually
making love TO meY"
mo, | am not. | am merely facing
the situation very frankly. 1t would
be useless for me to claim lack Of In
tercst In YOU. From our very first
meeting you have appealed to me
strongly-more so than any other wo-
man Of my acquaintance, | confess |
care for you-as n woman"
REALLY You are quite ilattcring, |
never dreamed | possessed such mar
yclouS powers She remained silent
Il moment, her eyes shaded by their
long lashcS; then uplifted them again
to his face. This makes It all the
more necessary that | now speak plain
ly," she went on at length, "fhat |
should explain to you IT has all been
Il mistake. That was why asked you
to come here now"
"All a mistake! Not the trouble
YOU were In, surely?"
eyes. must have dreamed most Of
1t, | think. ] have just had n long
confidential talk with Percival Cool
idge, and we understood each otheI
perfectly. Everything has been ex
planned. SO there Is no necessity fol
our pretending my longer
West rose to his feet, comprehend
ing her full meaning, yet unwilling tt
yield his position without further ex
PLANTATION.
"Your words are certainly plair
enough" he said slowly, yet trus'
] may be %pardoncd If ] ask II question
or SO. Do you mean the mystery IS
already solved without my further
aSsiStanCeT'
81 am convinced there was no mys
terry that 1t was only Imagination
Captain West. My calling you was
mistake"
There Is no n impcrsonatinl
youf'
mo"
'The checks Mt the bank; The
strange person using your name; al
these were mythsT
She laughed.
"Of course. really believed all
said to you Mt the time, but everythin:
has been explained since, and real
lie how very foolish nave Deen.'
you sent for me, then, merely t.
say was dismissedT
yes"
And you told Coolidge, OF ourse
how came to be hereF'
yes