Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-13
AND HERE 1T CONTINUES

NVOu say Hawkins is upstairs?'
L Mrs. Hedges stared incredulously.
That's very strange She turned
and ran back into her room and to q
rear window. Look. Miss Claire
Come here You can see" And as
Claire Joined her: 1.-The door Of the
shed, or the gradgc as he calls it, is
open. and You can sre for yourself IT'S
empty. If he's upstairs what could
ne have done with the car: 1t amt
out in front Of the house, is II. and =
oh y She caught Clairc's arm anxiously.
There $ been an accident. you mean,
and he's
81 am sure he never left the house,
said Claire. and her voice in its com.
posed fnality sounded strange even In
her own ears. She was thoroughly
frightened now. and her fears were be-
ginning 70 take concrete form. There
were not many who would have any
,lse for that queer old car that was 80
ultimately associated with Hawkins
She could think of only one-and OF
only one reason. She pulled Mt Mrs.
Hedges arm. Come upstairs she
~aid.
Mrs. Hedges reached the door OF
Hawkins room first. ,
"Oh. heavens - Mrs. Hedges cried
out wildly. "Hc amt dead. Is hep
nNo." said Claire in a strained voice.
''He's-he's only had too much to
drink. Help me lift him on the bed. y
It taxed the strength OF the two
women.
"And the cars stole gasped Mrs.
Hedges. fighting for her breath.
eyes" said Claire: Il am afraid
"Thcn we'll get the police at once!'
announced Mrs. Hedges:
B Claire looked at her for moment.
y mo" she said slowly. shaking her
head. "You mustn't do that. lit
WN come back"
s."Come back?' Mrs. Hedges stared
kelplessly. 1T amt a cat. YOU
you ain't quite yourself are you. Miss
Claire? Poor dear, this has upset you.
II amt n fit thing for young eyes like
yours to see. Me-I'm used to it
"I am quite myself" Claire forced
Z. calmness she was far from feeling into
ber voice. "You mustn't notify the
police, or do thing. except. just look
after Hawkins. Tits fathers car,
you know and he'll know best what to
= "wer. maybe, that's So admitted
Mrs. Hedges, a., ..
who were here with Hawkins: clare
asked.
"No. I don't" Mrs. Hedges answered
excitedly. THE thieving devils. com &.
ing here and getting Hawkins of like
this Just knew there were some men
M in his room with him because l
heard them talking during the evening:
and then when heard them go out and
get the cor thought, of course, that
Hawkins had gone with them
I'll see" said Claire, striving to
speak naturally. 'I-Ill go back to
father now. I can't leave him alone
very long. anyhow. I'll tell him what
has happened, and-and he'll decide
what to do. You'll look after Haw.
kins. won't you. Mrs. Hedges!
"You run along, dear" said Mrs.
Hedges reassuringly. who else out
me has looked after him these ten
years."
s,Claire ran from the room and down
the stairs, and ont to the street. The
one thing left for her 10 do was TO
reach home and get to the telephone
/, set the Bayne- -Miloy Hotel--and John
Bruce Perhaps she was already too
late. She ran almost blindiy along the
street. Her intuition, the foreboding
that had obscssed her SO heavily all
evening. was only too likely now 10
prove ifseif far from groundlesS. What
object, save one, could anybody have in
obtaining possession of the travelling
pawn shop. and at the same time Of
keeping Hawkins temporarily out Of the
road?
Ii had never seemed So far-just that
little half block and halfway along an .
other. II seemed as though she had
been an hour in coming that little way
when she finally reached her home. Her
hreath coming in hard, short gasps. she
Opened the door. closed it. and, with no
thought but one in her mind. ran across
the room to the telephone. She re-
membered the number Of the Bayne
Miloy. She snatched the telephone re
ceiyer from the hoOk-and then. as
though her arm had suddenly become
tncapabl of further movement. the re-
eeiyer remained poised halfway to her
ear.
Or. Crang was leaning over the
banister, and looking down at her.
With a sti1ed little cry, Claire re.
placed the receiver.
Paul Veniza S voice reached her from
shove.
a 'Is that you, ClalreT' he called.
Eyes. father she answered.
DR.. Crang came down the stairs.
II just dropped in a minute ago
not professionally snarl crept into
his voice-''for ! have never been in
formed that your father was tH."
Claire did not look up.
"It--it wasn't serious" she snid.
''SQ" Crang smiled little wicked
II. II wonder where you get the gam
bling spirit from: One Of these days
you'll find out how serious these at
tscks arcI' He took step forward.
.sYour father tells me YOU have been
ever to Hawkins room
There was IA curious hint of both
challenge and perverted humor in his
voice Ii set at rest any lingering
doubt Claire might have had.
eg"Yes." she said, and faced him now,
her eyes, hard and steady, fixed on his.
sfsiPoor Hawkins" sighed DR.. Crang
1FoAically. Even the best of US have
0ur vices. 1t should teach US to be
&1lGrant With 'othersl" q. Ei 80
n sQlaire's little form was rigidly erect.
E9I wonder II you know how much l
IT. youy" she said in tense. low
:. :. ". - y