The Devils Lake world., 1922-12-27
The Detective
Lady
By JUSTIN wENTwooD
g. 1922. Western Newspaper Union.l

60. 1922 Western Newspaper Union.)
A man and girl were walking on
the beach at Los Rimados. The man
was talking, at first hesitatingly, then
more freely. The girl was listening
eagerly.
ut was four years ago, Mary. I
was in debt, through my own folly. I
had committed q crime-forgery for
trivial sum. was desperate. took
five thousand dollars from the CASH
iers drawer and fled here. Now I
have established myself. am worth
nine thousand, and propose to go to
the banK, repay the theft with interest,
and place myself at their disposition.
I'll be quite frank about it. I never
intended to do so. thought life was
game Of wits, in which the shrewdest
man survived. 1t was you, Mary, who
showed me that my views were wrong.
1t was your love saved me-"
He stopped and looked at her. IF
you throw me over l shall never go
hack" he said "lf you stick to me
well, it means a prison sentence and
Indefinite waiting. Which is it to be?"
eco back, Jcar," answered the girl
softly.
you'll wait for me?'
Il Will"
Resolution came into his face. I'm
pulsvcly he raised her hand to his
lips.
"And l shall go back to the bank
with you and ask them to forgive you,"
Mary Rogers went on. ".And whether
they do or not you will stand up a self
respecting man again."
He could not dissuade her. They
had met only a month before, but they
had been inseparable from the begin
ning. They loved each other. They
knew that they would love forever.
Two days later they started east to-
gether. Five mornings after that they
appeared at the bank. The man sent
In his card. In few minutes the
manager sent for them.
Baldwin was conscious Of the ex-
citement in tile Office. Old Stoneman,
the cashier, glared at him as he went
past.
"That fellows good for five years, 1
guess" said the head of the clerical
force to his stenographer. Guess he
came back to bargain with Smith.
He'll find he's caught Tartar
Smith, the president, sat at his desk,
frowning and surveying Baldwin's
card. He had just been in hot discus.
sion with the detective agency over
the telephone. He glanced up sharply
as the man and the girl entered. He
did not invite Baldwin to sit down.
swell, slr?" he demanded.
Baldwin repeated the story that he
had told the girl. He laid some pack
ages Of bills upon the desk.
"Six thousand four hundred dollars"
he said. "The amount stole from the
bank, compounded at five per cent,
Mr.. Smith,"
The president took the bills. II
don't quite understand this move Of
yours, Mr.. Baldwin," he snapped. "You
are asking for immunity from prosecu-
tion as condition."
II make no conditions. I place my
self at your disposal, sir"
"You make no plea for mercy7"
| Absolutely none."
The girl stepped forward. II have
made 1t clear" she said, "that Mr..
Baldwin's honorable action in making
restitution must be taken at its proper
value. 1 have stated that I cannot
consent to testify against hin: I have
I; so informed the detective agency that
employed me to trap Mr.. Baldwin"
Baldwin recoiled In horror, uttering
sharp exclamation.
$50 I understand" answered the
president gruf1ly. He turned to Bald
win. "You are very fortunate young
man, sir" he said. First you evade
capture until you have built up a
business out Of your stolen capital,
then you in some manner cajole one
Of the most intelligent Of the staff Of
the detective Office.
II had already decided. in difference
| to Miss Rogers wish, not to prosecute.
You may go, sir!"
And Baldwin went out Of the bank,
bewildered. Outside he turned to the
| girl.
"It's rather bitter thing" he said,
ITO find that I've been fooled In this
way. How many other men have you
trapped"
"Ol, DOZENS" answered the girl.
'That's my Job, you know. But"-she
laid her hand on his arm-"in this
case 1t happened to be. the real thing,
that's all. 1 don't expect you to see
me ever again, but, before we part,
won't you tell me that you believe I
| did care-do care"
For an instant Baldwin hesltated !;
then he drew her arm through his.
"Have we got to part7 he asked
| tenderly.
Protects Against Poison Oak.