Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1922-08-25
Absolutely
Nothing J ! il ]
By MYRA e. LANE. !.

By MYRA G. LANE. S.
8ss9s@sssssssssssssss ssss$$sssssssssS
Copyright. 1922. Western Newspaper Union
And that's your business seeking
to ruin women's> regulations for
money!"
Thelma Norton. white-lipped, her
/ gray eyes blazing, confronted Alan
Lesson in the office of the detective
} agency. \ss.@ /
She was magnificent woman, with
the appearance Of some queen of trag-
edy. Tall, willowy, erect, she domi-
mated the man, controlled him, ter
rorized him by the force Of her per-
sonality. := ...'"4,.s
Nevertheless, Lesson pulled himself
together. Mine is legitimate pro-
fession, Mrs. Norton" he answered
coldly.
$50 is the 1spy's," she answered.
"You are no better than a spy the
lowest, meanest thing that ever
crawled upon the face of the EARTH"
Alan Lesson bit his lip. His eyes
fell. He knew that it was true.
GLOW much is my husband paying
you for this wonderful discovery that,
before l married him, I had what is
commonly called 'past'?"
Lesson might have rejoined that he
had retainer of hundred dollars
day, with twenty-five thousand more
to be paid upon discovery of evidence
which would enable him to obtain a
divorce. And he might have said,
what, in fact, he was going to say,
that he had won the bonus.
THAT is part of my private bust
ness, Mrs. Norton" he returned.
And you think it legitimate?"
"Was it legitimate on your part to
behave as you have done, morally
speaking?"
II can't discuss my affairs with
you. 1 shall put up the hardest fight
possible. You know what sort of crea-
ture has hired you to spy on me-a
man from whom would separate my
self as soon as possible if it were
not for my child. You know his repu-
tation?'
mo, Mrs. Norton. 1 am not hired
to inquire into your husbands reputa-
tion.'
"You know why he has suddenly
become so eager to discover certain
facts? You know that he is in the
clutches of certain notorious
woman, and Is anxious to marry
her?'
1T may be possible, but 1 assure
you 1t Is not my affair. I cannot dis
cuss my employers business" said the
private detective.
''And how does he propose to obtain
his divorce on the ground that had
this past'?"
"Your former husband, Mrs. Norton,
is living" -
An incredulous cry escaped her.
''Living?" She clasped her hands to-
gether. "Oh, surely-surely you are
deceiving me, Mr. Lesson! He died
eight years ago, before I married Mr.
Norton under my maiden name"
Unfortunately, he did not. When
your husband placed the matter in my
hands, I discovered, rather by acct
dent, that James Bannerley's death
was feigned, for the purpose of en-
,abling him to escape the attentions Of
the police His international coups
had netted him considerable sum Of
money, and, like a prudent man, he
decided to assume another name and
retire from the world. He has re.
tired very smoothly and safely, his
past has been forgotten, and he is not
likely to come into prominence
again."
"Where-where in heavens name is
he!"
'.He is member Of parliament for
a district in South Australia, and a
prominent farmer there. He is hap
PLY married and has four children"
"And that's the man I once loved
and married." murmured Thelma Nor
ton. And suddenly she turned to
Lesson.
'You are getting probably a large
sum for your investigations. I don't
know whether you get more for find
Ing this evidence, but have you no
pity at alp
"Pity doesn't go with my profess
sion, Mrs. Norton"
my little boy, deprived Of a
mothers care, my reputation"
Il can do nothing for you, Mrs. Nor
ton," answered the detective.
"Then God do so to you and more
also!" she retorted, as she swept out
of the office
Next afternoon Lesson stood before
his employer. Norton chewed his
cigar at his desk, Lesson had his type
written report in his pocket.
"Leeson," said Norton, II sent for
you because ~ His voice
dropped. "See- here, l guess there's
oothing you can find. Thelma isn't
that type of woman. So-we've got
to manufacture something. See? Some
evidence that Ill give me what want.
We've got to get false affidavits
and"
Lesson started. 1--WE don't do that
kind of business, Mr.. Norton" he an.
swered.
Don't, >eh? Then I'll have to get
someone who does. You've had fine
lot of money out of me, and so far
you've found out absolutely nothing"
absolutely nothing" answered Lee
son, "and your next employees are
likely to find out absolutely nothing
too, because-Mrs. Nortons life has
been entirely blameless."