Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-29
THE MYSTERY GIRL
r,nosine Of Battling Plot Trobins Lous Io.ss
BY CAROLYN WELLS
sv,6.
| don't know what

TO say-my self"
Her pretty distress and helplessness
again appealed to the masculine sym.
pathy,. and. realizing this, she ignored
the other sex.
"A puzzled expression crossed the face
OF Maurice Trask.
WHO in the world can she be?'' he
thought. That last fash of those eyes,
as she drew her heavy eyebrows into
stralght line. surely reminded me Of
somebody. BY heavens! the Truesdell
Again he scanned the oval little face.
He shook his head in uncertainty. but
again declared to himself, "The Trues-
dell eyebrows!"
Now look here, all Of you," Old
Saltonstall Adams said. ~ don't be-
lieve this child is guilty of anything
really wrong. If she caught the fancy
Of DR.. Waring. it may seem pretty
awful to us old fogies, but a pretty
girl like Miss Austin can't help charm
Ing the menfolks. I don't want to
discuss that, but I do say that it's no
crime to 60 to see man in the evening.
and. too, she may have had some errand
we know nothing about. Did DR., War
ing give you that money of his own
free will. Miss Austin?"
Yes" said Anita, involuntarily, and
then bit her lip as she added. "I told
you he didn't give II to me-
There. there. don't say any more.
no business to ask that. Now. Mr..
Cray, from now on. take Miss Austin
under my personal care. I'll be re.
want her. And" he looked at his
wife, Mrs. Adams will back me up.
She, too. will shelter and care for Miss
Austin"
"Unless she is proved guilty" Es.
ther Adams broke in. "1n that
CASE"
"Wait until she is." Old Salt said.
in his calm way. II don't guarantee
her innocence-I only want to prevent
injustice to her. Have you funds to
engage a lawyer. Miss Austin?'
Again that frightened look made the
girl seem anything but innocent.
"Would I have to tell lawyer
everything?" she asked.
in. But what of that? I'll bet
you've nothing to tell him incriminating
to yourself. You exaggerate your con-
nection with this matter. I'll bet you
we're there that night on some per-
fectlv innocent errand---at least so far
as DR.. Warnings death IS concerned
"Oh. I was" Anita said. and then,
as quickly. but I wasn't there at
night-it was in the afternoon.
A Proposal
Lockwood groaned In spirit. Every
thing this girl said made her more of a
prevaricator. even though she might be
innocent of crime.
Surely she was mixed up in the mat.
ter, and must know who gave the fatal
stab-if she didn't do it herself. If
only Nogi could be found. He, of
course. was implicated.
''I'll get lawyer for you. II you'll
let me, Miss Austin" Lockwood said.
unable to resist his impulse to help
her.
II am lawyer" said Maurice
Trask. II here and now offer my scrv-
ices to Miss Austin. II you'll accept.
my dear young lady. l promise to use
my best efforts to do all that can be
done for you"
but do I have to tell you--"
again Anita began. perplexedly--her
brows straight.
Trask gazed at her fixedly. and then
he said. "That will be between us.
You will decide when we talk things
over. what to tell me and what not"
He spoke as to fractions child. and
his voice was kind and helpful even
though his infections were net Cul-
tured.
Lockwood looked at him ureasilv.
Might not this mans kindness end as
sistance to the distressed girl lead her
to feel such gratitude that it would be
no hard matter for Trask to win more
than gratitude? Lockwood was ncrv-
ously sensitive to the interest Trask took
in Anita. and we'll knew his state of
mind toward the little beauty.
And, instead Of being lcssened by the
trend of suspicion toward Anita, Lock-
woods own infatuation deepencd with
every glance he allowed himself at the
The countenanca Of Miss Mystery
vas ever changing. Now, she was
wistful eyed child, AMI in flash she
was an inscrutahle young woman-only
to change the next instant to wrongly
accused and innocent martyr.
Anyway. Lockwood told himself. he
meant to win her. and il Trask stood
in his way. TraSk must be set aside.
that was all. An indnmitabe viii
onught to ho abl" 10 conquer the in
tents Of self made, unottractIve mou
of Trask's type. And, too. love ike
his own, surgiNg more fully every mo-
ment. must appeal to the girl. once he
could get chance to declare it.
Lockwood was by no means a con-
re!ted man. but he had q true sense Of
value and he knew that he was a filter
mate for Miss Mystery than Trask,
if the girl could know them both.
II know a lawyer" Lockwood began.
"horo in Corinth. Might he nor he
better man for yon., Miss Austin, than
a stranger in town."
Just why;' Trask said, his eyes
coldly scanning Lockw ood's face.
Because he would have known DR..
Waring, and-and all the circum-
stances" Lockwood concluded littlc
lamely.
Not much Of an argument" Trask
dismissed the suggestion. also, 7
promise not to cost the lady as much
as any other counsel would"
This speech was accompanied bv an
adniring glance that was so nearly n
smirk that Lockwood with difficulty kept
his hands off Trask's throat.
Mrs. Peyton, who with lI"lon had sat
almost wordless through the whole ses-
sion, now ros" to 60.
"Como, Helen, she SHid. I'VE are
of no use, here, and Id rather take
yon away
Her Implication thnt the presence Of
Miss Mystery was COMMUNICATING was
too plain to b" mi Stok"n, aud mother
and daughter left the room.
"Wcll,' Cray said. i've pretty
much made np my mind in this matter.
! make n" arrest now, since YOU re
going TO be responsible. Mr.. Adams,
for Miss Austin = presrnCp when de-