The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1922-08-11

crossed the street, but In few mo-
ments the door opened and she stood
there waiting for him. Clay stared. He
had never before seen a girl dressed
like this. She was In riding boots,
breeches and coat. Her eyes dilated
| while she looked at him.
'Wyoming7" she asked.
"Arizona," he answered.
IAN one. Knew II the moment saw
| you tie him. Come In" She stood
aside to let him pass.
That hall, with It's tapestried walls.
its polished floors, and oriental rugs,
was reminiscent Of 1.-THE movies" to
Clay. Nowhere else had he seen a
home SO stamped with the mark Of
ample means.
Come in." she ordered again. lit
tie sharply.
He came In and she closed the door.
.rm sopping wet. I'll drip all over
the floor"
"What are You going to dor You'll
be arrested, you know" She stood
straight and slim as a boy, and the
frank directness of her gaze had a
boys sexless Inconsistencies.
There came to them from outside
the tap-tap-tap-tap Of poiiceman's
night stick rattling on the curbstone.
Hes calling help"
II can explain how It happened"
"No. He wouldn't understand. They'd
find you guilty."
To manservant standing in the
background the young woman spoke.
Jenkins, have Nora clean up the floor
and the steps outside. And remember
II don't want the police to know this
gentleman is here"
Eyes, niss."
Gomez said the girl to her guest
Clay followed his hostess to the
stairs and went up them with her, but
he went protesting, though with a
chuckle of mirth. HE sure ruined my
clothes heap. l amt fit to be seem"
The suit he had been so proud OF
was shrinking so that his arms and
legs stuck out like slgnposts. The
color had run and left the goods a
peculiar billous-looking overall blue.
She lit gas-log in a small library
den.
"Just minute, please"
She stepped brlskly from the room.
b her manner was crisp decision, In
Ter poise q trim gallantry that won
Inn instantly.
'T'n bet she'd do to ride WITH" he
bid himself In current western
hiom.
When she came back II was to take
Hm to dressing room. A complete
hange Of clothing was laid out for
Jim on a couch. A man whom Clay
kcognized as a valet--he had seen his
duplicate In the moving-picture thea
brs at Tucson--was there to supply
| lis needs and attend to the tempera-
hre Of his bath.
Stevens win look after you," she
aid; when you are ready come back
b dads den."
His eyes followed to the door her
esilient step. Once, when he was a
10y, he had seen Ada Rehan play In
Jas You Like It." Her acting had en-
RANGED him. This girl carried him
back to that hour. She was boyish as
| Rosalind, woman in every motion Of
her slim and lissom body.
At the head of the stairway she
paused. Jenkins was moving hurriedly
| hp to meet her.
TITS policeman, miss. 'E's come
about the-the person that came In,
and 'e's talkin' to Nora on the steps.
She's a-iollyin' i'm, as you might say,
miss"
His young mistress nodded. She
swept the hall with the eye of gen.
eral. Swiftly she changed the position
Of Turkish rug so as to hide a spot
on the polished floor that had been
recently scrubbed and was still moist.
Then she opened the door and saun-
tered out.
Does the officer want something,
Noraf" she asked innocently, switch
ing the end of crop against her rid.
ing-boots.
Eyes. miss. There's been a rufiian
batin' up Swedes an tyin' 'em to posts.
This officer thinks he came here" ex-
planned Nora.
docs he want to look in the houseT'
Eyes, miss"
"Then let him come in." The young
mistress took the responsibility on her
own shoulders. She led the police
man into the hall. II don't really see
how he could have got in here without
some Of us seeing him, officer"
mo, ma'am. don't see how he
could" The patrolman scratched his
red head. 1.-THE janitor's a Swede,
anyhow. He jist guessed it. came
to make sure av it. I'll be sorry fol
troubling yuh. miss"
The smile she gave him was warm
and friendly. "oh, that's oil right. If
you'd care to look around But
there really Is no USE"
mo" The forehead under the red
thatch wrinkled in thought. "He said
he seen him come In here or next door,
an he came up the steps. But nobody
could have got in without some OF
iun,ca sart,.s hi. nm. lonH -Ixxn