Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-06-14
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CHAPTER TX
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-
"Curtis-you were up to some
thing devilish-I knew it," repeated
Vario as he faced Jack over the
table at the Binnacle. when you
saw me drive up here you suddenly
changed your tune. You ran to
cover-to V yourself!"
The waiter. Herman. sniveled.
His face was livid. He bowed and
almost famed OF vario. took hold
Of him. for all the world like a
drowning mar catching at a straw.
Furthermore. 1 believe you
slipped hat vial in this mans poe
little sleight of hand. You inhuman
cad! / could cane you!"
Ruth was speechless. She leaned
over the table. half standing. an al
Turing little figure in blue. Her ex-
element had sent a blaze of color to
her cheeks. Her golden hair framed
her face in a mass of gold that shed
a brightness over her whole counte-
anc Ruth was a very desirable
little girl and her chief charm was
that she did not seem to be thinking
of II all the time.
Jack had been working himself
into an almost apoplectic rage as
Vario hurled the accusation at him.
TX lOOA a SkCR " III dlAOh
defense. then shot out his forefinger
pointing at the teacup that had been
before him.
would I-poison-myself!" he
menaced.
"we'll settle that" came back
Vario sharply. "Tll undertake to
label this all and seal tin the
presence of you as witness. Then
I'll send 1t to some reputable chemi-
cal laboratory for analysis. I could
do 1t myself-but-well, in other
words, we'll impound this evidence
until someone else determines what
1t is"
The waiter scurried about getting
TASKS. Vario turned to Ruth with
excessive courtesy. Miss Walden
I must insist-for your own safety
I'll drive you back to the club. I'll
telephone and postpone the appoint
ment / had at the Seaville Station.
No -. . 1t al easily go over till
tomorrow. Your mother cannot
stand much more. She needs you
. Ruth. She has been through
SO much anguish in the last two
days"
Ruth looked from vario al Jack.
still suffering impotently. Was Il
true? The quickest way to get out
of danger is often the most obvious.
Thank you, Professor. It's very
kind of you to take such an inter-
est"
They left Curtis standing, still
boiling with rage, beside his motor.
AS Vario's a disappeared, Jack
! sprang into his own and shot down
the South Shore road toward a short
cut to the cross island highway.
Mia Walden's surprise was great
when she saw Vario with Ruth.
where's Jack Curtis" she ex-
claimed.
The moment of silence that fol-
lowed was eloquent. "Oh. Ruth,
dear. any more trouble? ?"
Ruth was out of the car, eager to
give her mother more confidence.
Jack was a little off in the head T.. .
but Professor Vario came along . +.
Mrs. Walden beamed her appre-
citation of Vario's help. Vario ex-
changed a keen glance with Ruth
and understood that she chose TO
wait until there were more facts
before she made an open accusation.
He nodded and acquiesced.
You'll let me know the-the re-
sult?" Ruth asked.
Vario promised and with a forced
light-hearted remark Ruth turned
and ran up the stairs to her room 20
dress for dinner.
Meanwhile. on the opposite porch
of the club which was otherwise de-
serted, Vira, only a few moments
before, had tucked her arm nerv-
ously under Garrick's and drawn
him into the privacy of the glassed-
in, winter solarium.
You may come, too, Dick" she
nodded back to him. "There-please
shut the door" She glanced at Gar
rick, half conidingly. half fearful
of him. "Ive been SO afraid-ever
since ! found out how the walls
might have ears!"
Dick closed it and Garrick placed
a chair for Vira who sank into 1t
rigidly, turning and looking up Of
still on the back of the chair.
There was something seething in
her mind and Garrick was just
about to make some ~reassuring re-
mark that would relieve the tension
and open the floodsates of her
heart. Vira. all animation, now
that she had taken this step, did not
wait to give him a chance.
Its about Glenn" she cried
tensely. bringing her two hands to-
gether. you know all about the
Inner Circle . and Georges.
Well, Glenn was our treasurer when
we first started-is yet, in a way. I
suppose. oh, it may have been all
right when we started. 1t was fun
and all that. 1t was unique. 1t was
smart. But . one thing led to
another d. . and Guy. oh.
get him out of 1t all get him
out of 1t a.. c!ean.'
vira, flushed, had risen from the
chair and was standing with hands
extended, pleadingly before Garrick.
AS she finished there was a little
tremble in her voice and she turned
quickly to dab away a tear that had
gathered in each eye. Garrick took
her arms and gently forced her back
into the chair. Vira pressed the
tips of fingers of both hands on her
flushed forehead.
"But who's the head of 1t all-this
Velvet Gang. as the police call it?"
Garrick exaggerated a bit for effect.
Vira looked up quickly, a fright
ened stare o. her face. But she said
nothing.
81 don't want to drag all you fool
ish young folks into anything. l
want to keep you out of it. I'm not
half as much interested even n
catching these bootlegging prof.
teers higher up as I am in getting
you out of your foolishness-clean."
I'm sick of it all. So are Glenn
and Ruth-only they're too proud
to admit it. Someone must make
the break. I felt that I could
swallow my pride, Guy"