Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-10-02
THE MYSTERY GIRL
Romance Of sa1ns Plot s.s 1hoSs"s Le'' i"'''''
A T''s sy CAROLYN WELLS
yIsemct MP by

until you learned VINO killed Df.
Waring," Anita temporised.
"Yes, yes but that was before saw
you. Nov. I don't care II you have
want you all the same. You've be:
witched me. You, a silly little slip Of
girl, with no particular claim to
beauty, except your big, mournful eyes,
and your peach Of a mouth! I'll bring
the smiles to that sad little face. Oh,
Anita. I'm not q brute, and do love
you 90. Give up your foolish fancy
for Lockwood. for 1t is only a passing
attraction. And he hasn't any money,
and he's deeply in debt, and Oh, I'm q
thousands times a better catch !"
IF you knew how you damaged your
cause BY talking like that" the girl
began, her eyes cold with scorn.
Then I won't talk like that" Trask
and you can make me over to suit your.
self. I'll do whatever you say. I'll
read the books you want me to, I'll get
cultured and refned--and all that"
Anita almost laughed. "You are 10
funny" she said.
But this was q little too much for
Funny. am II" he stormed. Fun.
ny! You'll see how funny I am when
! tell the police why you killed that
man. You'll see II I'm funny when
refuse the evidence that might help you
out. When I keep still instead OF
speakin' out in meetin' You look
here. Anita Austin, hold you, in the
get It! You've got a deep. dark secret
and though I don't know quite all Of
it'll know IL soon. What NJ. Trask
sets out to find out. he finds out. See?
Now, do you want to tell me who you
are--or not? Want to tell me who your
father was? Your mother was a Trues.
dell--I'll bet on that!'
Miss Mystery's face fell. Abject de-.
spair was written on every line of II,
She glanced at Trask. and his own de.
termined expression showed her that
she could hope for nothing from him
save on his own terms. ..'
And those terms were too hard for
her. Just aware Of loving Lockwood,
just learning to know what love meant
and how sweet II could be, Just realiz.
ing, too. the awfulness Of her own DO.
sition. the dire necessity for secrecy. the
terrible result of Trask's revelations,
should they be made. altogether Miss
| Mystery faced dangerous crisis. -s
."You say you'll give me week."
said Miss Mystery at last. grasping at
a hope Of reprieve.
Trask looked at her with curiosity,
What good'll that do you? Better
put yourself under my protection at
once. Every day, you lose is that much
nearer discovery. !"
IAN right. I'll dare it! They won't
won't condemn me, anyhow"
"Ho. ho. Banking on your sex to
save you. Well. honestly, I don't
really think they'd send a pretty girl
like you to the chair. but trial would
convict you in the eyes of the world,
even II twelve men were too soft.
hearted to see you electrocuted. And
there'd be imprisonment-"
"NIr. Trask. Have You No Pity?"
"Oh, hush! Mr.. Trask, have you no
pity;5",
vile. None for any. other. And espe-
ally none for girl who scorns me
and throws me over for my own sec.
retary. I'm red -blooded man, I am,
and you cant play fast and loose with
me and get away with it!'
II don't mean to play fast and loose
with you. IL by that you mean changing
my mind. But. I do ask for 4 few
days to think 1t over. That's not un.
reasonable. Is it,"
Miss Mystery's little smile was
caJoling, and Trask couldn't resist II.
'Aii right he said rs he looked
hungrily at her bewitching face. take
coupla days. then. But, only on con
dition that you don't let Lockwood
make love to you. Promise me that for
the forty eight hours YOU won't SEE that
man alone"
How can I promise that?"
| You III have 70. whethor van cop ~
not" +" ~ ''u ID" VI
"All right. promise"
| He looked at her sternly.
And you'll keep that promise, or
you'll be sorry! I haven't much opinion
OF your promises; you're not the sort TO
keep faith. But, remember I'm
power. Maurice Trask can do whatever
| he sets out to do. And II you FORGET
that; you're mighty apt to regret It. y
| II gave you a promise" Anita said,
looking at him coldly, "and I fully in.
h., lena ID TO-, to keep It: IT'S not such q very
the tumult in her heart, h@o WeO no
sign Of It on her facs.
Trask accompanied her 70 DE post.
Office. and then, bidding him q careless
good afternoon. Anita won't into . large
dry goods shop and he made no attempt
to follow her.
He would have been interested. how.
ever had he noted her proceedings. For
she went straight to a telephone booth
and called up the Waring house. Ito
answered and when she asked 10 be
connected with Mr.. Lockwood, the
butler gave tho connection without
question.
.,r, ,rr,Gordon?" came the soft little voice.
And then she told him quickly but
and Trask.
80 you see," she concluded. II do
want these two days to think things
out, and | mustn't see you alone, for
he's sure to know OF it,"
| "All right" Lockwood said. "we'll
do our courting over the telephone. Let
me see, III go downtown this evening
and telephone you----"
mo. that won't do. cant talk
to you in the Adams front hall Here's
a better plan. Tomorrow. when Mr..
Trask goes out you call mo up there,
and I'll go out to pay station and
call you up where you arc now. And
the day after tomorrow the time will
YES. and what are you going to do
them"
II don't know" said the girl, her
voice suddenly losing it's brightness.
I'm going to think It out. Good
by"
"Oh. wait a minute. III see you
at dinner, shan't II"
"Oh. yes; and this evening, I sup.
pose but only with others present.
And after a few more words Anita
left the booth and walked slowly home.
When Trask returned TO his library