Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-12
1T BEGINS TOMORROW

tnat Narlng himself was not drawn to
notice her.
But Warnings calm gaze, though It
Travelled over the audience, never rested
wood concluded he recognized nobody.
Miss Mystery!'' Gordon Lockwood
said to himself 81 wonder who and
what you are. Probably a complex ma.
ture, psychic and imaginative. You
think 1t interesting to come up here and
pretend to be a mystery. But you're
too young and too innocent to be---I'm
not so sure Of the innocent, though
and as to youth--well. don't believe
you're much older than you look, any
way. And you're confoundedly pretty,
beautiful, rnther-you' too much In
your face to call 1t merely pretty. I've
never seen such possibilities Of char
acter,. You're either deep one or
your looks belle you
Idly he counted the buttons again.
There were thirteen across the collar.
The vertical rows he could not be sure
OF as the back Of the seat cut of their
view.
''Thirteen," he mused ian unlucky
number. And the poor child looks un.
lucky. There's sadness in her eyes
that must mean something. Yet there's
more than sadness-there's a hint of
crue'ty-a possibility Of desperate
deeds"
After the lecture was Ocer Miss Aus.
tin went home as quickly as possible.
Lockwood would have liked to escort
her, but he had to remain to report to
DR.. Waring, who might have some or
ders for him.
There were none, however, and after
short interview with his employer,
Gordon Lockwood went home.
AS he went softly upstairs to his
room in the Adams house, he passed
the door of what he knew to be Miss
Austin's room. He fancied he heard
a stifled sob come from behind that
closed door, and instnctively paused to
listen a moment.
Yes, he was not mistaken. Another
sob followed, quickly suppressed, but
he could have no doubt the girl was
crying.
For moment Lockwood was tempted
to go back and ask Mrs. Adams to
come and tap at the girls door.
Then he realized that 1t was not his
II she wanted to cry for any reason,
it was not his place to send some one
to intrude upon her. He went to his
own room, but he sat up for long
time thinking over the strange young
woman in the house.
That will DO. Gordon, old man,"
he told himself at last. Better let
her alone. She's siren all right.
but you know nothing about her. and
you'v no reason to try to learn more"
And then he heard voices In the
hall. Low of tone, but angry of in
fiection.
"she threw 1t away" Miss Austin
was saying; II tell you she threw
1t away"
There, there" came Mrs. Adams.
plncuting voice, what il she did? Il
was only n newspaper scrap. She
didn know 1t was of any value"
But / want 1t Nora has no bust.
ness to throw away my things! She
had no reason to touch 1t; It was on
the dresser-standing up against the
mirror frame. What do you suppose
she did with IT."
Never mind 1t tonight Tomorrow
we Will ask her. She's gone to bed"
But I'm afraid she destroyed it!"
Probably she did. Don't take on
so. What paper was IT."
The Corinth Gazette"
The new one?'
II don't know. The one she brought
me tnlS afternoon.
"Well, if she has thrown 1t away,
you can get another copy. What was
in It that you want so much?'
"Oh-nothing special"
Eyes, 1t was," Mrs. Adams curl.
osity was aroused now. Come, tell me
what 1t was"
well, it was only picture of DR..
Waring. the man who lectured to.
night
Such a fuss about that! Ny good.
ness Why, you can get a picture OF
him anywhere
But want it now"
An obstinate note rang in the young
voice. Perhaps Miss Austin spoke
louder than she meant to, but, at any
rate. Lockwood heard most Of the con.
versation, and he now opened his door,
and said:
MAY I offer a photograph? Would
you care TO have this, Miss Austin?"
How dare you" she cried; chow
dare you eavcsdrop and listen to a
conversation not meant for your ears?
Don't speak to me!'
looked like wrathful pixie defying A
giant. For Lockwood was biz man,
and loomcd far above the slight, dainty
figure of Miss Mystery.
lie smiled good turedly as he snid
"Now don't get wrathy. ] don't mean
any harm. But you wanted n picture
Of DR.. Waring, and I've several of
them. You see, I'm his secretary"
"Oh-are you! His private sccre-
tary?'
"Yes-his confidential onc--though
he has few condolences. He's n public
man and his lie Is an omen book"
"Oh, 1t is" The girl had recovered
her poisc, and with 1t her ability to
be sarcastic. 'Known to all men,
"Known to all men," repeated Lock-
wood. thinking far more of the girl
he was speaking to tnan of what he
was saying.
For, again he had fallen under the
spell of her strange personality. lie
watched her, fascinated, as she reached
ont for the picture and almost snatched
ut It In her eagcrness.
Mrs. Adams yawned behind her
"Now you've got your picture. 20
to bed. child" she said with kind
motherly smile. "I'll come in and un.
hook you. shall II"
Obedcntly. and without n word OF
good night to Lockwood, Anita turned
and went into her room, followed by
Mrs. Adams. The good lady offered
no disintcrested service. She wanted to
know why Miss Austin wanted that
picture so much. She she didn't find
out. After being Of such help as she
could the landlady found herself pleas
antly but definitely dismissed. Outside
the door, however, she turned and re-
opened 1t. Miss Mystery, unnoticing
the intruder, was covering the photo