The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-02-09
BY Ann Isle,
Whose Present Serial Has Won
Nationwide Success.
CHAPTER SAG.

hANh1 iNAN ofVs
nNE of the disadvantages-or
advantages-of business
career is that it doesn't al
ways leave you free to consider the
thing you want to keep uppermosr
in your mind.
When 1 left the hotel my mind
was intent on the problem of de-
termining just what the unsigned
telegram meant. What is 1.-The
long trail?" What else could
chickens come home to roost"
intend to convey except that the
sender was at "home"-in the
city-and that the receiver should
also come to roost there?
\ If this solution is correct it
seems certain that both Dad Lee
and Dick are in the city. But why
doesn't my father let me hear
from him? Why? Why?
While I was in the midst of con-
sidering the dozenth possibility
found myself plodding UP the stairs
to my office. l was fully an hour
late, but that didn't justify the face
of distraction Miss May raised to
greet me. Nor did it account for
the breathless' tone in which she
gasped:
"Oh, I didn't know what to do.
The Derringforth shoe man was in,
and he's phoned three times for
you. I'd have been so glad to set
tie whatever 1t was and save your
going away downtown, but he
wouldn't say anything to me, and
he seemed so excited"
I'm telephone him now" I re-
piled.
mo, I had to promise you'd como
there at once. He wouldn't be sat
tsfied any other way. He said
every minute counted. So l prom
ised you'd come right away. You'll
go, won't your"
Something in the girls face con-
WINGED me that l must go immedi-
ately. So, rushing over to get Ev-
vy's little blue car-which seemed
to be earning its board and keep
splendidly-I started off for the
wholesale part of town.
AS I drove down l found myself
returning to the problem Of Dick
West and Dad Lee, and the posi-
bilities for and against their being
in town. Suddenly / took myself
mentally by the scuff of the neck
and delivered myself a lecture.
Worrying over the problem won't
help Jim. I never had a chance to
fight the fire which appears to be
another souvenir of call from
Dick West. I can't undo the tenn
porary money difficulty into which
I've been plunged by losing the
, rent OF my apartment. But I can
make money to take its place
Not, however, by trying to run my
business and Jim's as well. Mabel
Sto~rs was left in charge because
Jim yH.t her competent to manage
his affairs.
The Darringforth shoe plant as
tonished me. 1t was a little place
n a unknown neighborhood, which
may have been good back in the
days when the father of the pres
snt owner established his name in
the world of business. But Mr..
Derringforth amazed me even
more than did the second-rate
looking little shop in which l
found him established.
My first impression had been
That he was a man of great nerv-
oeo AVN dilu tlltl By' llo" l.
was astonished at the shaken as
pect of the gray-faCed man who
rose to greet me when I entered
his private office. Power and that
indomitable quality I'd sensed in
Mr.. Derringforth at our first meet
ing were still discernible. But he
seemed to be carrying a burden
almost too heavy for him.
How do you do, Mrs. Harrison?
You're very prompt" he said, with
o certain banality.
Miss May gave me the impress
sion that promptness was about
the first requisite from me and for
you" I said, striving for lessen
ing OF the tenseness Of atmosphere,
which fairly checked me.
Yes, things are in pretty
bad way down here. I'm just
about half an inch this side of an
assignment" said the man, des-
perately. IT see one possibility
ono chance of a way out. / own
five retail stores. 1 thought may