Evening journal., 1922-06-05
CHAPTER I
THE RADIO DANCE


terest, for Ruth Walden was far al
away, the most interesting probe
Of the Country Club set. OF la
years Garrick had grown to
counselor and confidant in all II
ills to which North Shore societ
was heir.
Mrs. Walden smiled abstractedl,
She was one of those stunnin
women Of today whom one confuse
with their daughters.
"She says that I betray my in
feriority complex when I say it
that what I really mean is not tina
Ruth worries me, but youth worrie
me-that I don't understand younI
neople today. may have under
stood young people in the days o
the Florodora sextette-but 1 don
understand them now-and that
what really worries me-"
aNo one would believe you could
have a daughter old enough to worry
YOU. Nita," declared Garrick in un-
affected admiration. But tell me
what it was you couldn't say over
the telephone when you got me al
last this morning"
II suppose you've heard all about
the first Radio Dance last night
over at Bellevue Lodge-you know
the Gerard place. at oldfeld?"
Garrick nodded.
"Well, you know how young Glenn
Buckley got the Gerards to put IN
wireless outfit-had Professor
Vario from the big Radio Central
station at Rock Ledge help him IN
san II. At least that's what Glenn
said. The truth was, of course, that
professor Vario had to do all the
work. Glenn Just messes around
with It; has acquired the lingo-but
I guess that's about ALL"
Garrick smiled at the characteri-
zation and Mrs. Walden hurried on.
Then the young folks got up a
lance to celebrate the installation.
10 and behold, they had scarcely
;tarted when that awful thunder
remember last night?
swept around. as they often do,
rom the Connecticut shore. That
.topped the music over the wireless"
yes static
Natures jazz jazzed the radio jazz
ct was a spectacular storm, you
know. with the lightning flashing
md crashes Of thunder. They were
debating whether TO use the Vic
.rola and canned music or improvise
an orchestra of their own. At the
height Of the storm came a voice
from the French windows:
Hands upi ~. And be
quick about st. Line up
along that walll And
keep your mouths shut"
There seemed to be three Of
them, masked, two men and girl
a regular devil-may-care hussy. She
held the bag and a gun and took the
Jewels while the two men covered
the party They seemed
to know just what they wanted,
what to expect"
What did they ge-?"
why, those bandits went through
he party. They must have got away
With a hundred thousand dollars
worth OF Jewelry . oh, more than
hat. The Walden pearls that they |
ook from Ruth were worth twenty |
thousand easily"
"A good haul. But what's this
ossip I hear that it was an inside
1b?"
Mrs. Walden glanced about to
lake sure that they were out Of
n shot. That's what 1 want your
slp on, Guy" She dropped her
,ice." I think Mckay can tell you
,tter, at first hand Mckay is our
Iauffeur." She leaned over the rail
the veranda. "John!"
down the driveway with
e car, touched his cap and sidled
the steps Of the club veranda.
John. will you tell Mr.. Garrick
lat you saw last night over at
rard's?"
We'll. sir" began Mckay, balanc- :
!, accurately first on one foot then (
the other. as he picked at his !
ored cap, "after 1t was all over
4 there was a general alarm, sir,
Mr.. Gerard came down 10 see
at all the shootin' was for and
asked me a lot Of questions
out the signal-and-"
Just how did you happen TO be
ere. McKay?" asked Garrick. Il
int know Miss Ruth would let
yibody drive her car"
Mckay smiled. He had a touch Of
Imor, even though his keen Irish
Il saw the serious and suspicious
de OF the incident.
"oh, had been out joy-riding, sir
I'm sorry to have to say It,
la'am-" he bowed toward Mrs.
Walden with Lotta, one OF the
maids at oldheld."
II was evident that Mckay was
itriving to show that he had nothing
% conceal-and a lot to tell. More
,ver. on the score that there had
been a signal and the affair was an
inside job. he seemed anxious to
lear Lotta, too.
$50 when Mr.. Gerard asks me. I |
ays It's darn funny. It must have |
lappened right after that light sig |
aled down toward Cranes neck"
Light? Signal? Tell me about |
:"
'sWelI / saw it," returned Mckay,
trife contentiously. "A lot Of us
Nv it. That's what made the sus-
cion that It was an inside job. You
e. l saw the storm coming up fast
ID / beat 1t back to Bellevue in the |
r with Lotta mile a minute. You
iow that tower on the corner OF /
e Gerard house? thought you'd |
ow It. Most everybody does and
s seen the searchight in it. Well
len the storm broke--I suppose
Il was some time after their wire
went on the blink /. :, The
htning was great. It always is
there-lights up the shore for
les and the sea and you can see