The Washington herald., 1922-01-08

Nancy had been living over in her thoughts
while he talked of her feelings that night.
and at his last words the blood quickly rushed
to her face. Luckily, she thought, he was
looking down now, as though he was ashamed
to meet her eye. But he had hit on the thing
that had bothered her so much. She had
been looking for something. and she had had
the feeling that she had found 1t. But what
it was she did not know.
"Oh. WELL" Rodgers went on, 81 thought
| would never see you again and 1t didn't
matter ito Inc anyhow. II found out who
you were maybe | would send the rings hack
to you. The papers told me quickly enough
who you were. but they told me something
else, too and now he was looking at aer
-qparely enough. They told me that you
did not seem very anxious to have me caught.
for there was mighty little real information
in what you told the police. That set ne
thinking.
Il was tired Of the game by this time,
and realized besides that It was only a
question of time before / would be caught,
and the idea of prison did not appeal to me.
So quit it while the quitting was good"
As he said this the first shadow of q smile
which had crossed his face lighted his eyes
for a moment, but there was no answering
gleam from the girl. So he went dog
gedly on
after I knew your name the rest was
easy enough. l have known Mrs. Hollis
long time. and she quickly invited me to
her party after / had been to see her. And
there found you. And since found you
1 haven't been able to get you out Of my
head, and don't suppose ever WILL But
had to tell you all this and give you q
chance to think it over before l did any
thing else The rings were mailed to you
This morning, and you will find them wait
ing for you when you get home. II you
want to give me up to the police You know
where to find me. I am not going to run
away" And without another word. or
giving Nancy a chance to say anything. he
turned and walked to his car, started it ana
drove away without once looking back.
He left behind him a much startled and
bewildered young woman. The whole thing
seemed so unreal to her that she sat still
in her car for long time trying to get her
self adjusted to the story she had just
heard. After little the anger which was
always near the surface with her began to
rise, ..... -" p
''I will drive straight to the police sta
ton and start them. after him." she de
clared and stepped viciously on the starter
But after bit she stopped the engine
again. Somehow she could not quite see her
self sending this man to jail. OF course. be
deserved it. and she never wanted 10 see him
:. again. But how could she send man to
prison who had talked to her as he had.
: Her cheeks erimsoned as she remembered his
ewes. and this time she started the car
quickly. to. get away from that memory as
much as anything else.
yIIHEN she drove into the garage at HON,
w she was still without any plan. Sur.
enough there was a package for her, and
when she opened 1t there were all the rings
which had been taken that night. She could
send bach their property to the other girl.
and they need not be any wiser about tn,
man who had taken them. That was easy
But what was she going to do about the m3r
himself? ....
She did not find out that day, nor al
through restless night, and another day
brought no further light. what did tn,
man mean she stormed to herself, <.leav.
ing the thing this way. How was she Il
know what to do? Why didn't he stay anc
finish the thing with herr" - ....
A week of this turmoil and she could stanc
tno longer She knew his address and sen
him a curt note: =. 8 -,
Mr.. Rdasers-Please be at the place you
Know, NANCE D 8
Surely; that did not pledge her to any