, 1923-03-07

This time she did not smile but sat
regarding him with the suggestion
of a frown on her face.
Putt ng it in or taking It out?"
h inquired.
"I-I-don't know what you mean
stammered Forester.
She slightly raised her eyebrows.
81 presume. II l were to ask you.
you would tell me you did not know
that oak had a bad reputation"
HIS newly acquired detective In
st'nct asserted itself. The girl was
evidently regarding him with some
thing approaching suspicion. n It
aroused in him an answering feeling
Of d'strust.
"Eas it?" he asked. in%nocently.
For a man who knows so little
about It." she said. sarcastically.
you seem to have been in a great
hurry TO get here"
Tell me-" exclaimed Forester,
d you live near here?'
THAT is an unnecessary question
at this time. I might even say that
1t SAVIOR of an evasion"
IT beg your pardon" said For
roster. stinly.
Are you a victim?'' she inquired.
"My dear young lady" returned
Forester. about all we do is to ask
each other questions. Sometimes 1
don't get an answer"
IT accept the reproof and apollo
gize," she sad. and smiled. II live
just a little way up this road"
And I Observation-Disclosures Vic
TIM" admitted Forester.
Now we're quits laughed the
girl. Lets begin again"
The girl partly withdrew her right
hand from her cat pocket.
I'm not quite alone she nm
answered. and Forester saw hat she
he'd a small automatic in her hand
This has been covering you ever
since I rode up
"Certa' My l shall nav feel it in
cumbent upon me to answer all ques
tons" rrnilcd Forester.
AN right" she retorted. quickly.
what is your Manner
"Forrester.'
Robert Forester
Yes. how did you guess"
A wicked little smile stole over the
girls face. 'You are the last person
I should expect to see here" she de-
clared.
"why7" queried Forester.
IT understood you were scared to
DEATH she returned.
THAT reporter AGAIN. burst out
Forester. Wait till I get within
reach OF him.''
mfr Forester she said. you
--f..a men. u-buo 900 ~ NO
must remain strangers. ! can now
answer your question definitely. II
you will come over to the house for
a minute I will give you n letter OF
introduction which I have addressed
to your mother. I had intended 10
deliver it in person. but after arriv-
ing here ] found you were still in
town"
Forester was thunderstruck This
was too good TO be true!
girl concluded.
my name is Mary St%urtevant," tho
II shall be very grad. indeed. 10
deliver your letter. Miss Sturtcvant.'
said Forester. I'VE move out TO
woodmere on Saturday
'It you don't mind" she said, II
should like TO have you come over
to tine house now n get the lettfr.
The Bradbury house. which For
roster now knew. occupied by Mss
S~turtevant. stood only r. short DIS
lance back from the road. An elder
ly woman stood on the porch. A few
minutes later she was introduced 70
him as Mrs. Morris, and he gathered
hat she was n paid companion to
the girl. Miss Sturtevant produced
the letter for his mother. and after
a few brief words. which included an
invitation to Forester to come again,
they parted.
Forester a at first been in n
quandary as to the character n
which he should approach h bad
West Indian Niggress.' 1t would be
unwise for him to pose as a detective.
or openly confess to being a victim
OF the Friends OF the Poor WHY
not. he thought suddenly, assume the