The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-09-13
CHAPTER 15 WHO IS MISS AIYSTERYf

WhO AS NAISS M HSTEHYf
 Mrs. Adams fell Imply into a chair, her round eyes staring in horror.
 Miss Bascon had taken upon her self the roIs of dictator, and with an accusing finger pointed at Miss Mystery she said:
 What have yor' to say for your
 Nothing" replied Anita Austin, cooly, except to insist that you leave my room"
 Leave your room, indeed! I am only too glad to! And 1 know where to go, too.'
 Miss Bascams determined air as she st1ode out of tho door gave a hint of her desperate intention and within five minutes she was out on the road toward the village. Mrs. Adams, still almost speech less with surprise and dismay, looked sorrowfully at Anita. Something in the girls face stayed the kindly words the woman meant to say, and, Instead, she hroke out;
 You must leave this house! What are you, anyway? A thief-and a murderer"
 "oh! Don't! Anita put up her hand as if to ward off physical blow.
 Then, as is the cruel words had sung her to Gu!cl1ened sense of Ter own danger, she cried piteol sly:
 "oh, Mrs. Adams, heip me-protect me-won't you? dent know what to do-I'm all alone-so alone She sank into q chair and buried her face in her hards.
 Esther Adams was uncertain what course to pun sue. Should she pro- tect this guilty girl, Of whom she really knew ltCtli'nE, or should she dismiss her at tnce fl om her, house, in the interests of her other board CTS, who must be considered?
 Surely, her first duty was to the others-the people she had known so iopg, and who looked upon her house as ! hom. ane safeguard.
 You must go," she said though her voice wavered as she saw the pathetic face Anita raised to look at her.
 "Oh, no! Don't send me away! Where could I go? Even the Inn peo- pie wouldn't take me!'
 '"of course, they wouldn't! 0o home! Haven't you a home? Who are you, anyway? But I don't care who you are-you must get out of this house today-this morning. Do you hear?"
 Meantime Miss Bascom, on her virtuous errand had trotted quickly Co the office of- the prosecuting dis trict attorney.
 There, however, she was told that Nr. Cray was over at the Waring house, ana she concluded to go there. Nor did this displease her. She longed to be in the limelight, and the tale she had to tell would surely give her the right to be there.
 Mrs. Peyton received her coldly, for the two were not friends.
 T came to see MT. Cray" Miss Bascom announced, lon important business"
 %oh, very well,' the housekeeper returned, take a seat and I'll ask him to see you"
 Miss Bascom waited in the living room, secure in her knowledge of the importance of her news.
 The attorney welcomed her cor dially, for he saw at once that she brought news of value.
 And, expressed in emphatic lam guage, and interspersed with many and unfavorable personal opinions, Liza Bascom told of the incident of finding the money and the ruby in Miss Austins bureau drawer.
 "Astonishing!" commented Cray. Who Is sheT'
 Nobody knows, that's the queer part. We call her Miss Mystery"
 Where did she come from"
 Nobody knows. She just ap- peared.''
 K Den,t1the Adamses know" | No, they don't"
 "A young girl, you say?"
 She appears to be very young but you never can tell with those sly things. I dare say she makes her self look several years younger than she really is.''
 "Did she know pr. waring?"
 How do I know? She came over