Evening star., 1923-10-21

and I'll phone you the minute she
calls-shall I?'
II should appreciate 1t immensely"
he said gravely.
81 can keep her here waiting, veri-
fy the tag number and ALL she
added thoughtfully. "and you can
hurry up. 1 suppose you don't want
them to meet, do you?''
sit would be much better If they
didn't" he said briefly.
"I1l bet you. This Mrs. brent
would fly up and muss the whole
thing. You been. tracing the other
party some time?'
quite while
"And 1 suppose If you get one, you
get the whole gang. don't you?"
"It often happens" he agree con-
servatively."
We'll. I'll let you know. What
name shall l ask for, when l call?''
"Mr.-Mr. Rodman brent" he said
coolIy, and gave her his club tele-
phone number.
She burst into a rich chuckle.
Well. of all the cute tricks" she
said. 'I guess you have to have your
nerve with you. all right! You must
get into some tight places, you men!'
I'VE do" he said.
y !. *
TIE dressed himself with great care
L l. the next morning, and hurried
to his club, where he sat nervously
smoking for two hours.
hn
boy he hurried to the booth.
do you get me. all rightT' came
an eager, muffied voice. "I have to
speak low. I'm In the back Office.
Say. what do you thinks happened?
They're both here!
For heavens saken'
Now, don't get excited-I've got
It all fixed up" tho voice hurried on.
| The other party's IN the shipping
department, in the cellar! I asked
her to step down to verify her goods.
Mrs. brent is out In front; told her
to wait. II you was to beat it right
up here, you can manage, all right
just go in at the trade entrance
around the corner. She'll be there.
She thinks she's going to see the
hurry-goo' by!'
Roddy hurtled down the trade en-
trance of Madame Renee's, a few min
utes later.
"Is-is anybody here?' he called
into the dimness in q cautious voice.
'No-there isn't anybody-rm Just
waiting" q vague, low answer
, fnd nv To ~ haJ inl .oil
of cartons.
She sat on an empty packing case.
Her face doomed palely from the
shadow.
I'm not-they're upstairs" she be-
gan, but he cut her short.
It's me-" he said abruptly. For
heavens sake, let's get out of this,
before my sister comes down! Hurry
up-it's sitting In here"
She gave little gasp.
oh she cried softly, 'it's youi I
have to wait here"
mo. you don't. We've got the
kimono. all right! I'll explain. when
we get out" he announced jerkily.
For heavens sake, come on!'
She rose slowly, then took his Of
Itlc Ldhd fhiAu SiASS up LhS
steps into the glare of the street.
How did you know" she
painted.
"I know all about IT," he interrupt
ed. What on earth possessed you
| to have the darn thing cleanedT'
'T certainly wouldn't do anything
else" she returned haughtiiy. "How
did you suppose could get 1t backT'
WELL" he said. my sister is de-
! termined to find out about 1t and
I-we've got to fix 1t, somehow"
Goodness, yes" she sighed. isn't
! it CHASTITY? I never thought"
Nor l."
where are we going?" she asked
She's scared he thought. "Oh
anywhere we can talk it over" he
said soothingly. I'm sure we can
head my sister off. 1t was her XII
mono, you know Don't look up-l
mean, keep steady, you know, I'm
afraid here's my sister now"
He drew, a long breath and raised
his hat.