Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-06-19
THE MYSTERY GIRL:
A Thrilling Detective Story
BY CAROLYN WELLS.

You'd rather I Wouldn't"
Very much rather"
Because you fear i'll effects to
yourself?"
You are sure you're not overesti-
mating the danger of that?"
Il am sure"
Then there's no more to be said.
Good-by."
Lockwood hung up the receiver and
at him.
so that's the way you and Miss
Austin whip the devil around the
That's the way" returned Lockwood.
coolly.
She promised not to see you alone
is this how she keeps the letter Of her
promise and breaks II in spiritT'
Leave her out of this. i called her
up, she did not call me-"
All the same. Now, ! gather from
the interesting talk I overheard that
Miss Austin does not wish to have
Fleming Stone take up this case"
You are at liberty to gather any
thing you choose"
See here. Lockwood, you make a
mistake when you try to antagonize
me- I'd be better friend to you than
an enemy"
I've no reason to want you for
either" Lockwood was by no means
lrnpertineni, he merely spoke indiffer-
entity. Trask noted this and went on
; more Suavely:
propose to do now Is to employ Flem-
ing Stone myself"
Lockwood was astounded At first
he was glad. for he felt sure Stone
! e e solve the whole mystery. But,
, then, suppose 1t incriminated Anita,
and though Lockwood was sure of her
innocence. he was just enough so to
reailze that his surety was largely be-
cause of his affection for her. Suppose
stone should prove her to be the Grim
mall
II couldn't-and yet
broadly.
You've the reputation of being of
an impressive countenance. Lockwood,
put 10 me your face is as an open
DOCK! However. it's only because you
are up against difficult problem. You
; want Stone to come, yet you're afraid
ne II nnd out that Miss Austin is
R pre- deep in this murder mystery.
think youn see that any attempt on
your part to change my decision would
LOOK bad for Miss Austin"
r,, You let her name alone. Trask. or
IL reason with you myself
have You any real right to tell me
TO leave her name alone?''
Yes, l have"
Are you and she engaged"
ot 90 am concerned, are,
dlss Austin prefers to wait until 1ater
70 announce it. but l can answer for
her 10 you in confidence.
oh, it's in confidence. all ripbt
Don't fear I'll breathe the news. For.
you see, I've made up my mind 10
NARY Anita Austin myself and il
rIemlng Stone proves that she is n
murderess, I'll marry her all the Same
an doesn't?" "oii'-
Then. look here" Lockwood,s man.
, Ger changed IF you're going to get
stone anyway. why can't We work wit h
each other and not at odds? What
ever else we think or feel We both Wan,
20 save Miss Austin all the trouble n,
distress we can. Let's be friends than
ana talk things over with Stone. and
I'm on! Then if we see things arc
gong against her. shut him off,
Wen. yes. il we cam"
VI course we can. I've u,oney
enough for anything-even TO bmT ~
Fleming Stone, No mans too big I ~
II don't mean all this exactly .,
you 40, but 1 do mean this: If Stona
can solve the mystery and clear Anita
let nam do 1t. If he finds her imnI;'
e ea.eS let 1t be understood by him be-
io1enahd. ne is to cease Investigations :"
Irask thought minute.
lIhat goes" he said: 81 agree"
+ continued tomorrow.