Evening star., 1923-06-11
THE MYSTERY GIRL !
A Thrilling Detective Story. :
BY CAROLYN WELLS.
Copyright. BY J. .. LiDyisestt Co.

but you never can tell with those
sly things. dare say she makes
herself look several years younger
| than she really is."
Did she know DIR. Waring"
How do I know? She came over
to this house late Sunday night--for
I saw her"
Good heavens! Are you sure?
We'll, 1t was fairly light, with the
moon, and the snow all over the
ground, you know, and l saw her, all
wrapped UP in her fur coat, sneaking
How later"
''oh-after everybody had gone up
stairs and the lights were all out at
the Adamses."
You saw her come back?"
mo; didn't think much about 1t
at the tfme-she's a crazy piece any
way--and-"
what do you mean by a crazy
why, she's queer-not like other
folks. She won't have anything to
do with any of US over there"
That doesn't make her out crazy"
Miss Bascom shrugged impatiently.
Il don't mean insane or demented.
only mean sly and secretive. She
never speaks to anybody at the table
and though she makes eyes at Cor
don Lockwood, she snubs Mr.. Tyler,
who Is just as good a young man.
They both admire her-anybody can
see that, but she treats them like the
dust under her feet"
Not an adventures. then?"
II don't know. But do know she's
thief-or how did she get that
money and the ruby?"
Perhaps DR.. Waring gave them to
"Then she is a wrong one. why
should he give strange girl such
"If he was in love with her.
Now, look here. Mr.. Cray, do try
to show ordinary common sense! DIR.
'Waring was about to marry Mrs.
Bates. a sweet. dear woman, of suit
able age. Is he going to have a little
fibbertigibbet coming to see him late
Cray hesitated to speak his mind.
but he ruminated that he had heard
OF such things. In the course of his
life. Miss Bascom. he thought, was
an unsophisticated old maid. but
to be investigated. and the case Of
Miss Anita Austin must be carefully
considered.
Now. Miss Bascom," he said diplo-
matt maticailiy, .ni. I'll, TN have to ask You to
time. You must see that we can't
work successfully if We take the
whole town into our confidence. Or
even this entire household"
Don't you try to bamboozle me.
Stephen Cray! ! know your sort. You
want to keep this matter quiet be-
cause you want TO get that girl off
scot-free! I know you meni Just
because she has a pair Of big, dark
eyes and a slim little shape you are
ready to hide her guilt and let her
off easy. I won't have II. That girl
stole those things, or else she got
them from poor John waring in a
way no decent woman would"
What are you talking about, Liza
Bascom?"
Mrs. Peyton appeared in the door
way, and though she asked the ques-
tion, It was fairly evident that she
knew the answer, and had been lis
tening.
Yes" she went on. "Tve been lis
tening at the door, and I'm glad
Warnings name traduced. and next. If
there's a girl implicated in the mat
ter the whole truth about her has got
to come out! I know the girl, she
was here Sunday afternoon, and a
more brassn-faced. bold-mannered
chit. I never want to see!''
She was hare?' asked the bewil-
II know all I want to know of her"
Mrs. Peyton declared Yes. she was
here-came over: with Emily Bates
and Pinky. wouldn't condescend to
be really ne..of us, but just acted
offish and seemed to me about half
witted."
Don't be silly" put in Miss Bas-
com. That's the last thing to say of
her! Whatever that girl may be.
she's got all her wits about her. I
can see that for myself"
WAS DR.. Waring present when Miss