The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-03-01
SIR NORMAN CONTINUES

SIR NORMAN CONTINUES
lie f. quaint. that little man"
my companion remarked once, as DO
glanced over toward US. lilo re-
minds mo OF those impossible char
actors one reads about IN magazines.
who detect crime FOR tho pleasure OF
a. and discover hidden treasures Ia
absurd places"
"iIs l.. an matter Of fact" told
her. "A retired city merchant With
passion for Eolf--at least. that In
what the golf secretary at Working
told me"
Tho music was seductive, and pres
entity NO danced once or twice In
tho ballroom. however, my compan-
ion showed signs Of renewed nervous
meas Tho fingers OF ono hand were
nearly all the time straying around
her neck. a. tho 20 assure herself
that tho necklace was siill there.
Presently she drow me away with an
Apologize little laugh
Il am quite mad. hhe confessed.
but have a III Of nerves tonight
am going upstairs carly. DO you
mlnd7'
20, course not" l told her. Let
me s0e you 10 The mt
Il am going to ask you TO do more
than that" shc said az wo crossed
the hnli. Il am going to ask you 20
come up 10 my Nttiug-room and
escort my maid down 10 the office
when she takes my necklace there.
Az reward sou can come back
ntterWard, II you will. and have a
whisky and soda with me"
rang for tho IN. and wo ascend
ed together 10 tho fourth floor. She
handed me her key and ] unlocked
the door Of her charming little salon,
She pointed 10 the evening paper
and an easy.chalr.
please mako yourself comfortable
for five minutes" she begged, look
Ing back from the threshold OF the
inner room Il shall just let An
netts help me out Of my gown Then
I win give her the iewcl-case and
she shall call FOR YOU"
cNlF npIutN anu us" HltFAANtAs 4
stood for a moment looking after her.
The door was closed softly. / heard
her call 10 her maid in tho farther
apartment
Those next few seconds seemed 10
beat themselves out In my brain,
charged with strange and almost
amazing Significance. am con-
WINGED that acted from impulse.
There was nothing definite in my
mind when from behind that closed
door conceived the sudden idea
which prompted my action.
crossed the floor OF the sltting-room
and opened the door which led on TO
the corridor There was no one in
sight. and II secmcd 10 mo that fewer
Of the electric lights were llt than
usual. | stood there. every nerve OF
my body riveted upon an attempt Mt
dual listening. / listened for the
return OF Mrs. Do Mendoza. and /
listened for the opening OF either OF
her doors. Presently what d.
vined might happen, came TO pass,
The door OF her bedroom. in line
with tho ono behind which / was
lurking, opened. / peered thru tho
crack.
Annette. the mnid, trim. dark
figure, had crossed the threshold.
She stood for moment listening,
Then without oven glnpcing toward
the sltting-room, she walked swiftly
along the corridor and turned 10 the
left toward tho lift and stolrcnscs.
In couple Of stealthy strides ! too
| Ind reached tho corner md peering
round. watched her movements. To
my surprise, shc passed the lift and
turned tho other corner OF the cor
ridor toward tho stalroags AS soon
as she was out OF sight, ! followed,
As reached the farther angle.
avery light was suddenly extln-
guishcd. There wns little CUR
Cling cry, tho sound OF heavy fall
upon the soft carpet. In second or
two | was on tho spot. ! could dimly
ace where Annette was lying, gasp
ing for breath, apparently hnlf I'M
conscious. by her sldo lay the
jcwcl.caso, open md empty.
did nothing for moment toward
raising my alarm. I bont over the
GIRL and satistiod myself that she was
not shnmmlng she had, In eff
feet, been subjected TO certain
amount Of violence. ] glanced az tic
transoms over tho doors Of the bod
rooms opposite. There were three Of
them between whore ] was and the