Evening star., 1923-06-18
THE MYSTERY GIRL
A Thrilling Detective Story
BY CAROLYN WELLS.
SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS IXsrALMExTs Miss Mrserr Oh
Copyright, by J. B. Lippincott Coz

I Miss Mystery. oh. yes. 1 know she. is
under a cloud-but can get her off
! I'm a bird of a lawyer. you know
! and we'll fix all that up. Then. III
! elevate that little nonentfty to the
J elevated position of the missus OF
Maurice Trask. Hey, my boy, how's
that"
/ Had Lockwood's calm not been ha-
bitual with him he could scarcely
have maintained it through this scene.
| AS il was, he was boiling. seething
furnace inside him. but his judgment
told him that any exhibition OF sur
| prise or annoyance would only lrrl-
! tate the other man without doing any
/ good.
! Moreover. if Trask were really a
! shrewd lawyer. and il he knew
! something that would make any
trouble for Anita-and she had hint
| ed that he dd-then. Lockwood
argued. he must keep friendly with
more of the matter.
So he said lightly, Has the lady
agreed?"
"Well-not yet: butt say. Lock-
wood. you're hit in that same direc-
Il admire Miss Austin very much.
"weil-you keep of-do you
! hear?"
Il hear" said Lockwood in his i'm
| perturbable way. but when Trask
looked up and caught the cold stare
Of his secretary he dropped the sub
ject and returned to the books;
| wood had formed the habit of going
back to the Adams house for his
| luncheon. This, of course. in the
hope Of seeing something Of Anita
and also because his new employer
! preferred it that way.
At luncheon Trask took occasion
| to eulogize Miss Austin.
Helen Peyton stood 1t as long as
she could. and then broke out with:
admire in that thin. sallow little
| thing, And. besides. she is a wicked
girl I think she killed DR.. WarinG.
but even if she didn't che came over
night. and if that isn't wrongdoing
l don't know what is! But, just
because she puts up helpless bluff.
all the men fall for her."
Jealous, Miss Peyton?" and Trask
looked at her shrewdly: .,,uo
/ NO" Helen tossed her head. I've
no reason to be. That girl is moth
| ing to me and the sooner she gets
out of Corinth the better. If the
police will let her go"'
began. in his most emphatic man
ner. and Mrs. Peyton, too. once for
all. | will hear no word against Miss
Austin in my house. Put any mean
| ing you like into that. but remember
it. One word against Anita Austin
| and the speaker Of it goes out Of
my door never to return. Am
| clear?"
Clear? Yes. but I can tell
! Hush. Helen said her mother.
! we want to stay here, don't we?
Well. then, as Mr.. Trask is evidently
much in earnest I insist that you
obey his wiSheS-aS i shall"
q ;crht N-1 A~d
| If your daughter forgets my hints I
| trust to you to keep her reminded.
! That's all about that"
! In this fashion Maurice Trask set
| tied every question that arose. His
word was law. and he spoke no un-
! necessary words.
| The servants could obey or leave.
/ The housekeeper had been told the
same. and the secretary understood
! IL, too.
Returning to the library after
luncheon. Trask sat at the desk in
Got to get the girl" he told him
but she's skittish. that's plain to be
seen. Also, she's in love with Lock
wood: Got to get him out of town.
Nothing doing while he's around.
Now, how, Morton hinted Of his
got some past history; guess I can
get something on him-got to,
whether I can or not. HIM. Won
| der if the little girl did do the stick
ing. Hard to believe II and yet that
kids got it In her She sure has,
And she's a Truesdeil all right. No
body ever had those beetling brews,
almost joining above those dark
| eyes. in that level line-why, IL
| she's a Truesdell--, Good Lord.
I've got to marry her. I'll have to
| scare her into it, Now, Maurice.
| my boy. get In some OF your finest
| work"
Clapping on his hat. he started for
| the Adams house
( AS luck would have it. he met Anita
and his secretary walking toward
! him.
playing truant? he called out
gay1y to Lockwood.
I'm just on my way to your
house." Gordon returned, coldlys