Evening star., 1923-03-18

would come the coat, perhaps only
slightly mussed. possibly sadly dam
aged. No, no. He would fall for
no such game. He was too old
bird.
But even as the credit man was
congratulating himself on having
OWNED Mrs. Jones scheme she ha6
accomplished her tricksters purpose
She had made her victim suspect one
game and forced him to turn all his
wariness into one direction while sht
swiftly accomplished her real end by
a totally different ruse. The credit
man was SO busy watching the trees
that he did not see the forest tum
bling about him.
I'm very sorry. then, Mrs. Jones.
said he. I'D like to help you out
but you have no account here and
Mr. Jones might refuse to pay. You
see we can't let such expensive gar
merits go out and take the chance
Of their being used and returned. On
please, please. / don't mean TO sug.
gest that you, ah. eT-but--
Mrs Jones seemed utterly dis
couraged.
There must be some way she
said. Il must have that coat to.
night"
Couldn't you give US a check"
ITS $4,000. haven't that muct
in the bank"
Perhaps your bank will accom-
modate you?"
Mrs. Jones considered this. Finally
she lifted her face with decision and
delight.
"1 have it.'' she trilled. II have
$4,000 in liberty bonds at homo in
my safe. If you'd accept them
"Of course, We would. We'd waive
any difference in the value or you
could send US a check when your
husband returns on Monday and wee
gladly return the bonds
But how am ] TO get them 10 yor
| in time? I can't drive home and re-
turn with the bonds and then gel
home again in time"
| There was another minute of con.
sidering. Then she was again seizeo
with Inspiration.
Gould you send one of your mer
with me? I'd drive him home in my
car, give him the bonds and have my
chauffeur drive him back"
Certainly, madam" said the credli
man with a sagacious twinkle in III;
eye. I'll send one OF our managers
Just wait here and I'll bring him"
,E+
| LIE slipped away to another pari
j i Of the store. summoned the Chief
store detective and gave him in
structions-
Don't let her know you're a de
tective," were his last words -
don't want to offend her
Mr.. Hogan was introduced TO Mrs
Jones and took his place beside her
in the Limousine. The clever "moil'
who was playing the part OF Mrs
Jones had expected a store detective
and would have recognized this spe-
cial specimen of the genius at eyes
| reach he was chuckling inwardly
as the swift limousine whirled out
| OF the traffic, reached the freer sec
tions OF Upper Broadway and reached
| out for the open fields and the small
er towns along the route
Only the day before this same clever
l
well known sanitarium of DR.. Wei
| hngton "hin, a few miles out OF
town on the road she was now travel
ing with the detective at her side
! She had represented herself to the
good doctor as Mrs. Jones and tolG
MIN a pittful tale of her husband
mania The man was convinced that
he was store detective, was carry
ing revolver, wearing a star and
threatening to kill her. He raved
constantly, fought IL any one came
| near him and tried 10 shoot her and
| their children when she had sug-
gested sanitarium. She had then
laid the plan with DR.. Whit
So Mrs. Jones and Detective Hogan
| drove happily along through the late
autumnal afternoon, she exultant at
the certain success of her venture
and he congratulating himself on the
pleasant company OF so fine lady!
The car reached a turn and before
them lay the sanitarium.
'I want to stop here for a minute
| and visit my sister" she said, tapping
| on the window and motioning the
| chauffeur, who nodded and brought
his car to a stop before the doors
Mrs. Jones got out and ran up the
| steps OF the sanitarium. At the same
moment the chauffeur got out ana
began inspecting the car and tinker
ing with the tank. Hogan crawled
out of the deep cushions TO stretch
his legs and see what the driver was
doing. The chauffeur closed the cap
and stood chinning with the detec-
tive. Then the doors of the SAM
tarium opened and out came Mrs.
Jones, two keepers in civilian cloth
ing following nonchalantly, as though
not Interested in her.
The shrewd adventures stood a
moment with her foot on the running
board Of her car, to give the keepers
time to come UP. while Hogan waited
gallantly behind her. holding open
the doer. With . sudden movement
she entered.
At the same moment the chauffeur
leaped upon Hogan from behind, the
two keepers attacked him in front,
quickly pinned him down, took his
| revolver and dragged him into thu
| sanitarium. The chauffeur left word
that Mrs. Jones would return in al
hour, ran out, took his place at the
wheel and raced away with his "molf
and her $4,000 sable wrap.
It was more than three hours before
II nhI - fnRA hA