Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-06-19
An Agreement.

"You say you'll give me "eeh!
said Miss Mystery at last, graspihs A'
a hope of reprieve.
Trask looked at her with cutios''S'
What goodll that do you! Better
nut yourself under my protection at
once. Every day you lose Is '"a'
much nearer discovery.
"AlI right. I'll dare it! Iney "oh
won't condemn me, anyhow. 60
"Ho, no Banking on your sex ~
save YOU! Well. honestly. I don
really think they'd send pretty shai
like YOU to the chair, but tli ,a
would convict you in the eyes OF me
world. even if twelve men were too
soft hearted to see you electrocuteu'
And there'd be Imprisonment
"Oh, hush. Mr.. Trask, nave you iio
pity?" . = m he
my wife None for any other. anu
especially none for girl VINO scorhs
me and throws me over Tor my own
secretary. I'm a red-blooded man,
I am. and You cant an play w,t tsf it, anu
Il don't mean to play fast anu
loose with You, if by that you mean
changing my mind. But l do ask for
a few days to think ii over. Ihat 5
not unreasonable. is it?' -,
Miss Mystery's little smile was ca
toling. and Trask couldn't resist IL
All right" he said, as he looked
hungrily at her bewitchlng lace,
take coupla days, then: But on.F
on condition that YOU don Ie. Loo ~ .
that for forty-eight hours you won
see that man alone.
How can ] promise that!
You'll have to, whether you can
or not"
"All right, promise"
ctE
"And you'll keep that promise. or
you'll be sorry, ! haven't much opln-
ion of your promises, you're NOT the
sort 10 keep faith. But remember
I'm a power. Maurice Trask can ao
whatever he sets out to do. And II
You forget that, you're mighty apt
to regret it" -,
II gave you promise" Anita said,
looking at him coldly, and fully IN
tend 10 keep it, It's not such very
hard one to keep"
Her lip curled. and though he
guessed the tumult in her heart, there
was no sign of it on her face,
Trask accompanied her to the post
Office, and then, bidding him a care
less good afternoon, Anita went INTO
a large dry goods shop, and he made
no attempt to follow her.
He would have been interested,
however, had he noted her proceed
ings. For she went straight to
waring house. Ito answered and
when she asked to be connected with
Mr. Lock wood, the butler gave the
connection without question. -
Gordon? came the soft little
voice. This is Anita"
And then she told him quickly but
fully all that had passed between her
$50 you see." she concluded. II do
want these two days to think things
put, and l mustn't see you alone, for
All right" lockwood said, well
do our counting over the telephone,
Let ME see, I'll go downtown this
evening and telephone you
to NO that ia t Ient Adams a1 front can't h .ak
Here's better plan. Tomorrow.
when Mr.. Trask goes out you call me
up there, and I'll go out to a pay
station and call you up where you are
the time will be up"
YES. and what are you going to
do them
Il don't know" said the girl. her
voice suddenly losing its brightness.
I'm going to think it out. Good
bye"
"oh. wait minute. I'll see you at
dinner, shan't I?'
"Oh, yes; and this evening, I sup
pose. but only with others present"
And after a few more words Anita
left the booth and walked slowly
home.
When Trask returned to his library
he said to Lockwood. Get busy on
1 want the shelves cleared for some
of my own books that I've sent for"
Very WELL" returned the secretary,
thinking of the probable difference
between the expected books and those
they would replace.
DO you mind, Mr.. Trask. if ] take
few of these old ones myself? I'll
pay. you whatever price nrst-ciass
dealer sets on them"
"Oh, take what you want without
pay. I'm in good humor today.
Lockwood. better take advantage of
it. Help yourself from the shelves"
your kindness and generosity"
Nor did he. but among the few vol
umes he chose was the crimson
stained copy. Of Martiars Epigrams.
Distasteful though 1t was, Lock-
wood looked at the book with a feel
ing of reverence and opened the vol
ume at the page that had last held
the interest of its owners scholarly
mind.
The crimson stain completely OBJ
secured the print, but Lockwood gazed
long at the defaced page.
81 wonder" ne said to himself. Hff
a crack detective could get anything
from this. There's that Stone, Mercer
terribly expensiye-yet this strange
case might intrigue him--apd yet
there's Anita to be considered. II II
should turn the tide against her-''
Later that afternoon, Trask went
out again and Lockwood seized his
chance.
Calling Anita at the Adams house,
he said, Listen, dear. you needn't
say anything but yes or no, and then
no one will understand"
All right" came the reply.
i've Just about come to the con-
clusion I'll get q clever detective and
put him on the case. ! mean a real
detective-in fact, Fleming Stone"
utter dismay.
why not%
II can't tell you this way! You
said-
so ! did. Well. here, I'll ask ques-
tons Don't you want me- to do
thise" 49,: ~