The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-14

front door, will you? Pm as rattled as they make 'em noww
 It was Logan who did most of the talking that whiled away time till the policemen returned from their tour of the house; and when they opened the door of the dining room once more he was eating chicken salad while Peter crumpled toast.
 "I don't see the lady!' Logan exclaimed facetiously, with his mouth full
 Neither did we," said the man who had taken the lead.
 Hope you did the thing thoroughly while you were about it? Garret to cellar and all the rest?''
 You bet we dd,' returned the police man, allowing himself the relief of a grin now. II guess you was right about the practical joke. But you must excuse US if we look behind these curtains
 Under the table, tool! laughed Logan, jumping to his feet. Stand and deilver, Rolls!'
 Peter stood up to leave the table clear while one of the detectives did actually bend down to peer under it. As the policeman stopped Peter mechanically pulled the chair back, and doing so he caught sight of a thin blue streak lying, like solidifled cigarette smoke, across the red brocade cushion. In this smeke-blue streak there were little things that glistened-little silver things shaped like crescent moons set at regular in tervals from each other. Peter had been unconsciously sitting on the smoke wreath. and as the policeman rose he deliberately sat down it again. He felt suddenly sick, and his heart was large and cold in his breast where it did not beat but floundered like a caught fish.
 Winifred Child had been in this house. or else she had sold or gwen the moon dress to another girl who had been here.
 The perfume of the mirror room of the Menarchic was hefe-the perfume which fragrant of spring flowers; fresias, the youngest dryad had said they were; and since then Peter had asked tor fresias at the florists, requested the Scottish gardener to plant fresias ln the garden, and had kept fresias in his room to call back old dreams.
 While Logan accompanied the guardians of the Law to the front door, Peter annexed the blue smole-wreath. A splinter of wood (the furniture was only imitation Jacebean) had impaled the rag of chiffon, and almost tenderly releasing it, Rolls folded the trophy away in breast pocket. His imagination had not tricked him. The stuff did smell of fresias-which he proved by holding it to his lips for an instant.
 When Logan came back he turned to tell Sims at the door that he would not be need ed again, at any rate, for the present. Then he shut himself and Peter into the rosy glow of the dining room.
 "At last"' he exclaimed, sinking content edly. into the chair opposite Rolls: Il feel as if I'd earned a whole bottle of drink. But all's well that ends we'll"
 It hasn't quite ended yet, has it?" re- marked Peter No, thank you. no cham pagne'
 Mot ended?" repeated Logan, bottle in hand. You mean you want an explanation of this hanky panky? Well-there was a girl, of course, but she came because she wanted to come. Then the trouble began. There was little misunderstanding about dog collar she admired in jewellers win dow. She seemed disappointed to find that this wasn't to be the occasion of presenta- tion. Said I'd promised hadn't! l never do promise beforehand to give girls things. Not that this ones like all the others. A real stunneri Any fellow'd be wild over her. An English girl, tall and slim, but gorgeous figure, long legs and throat and dark eyes as big as saucers. You'd turn and look after her anywherei A lady, and thinks herself the queen, though she works in a New York department store. I've been run ming after her since one night we made acquaintance in the park-great chums- called each other Jim and Winnie and held hands from the first.
 But tonight, just because said I'd never promised collar or anything like one, she went mad as Q tiger-cat and took re- venge by ringing up the police with beast If story that I'd kidnapped her. She got it out before l could make her stop, and for just minute was in blue funk. New