Evening star., 1924-03-30

phone number was scrawled in the
lower left-hand corner 1t was writ
ten with a soft lead pencil, as was
| the further notation, please call
after 4 o'clock
Miss Glaub glanced at the clock.
| 1t was nearly 5 o'clock. He was
! there now-waiting, perhaps. Miss
Glaub sent Freda into the fitting
room and picked up the telephone. A
connection established, she went
straight to the point
This is Miss Glaub speaking"
yes"
"I have your letter"
Yes"
"WeII?"
The voice at the other end of the
line chuckled. Hardly anything we
can discuss over the telephone, Miss
Glaub.'
Can you come to my Officer
The other end hesitated. For
business of this nature it suggested,
maybe a little more privacy would
be desirable. How about your home
tonight-say o'clock"
After all, it was perhaps better to
meet him there. The frowsy little
crook, Miss Glaub assented briefly.
Tonight she repeated, '-at s."
He was mean-looking specimen
OF manhood, even in the soft glow of
the Glaub parlor. He was nervous
and overbold by turns. His collar
was dirty. as were the frayed cuffs
which hung below the sleeves of his
cheap raincoat. Miss Glaub guessed
his age al thirty five, and his nose at
four drinks OF synthetic gin a day.
He wore a greasy derby which had
once been brown. And he wore it
into the Glaub parlor with a sneaky
smile of confidence.
Good evening, Miss GIaub."
Miss Glaub nodded. Suppose she
said crisply, I'VE get down to business
right away. What do you want?'
The man laughed slyly. Maybe" :"
he suggested, we should begin by
telling you what we know. Our
client"
~"Is a thief" interrupted Miss Glaub.
Maybe he is a liar, too
Mr.. S. L. Blake shook his head
Not q. chance" he said emphati-
cally; and then softly: "Because-we
have seen the pearls, too!"
Maybe inquired the lady care
lessly, "you have them with you?"
Maybe"
And maybe you might be per-
suaded to part with them?''
Mr.. Blake laughed gayly. Maybe
we might" he asserted softly, "if you
were interested-suff1cien
Miss Glaub considered this. WELL"
she said finally, how much do you
WANT
Five hundred dollars"
"Not a chancer'--coldly.
Mr.. Blake shook his head sadly.
'"Too bad" he commented 1--WE
haven't anything else left but to turn
our information over to the police.
It'lI certainly make rich reading. Eh-
but cheap fakes! Won't help the lit
tie costume business any,.
"You-you--
"Or the standing with the Russian
nobility"
With a shrug, the proprietor of
Adele, Inc, capitulated-
"Wiu a check do?'' she demanded
duly.
Certainly. Seeing that we are
only acting for you in a little matter
which makes the five hundred a re-
tainer fee
Miss Glaub went to a little desk
and dropped the top. How do you
want it made out?"
"S. E. Blake";-with a smirk-
X X x y
MISS GLAUB blotted the piece of
AA paper and arose. Still possessed
of the smirk, Mr.. Blake stepped for
ward. Miss Glaub moved to meet
him halfway. Just as the man was
about to take the check, Miss Glaub
slipped on the soft rug. With slight
scream, she fell forward into the
arms of the astonished visitor. Just
for a second the dark head rested
close to his-just long enough to
confirm that feeling which had been
hers from the moment Of reading
the letter. The mingled odor of
cloves and nutmeg.
Put your hands up in the air"
With an astonished snarl, MIR. S. Z.
Blake faced a small-caliher pistol
held in a steady hand. Noting the
hand and the eyes behind the gun,
| Mr.. Blake complied.
| Whats the idea?" he demanded.
Making sure" said Miss Glaub
calmly.
"Sure of whatT'
'That Mr.. S. L. Blake and my Cutie
/ friend of the other night were the
same people"
| You're crazyt"-suIlenly.
'why don't you call me sister,
| Miss Glaub gibed.
After a moment: We'll, what if I