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

minutes later Jim Logan was lnQuIrlng or the hall porter whether Fred Fortescue had come in that evening.
 He came, sir, but has gone out again, re- piled the man.
 What about MT Pindar?"
 Hasn't been m, sir. for weeks, was the reply.
 Evidently coming the names Of friends who might be useful in an emergency, Lo- gan's eyes were fixed on the stairway, as If thence inspiration or salvation might come. At that minute Peer Rolls Jr. appeared on the landing.
 Hello, kolls." Logan called out. You're just the man l want. Will you do me great Iavor Tn blg hurry?'
 Peter did not care much for Logan. who had been a classmate of his at college, and whose acquaintance he had not cultivated since.
 What do you want me to do?' he asked in tone polite. but void of personal in terest.
 '"ro come home with me quick and get me out of horrid scrape. No trouble for you--but lot for me without pal to see me through 1 won't keep you more than few minutes. if you're engaged anywhere.
 I'm not engaged. But--' Petro, be- gan only to be cut short.
 Come along, then, for the Lords sake. Tell you everything when we're there" And taking Rolls attec.lonately by the arm, the other rushed him out of the club.
 "House shu6 ap, you know. But stay there. Uly man II leE us III the DdSeHleHt way, if you don't mlnd," Logan explained dlsJointedIy as they hurried along the street to the dwelling four doors away.
 The two young men were admitted and the door locked behind them A minute more and they were ln the rosily giowlng dining room where the white table still offered attractive refreshments.
 ''S3t down." said Logan, and as he said it a great knocking began somewhere
 Il think, sir, it's some one at the door," calmly announced Slms.
 ''oee who It IS, and If it's the police make no objection to thelr coming in.''
 "Yes sir" responded Sim, and vanished.
 ''No tune to let you into thus stunt on the ground fieor,' went on Logan. But will as the turns over. For all sakes, keep mum while 1 talk
 before Petro could answer, if he had an answer ready, there were deep voices in the hall. Then the door opened by S!ms and two piainciotheS policemen stepped brlskly in.
 Hello! Whats up? House on fire?" ex- claimed Logan, pausIng In the act of hand ing dish of iced cavalr to hls guest.
 Were not from the fire department" said the elder and smarter-looklng of the pair civilly, yet with certain grimness. "I guess you know that wen enough. We've been sent here on hurry call on your phone to the police-a girl supposed to be detained in the house aganst her will" And keen eyes took III the details of the room.
 Logan DIOke lHto JoWdl Su1IaW. "Glrlt Well, of all the freak stuntsw he chortled. 'oay, Rolls, are you the great female lmpersonator? Ha, hap
 ''Sorry to interrupt you and your friend" remarked the detective, still grlmly, but I gotta ask you straight whether there's girl Tn this house, and you'd better answer the same way"
 Logan stopped laughing. "Ot course, I'll answer you straight There's no girl in thS house far l know, and hasn't been snce my slsUer went away With the rest of the folks, the 2d of June. l can't think how such a-but gee! yes, can! The silly old sucker! beG it's a put-up job?"
 What do you mean?" the plainctothcs man wanted to know.
 "Why, does the name of Frederick Doland Fortesque mean anything to you?"
 'We know who he is."
 "Well, thtsi, 1 guess you know he's tte champion practical joker of this burg He was here a while ago-hasa't been gone a quarter of an hour. Asked if he could use the telephone. 1 heard him ring up some one, but didn't get what he said. I not.ced when he was through he came out chuc.- ling, and then was off like shot-tota ,nr he had a date uptown somewhere. That's all l know, but 1t would be just like r..a to play such a fool trick"
 Seems twas a woman's voice at the phone,"