Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-10
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. 1,

Il wonder if 1 did right yesterday?'
Mary Rogue asked herself as she sat
at her spinet desk. in her Office on the
fifth floor of the Essary Building.
She reviewed her action in telling a
deliberate talsehood to her client, Col
Loganberry II. Ball, who came to
Washington seeking his lost daughter
Maisie Ball had eloped with Bill
iennick, who had tried to get into the
civil service. and, failing to pass the
clerical examinations, had got himself
a job as a street car conductor.
Then the frivolous Maisie, not salts
fled with Bilps earning capacity. had
beat it" for Florida. But kind
hearted Mary Rogue did not want to
tell the father so much. Therefore
she made up neat little story about
Maisie and her husband going to-
gether to earn their fortune"
The big, breezy man from Omaha
although disappointed, had swallowed
ne whole tale, fondIy believing his
daughter the same little paragon OF
virtue she had benin his imagina
tion--when she left for the East.
The ethics of the situation were
what bothered bright-eyed Mary
Rogue. Had she done right in de
liberately lying to Col. Ball? And sup
pose the old fellow should run across
Bill HenniCk on his street cart
In the latter case, Miss Rogue Ger
tainly would be prevented from send
ing neat little bill to the Westerner
ITO professional services rendered
$780, Mary Rogue charged accord
ing to the ability of the client to pay
Col. Losanberry II. Ball seemed &c
nave plenty Of money, so why should
ne not pay Il tidy sum for an investl
cation?
Yet Mary found herself rather
dubious about sending him any bill. 1t
was true that, just as a lawyer puts
in his charge, win or lose, she, too
had every right TO receive pay for her
investigation, successful or not. II
she did not care to tell the old man
that his daughter was no better than
she should be, that had nothing to dc
with her services, which We're the
same in any event.
There came Il rap at the door. on
which the name. Mary Rogue" was
lettered in gold. that and nothing
more. Those who sought her Office
knew she was called the girl who
helps you out"
Mary's slim right hand clutched at
her jabot, composed Of rare Chantilly
Miss Rogue composed her clothes
rather than designed them. That was
the effect they produced on most be
holders, especially on those who knew
nothing at all about fashion.
Come in she called, picturing an
irate Col. Loganberry II. Ball, who
had just found out that she had de.
ceived him.
The door opened, and in sidled a
tall. large man, his pale, smooth hair
topped by large derby, and wearing
huge light gray overcoat criss-
crossed with huge blue checks.
A small blond mustache twitChed
above red lips. His face was too pale
and his eyes, instead of looking di
rectly at Mary, slanted across the
room to the bookcase at one side.
He was the King of + Street, the
man who had followed her. through
the streets one Saturday night until
she had naged to give him the slip,
X X X
Miss Roque?" said the man, in an
oily voice.
Mary looked the fellow squarely in
the eyes.
Not into you" she said, directly,
inwardly distressed that he should
have found her out, but glad that ii
was not Col. Ball
The fellow removed his hat, reveal
ing further eXpanses of light. taffy
Colored hair, so well smoothed down
that they took on the appearance of