Evening star., 1925-07-26


about it. This his wife put into word,
| But why" she demanded, do they
bother to make it so attractive with
] all that horrible furniture in it?"
No one could guess the answer to
that riddle. The McSweeneys dis.
played no interest in their neighborA
and naturally nobody called upon
| them. Nobody, that is, save Ted. who
! had always had a wide acquaintance
among strange sorts of people and
! who had struck up a notable friend
ship with the McSweeneys. He dropped
in on them as casually as he dropped
in on the Eltons.
This Sunday morning. as he moved
toward the McSweeney's, Kay's father
intercepted him.
"All set?" he asked mysteriously.
Keep your eyes peeled" retorted
Look here, Ted" said Kay's faith.
er. I'm strong for you-but aren't
you afraid you're overplaying your
hand. kay"
i've got the makings OF straight"
Ted admitted, with one card short.
I'm taking a chance on the draws
that's ALL
And he went on to the Mcsweeney's,
followed by the older mans anxious
eyes.
Presently he and McSweeney
emerged from the Witherbee house.
Kay, who expected Bromley and was
presumably watching for him, saw
Ted slap his companion on the back
with what seemed to her an excess OF
good fellowship.
THIS phenomenon she had no
chance to consider further. for
Bromley and his roadster came into
sight. AS she had promised to take
ride with him she went upstairs to
get her hat. She was not, therefore,
| among those who saw Ted desert
McSweeney and cross over to greet
Bromley.
Nevertheless, the meeting Of the
two was not without spectators.
Among these was Kay's father, who
alone was not taken by surprise BIZ
what followed.
Morning" said Ted. Would you
mind removing your plates from my
carp"
"what?'' replied Bromley uncom-
prehendingly.
"Listen!" suggested TED Listen
carefully. You paid 500 down on
this car last December. You've never
paid any more. The man you bought
it from has been looking for you. He
was afraid he'd been stung. set
his mind at rest on that point by
taking the car off his hands-and,
mind, I've got a bill of sale. Now,
as said in the beginning. please re-
move your license plates from my
car"
won't" spluttered Bromley.
You can 60
You will intervened Ted softly,
cor else
There he paused. His eyes were
mild, suggesting whimsy rather than
unspoken MANAGE. His hands were
thrust carelessly in his pockets. He
stood as he customarily moved, with a
suggestion of leisured grace.
And yet Bromley licked lips sud-
denly gone dry, and decided to remove
his license plates.
"I'll drive you as far as the car
line" said Ted when he had finished.
And, with no change of expression,
added: "Oh, let's not argue about it!'
! And so, while the Heights watched
with open mouths-an open mouth
being presumably a valuable aid to
eyesight-the two drove away to.
gether.
"I was interested enough in you
and your spectacular success" e1-
planned Ted, as. they negotiated the
corner, ''to call at the Copley Plaza.
They told me you only received your
alley. But I had the number on your
license plates, and the next time I
got to New York investigated from
that angle. Were you about to say
anything?"
: Apparently Bromley was not
IT discovered" Ted went on, 'that
you were a clerk in brokerage Office
bucket, I believe. You cleaned up
somewheres around $4,000 in a pool
with two Of your fellows. Since then
you've been stepping wide, high and
J handsome. Now-but there's q car
coming. I'm afraid you'll have 10 run
; for it.''
Even SO. TED had a chance to. in a
manner Of speaking, say goodbye to
him.
"I1l carry your regrets to every
body and explain your sudden depars
ture," he promised. "You needn't
,, bother to even write. In fact, take
my advice-and DON'T"
IN the meantime. Kay had returned
to the Elton's living room.
J ''Why, where's Mr.. Bromley?" she
asked of her father.
HE drove off with Ted replied
her father.
What do you mean7"
Here's Ted now-ask him." sug-
gested her father. Withdrawing
hastily.
What did you do with Mr.. Brom-
ley?" demanded Kay.
, From your tone one might think
I had kidnapped and foully murdered
him." Ted protested plaintively. "Ac-
: tually he was-er, unavoidably called
away. But before leaving he very
: kindly turned his car over to me SO
! that you and I could go out and see
i the house I've bought for my bride to
I be-"
'I," she retorted, "have no inten.
ton of going anywhere with you"
: 81 asked you politely-but I'm pre-
pared to use force if necessary"
r you just try it." she flashed.
: The next moment she was in his
arms. She struggled with all the
strength she possessed. yet was row
c kContipued on Sixth Pagel