Evening star., 1925-09-20

should have known that you weren't
worth saving"
| He swept off his hat in low bow
Il take back my loopho]e remark,
he said. you've found one big
enough for cannon"
You're insufferahle.'
| You're amazing
Drop that pose" he advised. You
! can't keep II in mind and listen 70 me
as closely as you should. j nave
/ something important to say to you.
4 little while ago you informed me
| thai you wanted to spare me prison
! term--to save me from the depths, !
| believe you put it. Well. now that
Ike talked with you. I feel that way
| toward you. I'm willing to give you
your chance and. TO borrow from you
again. I hope you'll so straight. So
| slip out and put as many miles as
you can between yourself and police
J headquarters. Ill turn in q. report
which will do you no harm.
And leave you with your loot and
my carr"
My car--my car" he repeated i'm
| patiently. you've worn that dodge
threadbare.'
1T Is mine. You know it is. I've
proved 1t to you by those dents and
| i
one of them sha opened"
II could prove that it's mine with
| that sort of evidence. The marks are
there under my eyes as well as yours.
| | could spin yarns about them till
/ Texas goes Republican"
The license plate isn't under your
| eyes" she countered. II can give
you the number. It's 3sS.244. Get
out and look If you don't believe me.
II don't see myself leaving you
! alone al the wheel"
Then get out with me-" she said
/ scornfully. It's the very least you
can do if you're not fraud"
Very we'll" he agreed. But
none of your tricks
And none of yours said she.
They backed wariy from their
! separate doors and. step by step,
| watching each other across the
! tonneau. passed round the car and
| then. being young. were both struck
| by the comicality OF their attitude
| and smiled.
1T is a bit humorous" he said.
They turned az one TO the rear
axle.
Why. it's gone" she gasped
The plate is gone
And that" said he. lis not SO
humorous. But isn't it what you
| might expect of a stolen automobile?
Shall we stroll forward and see II
the other plate has been overlooked? ?"
| No" she answered witheringly
/ Il know perfectly well 1t isn't there
| Doubtless you're right" he said
And now what? Do you prefer tc
take your freedom or continue ths
| debate?"
! CHE disdained reply and stood com
~ muning with herself by the curb
! He glanced from her to her back
ground. The latter. thanks to a bill
i board company which went in for
| floral effects, was a bright oasis In
| the stubble OF vacant lots burned
| brown and crisp by Summer heat
Even the grass plot between pave
| inent and sidewalk had been carefully
| tended. 1t had vernal freshness. II
seemed reasonably soft.
| did you get grease on your skirt
| he asked. Behind. / mean?''
| She turned to look and. aided by a
push on the shoulder, found not the
| dreaded stain, but a sudden seat on
| the turf. Her first thought was OF
| her dignity. her second of her prop
! erty. But the car. even before she
/, could spring to her feet. was under
| way. He had duped her. after all
| Then. through her angry tears, she
beheld glorious apparition. Chars
! ing toward her on motor cycle was
| a traffic officer.
| I'm get him he shouted as he
pa ssed. Stay right where you are 81
She watched him swiftly overtake
reluctantly back. The policeman rode
| by the left mudguard. talking volubly.
| The fugitive had apparently lost his
| striking power of speech. but when he
| drew up beside her she perceived that
| he was not too shameless to blush.
| pile out" ordered the of1cer.
| Now, lady, give me the right dope
about this affair. l saw him fetch
YOU nasty shove and grab the bus.
What's the big idea?"
Hasn't he anything to ssy?"
Then suppose you question him, =
| she suggested.
| :I'I listen to you first. You're the
| injured party. What's your nama2"
'Clayton."s
| Residence"
| wiltshire boulevard
ANY relation to Judge Clayton"
| Daughter she answered, not
| without complacency.
| Ne she said. But you1l have
no trouble in verifying what / tell
| YOU"
This Your machine"
Yes
Where are your license plates?"
The car was stolen. I've only
| just got 1t back.
DO YOU know who took it,"
| No
You don't He looked disappoint
| ed. Then who is this bird?"
Her Elance rested briefly on the
! mute bystander.
The district attorneys nephew
she said with a genial smile.
The policeman blinked.
"If that's the case" he began. 81
| guess But wait minute. What
about the rough stuff l saw? Do you
want to make a charge against him.
No" she replied, after taking
thought.
The nephew recovered his voice.
! Merely a little argument. officer,
| he salt II admit that I was hasty
and / apologize. There is no reason
why you should trouble any further
with our affairs. Will you have a
| cigar?
| "I don't smoke"
| No? Well. at least allow me to
| compliment you on your alert atten
| tion to duty. II you care to give me
| your name I'll mention you to my
uncle. He takes keen interest in the
| force"
The other man eyed him frostily
You've turned mighty gabby all oi
sudden" he said. why didn't you
| find your tongue before?''
Il did not wish TO embarrass Miss
| Clayton. She. | am sure. thoroughly
understands my position
"Oh, very clearly" said she. But