Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-11
Mysterious Sweetheart
BY ELLA WISTER HALNES
Copyright. 1920

to make an outline of his impressions
which when Summarized read as fol
lows:
l. Who is this girl?
9 Where is she going?
g. What connection has this dead
man with her history?
f. Was his presence on the boat
with her accidental or premeditated:
S. Was his meeting with my broth
err accidental or premeditated?
s. Were they merely train &C
Quaintances?
Z. Where was Walter going?
3. Who was his gloved companion:
g. Why did they SO consistently at
.tach themselves to this girl?
10. If interested in the girl, why did
they leave the train?
IL. What did Walter wire the Of
fce?--
IL. Did Walter or the woman drop
something in section 8 while sitting
with Carolita and myself?
IS. Did Carolita drop something in
that section?
the man in order to rob him? If SO
how?
Is. Why did the sight of the ruby
cause Carolita's fear?"
is. Was my own fleeting impression
of that curious stone the correct one:
II. Why did the conductor conceal
the article discovered?
And on the sheet opposite his Ques
lions he wrote out -the answers, one
by one. as they came to him:
I. Unknown.
2. Unknown.
8. He is her guardian? He is a de-
tective?
4. Premeditated.
5. Probably premeditated.
6. No.
7. Unknown.
s. Probably his wife.
9. For some definite reason.
10. Unknown.
II. VIII wire Office at first stop and
find out.
IL. Unknown.
Is. Unknown.
IA. No solution.
Is. 1t has some definite connection
with her past and future.
is. Probably.
II. Merely as a matter Of caution
He studied his outline carefully
then tore 1t into a thousand pieces
| with a feeling Of satisfaction, for al
least he had formulated the case ir
hand. His next steps were clear
| First, to find out II Carolita had miss
ed anything from her belongings, ring
or jewel Of any kind; second, to get 8
wire off to John Carr at the first stop
1t was still early in the day and there
| was no chance that Frank Hyatt
could receive his call for aid and meet
| the train before late afternoon. Would
! the conductor divulge his discovery be
| fore that time?
His thoughts were interrupted by
the entrance OF Carolita and the maid
| with the same report of:
Nothing extra, sab. Jus money"
NO jewelry or papers. Miss Menen
dez?"
You have seen what I have in my
bags, conductor" the girl replied with
| dignity, II have no jewels, naturally
being alone in the world"
Il do not find any letters. Did yol
not say that your guardian wrote in
structions for you to make this jour
| ney?"
Il said that he wrote to the con
vent"
"You saw his letter."
Yes, the sisters showed it to me"
Were you given no means of iden
tification? How are your friends t.
| recognize you?"
Yes" she spoke very slowly 81
should hold my hand in a certain DO
sition." She raisd her left hand ant
placed it upon her breast, her fingers
| spread open. land the one who come.
| will do the same"
The conductors eyes narrowed, hit
| mouth frightened
You're telling quite a remarkable
tale, young lady" he commented
Better take it to Hollywood and make
fortune. Now, for the last time
you are quite sure that you had nc
jewels, have missed nothing from your
possessions? Mind you, tell the
| whole truth
A shake of her head was her only
| reply. eyes downcast. Paul hoped
| very sincerely that the conductor be
lieved her, yet 1t was certainly a fan
| tastic tale. Even IL the mysteriou.
| events Of the night had never tran
spired. 1t seemed to Paul, any ont
must know that a girl would not b
| turned loose into the world with such
a slender thread OF identification. Hi.
mind leaped then to its frst perma