Evening star., 1926-09-28

| Not until the meal had Deen cledieu
away, the old woman dismissed with
a brief thank you," and good
night" did the three men cease their
affable conversation. and pun tnelr
chairs closer together. faces once
more serious and stern.
Now, then" Gaines began In Eng
| lish. spill the plot. and watch your
step while you're doing il? What are
| you and Reynolds trying to do? Spit
| the reward? What the hell brought
you down here? Tell 1t straight now!
| I'm through fooling:"
i've nothing to keep back Senior
| Milana seemed to be the spokesman
of the pair, his brother Mario main
tanning a profound silence. " ou
were on the train! You know what
happened"
Fine mess you made OF 1t. too:
What possessed you to trust Mario!
| You knew better than that!'
/ Because she doesn't know him!"
"She. Oh! Then you knew that
she was WISE"
| II was certain that she would keep
| in close touch. I knew you'd trail,
| Of course, but nobody could foresee
| that Mario would have a seizure. he
hasn't had one for years. and Walter
did it. He put something in that
drink he gave him."
Natural conclusion. but doesn't t
| help matters now! Did you expect
| Walter upon that train?"
NO. 1 thought we'd led him off,
but he got wind Of us, somehow! Got
| on at Chicago. Mario says, and you
/ heard what Madre reported"
Yes. He had motor waiting
somewhere near that junction" :"
Gaines agreed. II thought as much.
Made tracks down here, picked up
the girl. and hit for home! But what
I'm driving at is your fool stunt.
Why under the shining sun, moon
and stars didn't you head right in!
You had Carolita. And you started
in the right direction!"
Yes, had Carolita, but how could
prove her identity. tell me that
Prove it?" Gaines showed genuine
surprise, what are you talking
about? She had the ring, didn't
She-'
she had no ring" the man re-
piled In expressionlesS tones, and /
think YOU know why.
My God" Gaines hand went UP
to his forehead. ARE you telling the
truth? What became of her ring !?
She started with it. didn't she?" For
a moment he looked stunned. as one
who had missed a heartbeat.
Yes, and Mario started with the
mate! Walter stole it from him after
he had drugged him to sleep
Walter! How do YOU know"
Gaines came back to earth. rallyinE
from the shock of Milana's news. and
light began to penetrate once more,
go ahead with the story, Ramon.
How do you know Walter stole it"
who else? Mario is certain that
nobody else in the car knew him, and
the girl is innocent"
But where's her ring now? For
Heavens sake, man. speak"
''She left it hidden in the car. fear
ing the inquest which might result.
She tells me that all the passengers
were searched. she dared not risk it's
being found! My fault, alas Our
instructions had frightened her too
much, and now, what to do next"
Not only have we no. means of es-
tablishing her identity. but Walter
is on his way, and young Reynolds.
through some channel | cannot
fathom, got the secret and was on
the train. never letting the girl out
Of his sight,
mans utter diSmay. 80 you two
NNet'7SA7 AA1NS iluii5 Yum
last I always thought you'd do 1t
Ii we gave you enough rope. The
old man had you all outwitted. eh.
Ramon? What gets me is how
you've been 50 blind as to tie to
Walter all these years. No one
knows him better than you. You
knew he'd double cross you at every
step. Thought you We're smarter
than he, did YOU. Oh. mammal"
Enjoy yourself. Milana retorted
, bitterly, "and believe me or not, I'm
, telling YOU that there hasn't been a
day in all these Years when.
wouldn't have given all [ possess to
be out Of this miX-up. l never meant
to harm anybody. / had got in debt
up to my ears, the doors of the Jail
yawned open. / was desperate. and
this one chance came my way! l
expected to put the thing right
through, get the reward Immediately
but the old man beat us. Not one in
a thousand would have had the pa
! tfence. the faith, the determination
he had. from the very beginning. I'll
say this for you. Gaines, that you've
| always played fair though l know
you were paid to do It. know you're
straight about the reward. but We're
beaten now unless"
| w ell. IdlnoS tnroW IN eagerly
Unless We can get Madre to talk
unless they'll believe her
You think that Walter has bought
her so thoroughly that she won't
| squeal?"
Well she's in pretty deep. and
| old as she is. she's not keen TO die
! in the pen. A lot Of this rotten deal
can be laid at her door. She was
| younger and more alert when she
conceived the plan that was finally
put through"
You mean when she double
crossed Walter, taking money with
both hands,"
! He was interrupted by a noise in
the street. muttered curses. mans
| loud voice, the door was flung wide.
disclosing a brawny young Ameri :
can. grasping by an arm the old
woman.
Tried to skip" the man said to
| Gaines. "some gang. this"
Gaines gave a low whistle.
Looks to me-" he said casually
''as if YOU were the ones that S
| double crossed Suppose Walters
girl is the real one. after all? Where
do you go from here" And then sud
denly he stopped short-his face
turning white-"Carolita." he cried
Where is she? Look upstairs"
| (Continued Tomorrow