Evening star., 1926-09-15
CHAPTER ".
'MXrOn T. Gaines.
.ank hcSitated.

Well" he said at length. you are
in mighty tight place-you might as
well be prepared for the worst.
Frank plain statement of the dan
ger of his present position did much
10 steady Paul and make him look his
predicament in the face. He was
obliged 10 admit that Frank had
spoken tho bitter truth and in addi
tion to the legal mesh in which he had
SO deeply involved himself, his heart
was more securely trapped than
Frank widest dreams could imagine.
lie was deeply, irrevocably, infatuated
with Carolita. 1t was going to be
difficult to look after her while Frank
insisted upon taking the matter in
this practical. unSympathetic way. ana
yet il would be absolutely necessary
for him 10 watch over the girl. for
with every passing moment he be
came more convinced that the dead
man was her guardian, the mysteri-
Gus rings his means Of identification.
Just what his reasons had been for
roncealing his identity Paul could not
fdthom, but the more he pOndered the
matter. the more certain he became
tnat the girl must nave. somewhere
In her possession. the companion ring.
and would wear il upon her finger
when giving the signal already de
scribed by her. The first thing to be
done was TO get rid of Frank and
question her about the ring. and then
he remembered that she had been
thoroughly searched at the hands of
The maid and reported To have no jew
els. At this point in his reflections a
man entered the diner and with a
swift glance around took his place at
he small table opposite Carolita.
Frank" Paul exclaimed. that is
he man spoke of. the stranger who
saw Walter and his wife III the club
car in company with the dead man.
Here is his card. lie has an office in
Los Angeles. Do YOU know him.
"Myron r Gaines------B Broadway.
Frank read from the card, well of all
things. Why didn't we Sc" him While
we were going through the train,
Paul? He's the very man we want.
who is he?''
"Well. in plain language he's one of
the cleverest detectives in the coun-
try. though he doesn't call himself
hat He's professional investigator
for banks and big business in general.
a sort of specialist in running down
clues Nothing could be more fortu-
nate than our meeting with him. III
ask him to join US in the smoker
when he has finished dinner.
in our car. Frank. don't care to
leave Carolita.
"See here. Paul. aren't YOU letting
your heart run away with your head?
What do YOU know of this girl?
Haven't YOU sense enough to know
that her story is absolutely imposSi-
bile. from every point of view? Girls
aren't innocent in this day and age!
Don't YOU realize that she proved
mighty clever in helping YOU to
identify that ring to the conductor,
;1-ic
IN ii? \ man of your money and posi-
ton. TO say nothing of your good looks,
has no business mixing up in such
adventures You1l he hooked for a
million dollars damages before YOU
know it, It's Il mighty good thing
YOU wired me. | declare. you behave
like a child in arms.
oh shut up Paul retorted cross.
~. you're about as romantic as
string bean. and III be responsible
for my own actions. Do YOU suppose
| haven't thought the thing over?"
"A man who falls as hard as you've
fallen doesn't think, he just squirms'
What arc YOU going to do with her
anyway? Adopt her? Fine time
vou'll have explaining to the conduc-
tor why YOU are taking your baby
home,"
"Somchody has to care for that girl.
Frank. Even YOU admit that the
dead man must have been her guard
ian. and that there will be nobody to
meet her in Los Angeles. What is
the poor child To do" Walk the
Streets"
And just what do YOU propose to
do with her"
Take her TO Mrs. Reynolds. of
course
And supposing that Mrs. Reynolds
S1,n
wired me from this train-what
sre you going 10 do with this girl
upon arrival in Los Angeles at l
o'clock tomorrow morning? Take her
10 hotel? oh, yes
"MY God. Frank" Paul turned upon