Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-21

! Miss Cabot didn't know about the
I little niece, at first, and found out
afterward. A deep. dark woman. For
tune" and he smiled.
Yes. A fasetious force. the police
force" Reggie nodded. That's what
annoyed Mrs. Pemberton. And now
do you mind thinking? A dear old
lady calls, very distressed, and says
! Miss Cabot's little girl has caught her
kitten Miss Cabot says there wasn't
any little girl and bundles her out.
Why so curt? Because there WAS a
/ little girl and there was n kitten.
lie turned on Inspector Avery. Did
your sergeant see the little girl?'
/ NO. sir. No occasion. He saw
/ Miss cabot. who was definite the kit
ten got away
yes. Marked anxiety to know
nothing about the kitten. Elusive lit
tie girl
My dear Reginald" Tomas pro
! tested There are a dozen obvious
/ explanations. The woman doesn't like
/ cats. The little girl is naughty lit
| tie girl The woman doesn't want to
! be bothered
| "No. She doesn't want to he bother
| ed That's what struck me-
| II fear your Mrs. Pemberton is
/ fussy, Reginald"
That isn't your complaint. Tomas,
| Reggie said sharply. We'll. sorry
don't interest YOU" He nodded to
| Avery and went out.
Avery looked at Tomas with some
concern. That's all right" Lomas
| LAUGHED. "Wonderful fellow. But he
will see things that aren't there
Il wish he'd been more interested
| In that death in the Gardens said
Avery sadly.
TOO ordinary, my dear fellow, too
ordinary for Mr.. Fortune
This kitten business rather put me
off," Avery was thoughtful. Il sup
pose we ought to have seen the little
girl"
Good Heavens" said Tomas. "You
run home and have a nice quiet night.
don't want my inspectors seeing
things"
RUT Inspector Avery did not go
~ home. He went back to the police
station of his division. Mr.. Fortune
went to Electors Gate. He left his
car by the park and strolled down
that ma jestically Victorian street. The
range of stucCo fronts was broken on
one side by an opening which led to a
dead wall. In this recess two little
red brick houses faced each other.
neat and trim. hiding behind the
solemn mansions of the rest of Elec-
tors Gate.
At one corner of the opening stood
Mrs. Pemberton's house. Then Miss
Cabot 's-next door. Miss Cabot's was
that little house behind it in the re-
cess. Reggie rubbed his chin. SO
Miss Cabot did not live In the way
suggested by an address in Electors
Gate. Quite small place. Nice and
quiet, too. No traffic. No neighbors
on one side. Retiring folk, the
! Cabots.
Reggie rang Mrs Pembertons bell.
He had hardly been shown into her
drawingroom when she hurried in.
Dear Mr.. Fortune! Have you
found out anything?"
NO. I came to see what I could
find here
oh I'm so glad. Such a queer
thing has happened. Let me show
you' She led him away into a little
sitting room and took from the writ
| ing table a piece of coarse blue paper.
Look, When I came back from
| you that was in the garden"
Reggie laid it on the table. 1t was
queer shape, it had a rough black
line round the edges.
"You see' It's meant for a Kitten
Yes. It's meant for kitten" said
Reggie gravely. Somebody drew n
kitten on paper-with a piece of
coal-and then tore the paper along
| the line-so as to make a paper kitten.
| Somebody who's not very old. Has
your little granddaughter seen it?"
| NO, Vivian was out when we found
it. She has gone TO a party. I was
rather glad, you know. 1t seemed
meant to tease her"
Reggie folded the paper and put il
! in his pocket His round face was
angry.
"Oh, did you want to talk to her
about ito" Mrs. Pemberton fluttered
Il don't want any one to talk to her
about it,"
I'm so glad. Vivian Is only six
| you see, and"