Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1927-03-11
LAWLOR,
THE CLEVER
DETECTIVE
By KATHERINE HOWE
Copyright by W. O. chapmano

actly like my business" said
John Lawlor to the comfort
able matron who sat opposite
to him In the tidy little living room
OF her home.
Don't like your businessT she ex-
claimed. "Why, aren't you one of the
best detectives on the forcef"
well, the chief as good as told me
that last week, and they raised my
pay. But being on the police force
doesn't strike Stella as being quite
heightened enough. She asked me II
l couldn't get into the bank, or go into
brokerage or something"
Brokerage" shifted his sister.
"Shed rather you'd make money-or
rather swIpe somebody elses money
that way than get 1t honestly the way
you're doing"
"Nol Mol" he broke in emphatical-
ly. "Stella is as honest and as straight
a. a debut"
"But she's a snobbish little fool"
MARY" he flashed out. "You know
won't stand hearing word against
Stella You've got 1t out of me, and
you've known all along she's the only
girl In the world for me-"
Eyes, John, l didn't mean to hurt
you. But haven't any patience with
such notions. Just because her grand
father was General Barker, she seems
to think she ought to marry banker
or a corporation lawyer at the least.
Her father squandered every penny
they had, and they've been poorer than
Jobs turkey all their llvesR
"Well, you know what's bred in the
bone,'" began John.
THAT'S all right" broke in Mrs.
Frlnk, but any girl who don't care
enough for you to take you just as
you are, isn't worth thinking about"
"Oh, but she's worth 1t She's bit
notional about that one thing, perhaps,
but she suits me-" said John with the
usual lovers enthusiasm. ",
"oh dear" thought his sister, as he
went out. II Just wish something
would happen to bring him to his
senses"
Meanwhile Stella Barker, all uncOn-
scious of the wish hanging over her,
went her way with the thOughtless-
ness and inconsequential ways OF
youth IN general. She loved John, but
not with the understanding and depth
Of women Of more experience in the
world might have done. She was only
eighteen, very romantic, and silly,
shallow mother had not contributed
much Of real worth to her education.
Only about two weeks after the talk
between John and his sister, letter
came to Stella telling her she had In
herited about forty thousand dollars
through the death Of a distant rela-
tive. II was not an enormous sum, as
fortunes go these days, but enough to
draw around the girl good many new
acqualntances, and would-be sultors.
There had never been anything more
than kind OF taclt understanding be-
tween John and Stella, but the young
man had never given up his determine
ton to win her.
The change. In Stella's fortunes
seemed somehow to also alter their
ANihtiOhos AAG NOuh hVNVA So ahJ
time alone with her now. Her mother
meant that she should now see some
"real society,"" and entertaining alb
sorbed the two completely. Even n
more sensible young head than Stella's
might have been a triHe turned by the
new order Of things.
A new admirer Of stellas named
Cecil Brent began to pay very assld-
uOus attentions. Mrs. Barker regard
ed him with favor. His manners we're
30 polished, so English" she was sure
he must belong to very Thigh fam
fly" Brent was certainly something
of a dashing figure. Good looking. ex-
ceedingly well dressed, Of ready wit,
and pleasing address, he might have
captlvated a much more sophisticated
young woman than Stella. He took
her to the theater and suppers few
times, and spent money freely.
John felt that the time had come
for an understanding. II Stella pre-
ferred this man 10 him, he must know
II. He came In his usual straight
forward way, and asked her II she
was engaged to Brent.
Stella looked bit conscious, then
she lauRhingly asked: what makes
you think sof'
swell you're going about with him
q great deal, and"
"And what7 she smiled.
Most anyone would think So =
Some vanity, and q good deal Of
deviltry, natural TO almost all young
things, came to the surface.
LET them think so II they like"
'DO you wish me to think sof"
"why John" she parted. "Does It
really make much difference to your
"Does It make much difference to
mel" he repeated In slow amazement.
"Why you know II dOesl'
"I--don't know how | was to know
IT," she again PARTED. "And anyway
suppose did. What Is the harm In
having a good timer
mo HARM" said John. But with
him don't see how you can"
"What have you to say against Mr..
Brent2" she asked Indignantly.
"He doesn't ring true. he Is not what
he seemsr'
"Ohl !" she answered with pointed
sarcasm. IT'S that your acute detec.
tive talent, or just simple, unadulter
ated jealOusyr
Neither one. Ordinary common
sense"
"In which must be woefully lack
.pg." she added.