Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-19

companied her. On this. the fifth
night. she and Mr.. Drayton were in
the Golden Moon, just then having
it's highest period of brief fame for its
brilliance and clever naughtiness.
Presently Mary opened her bag and
glanced at her watch. Its now 1890,
Mr.. Drayton," she remarked. SHALL
we try some other dancing placer"
Lets wait here a little longer,
please" begged her father. This is
one of the places she most often came
to when she slipped out of nights"
Very WE'LL" agreed Mary. Sud
denly Mr.. Drayton caught her wrist
Marcia he gasped, rising. There
she is See. Just came out of the
women's dressing room. She's turned
and gone back again. She must
have seen me-"
Mary was on her feet.
iii follow you TO the door~-but
they'll not let man in the ladies'
dressing room. It's all up to you.
Hurry"
WITHOUT a backward glance at
w Mr.. Drayton. Mary moved along
the edge of the crowd, through cur.
tains and into a smart hallway, and
through another pair of curtains into
the ladies' dressing room. Her quick
glance checked off half q dozen young
beauties who were repairing their ap
perance with the help of the attend.
ant. But no Marcia Drayton was
there.
WAS a young woman here a mo.
ment ago." Mary asked the attend
ant. About -slender-dark hair?"
"She may have been here. but I've
been so busy didn't notice her" re-
piled the woman. "She probably went
in to dance"
mo, for I've watched the entrance
since she came in here"
Then she must have gone out the
other way. There's stairway espe-
cially for women. direct from this
room to the street"
The attendant showed Mary this
exit and Mary rushed through 1t. She
came out on a side street a dozen
yards from Broadway. Marcia Dray-
ton was nowhere to be seen. For sew
eral moments Mary stood scanning
the crowd; then she saw Mr.. Drayton
come out Of the main entrance of the
Golden Moon and hurry toward her.
Your daughter was too quick fo-
me--she got away"
lie seized her arm. Police" he
CIlcAs IOtiSG.
WHAT" gasped Mary.
"Police"' he shouted. "Police"'
Mr. Drayton's second cry was no
more than out Of his mouth when an
officer was at his side.
What's the trouble?" demanded
the Policeman.
Mr.. Drayton was the quicker with
his words. I'm Mr.. Drayton--Lor-
rimer Drayton. You've doubtless
heard that my daughter is, missing.
engaged this lady as a detective to
help find my daughter, and tonight
we were together in the Golden Moon
on the chance that we might there
get "a clue to my daughters where
abouts. / should explain
THAT all straight. LADY," the po-
Iiceman interrupted.
$50 far" said Mary. But l don't
understand"
"Of course, she'd say that" broke
in Mr.. Drayton. You may know that
am jeweler. my business being
largely in diamonds. Like many
other dealers in diamonds, il has be-
come habit with me always to carry
a few unset diamonds. / had some
with me tonight; to be exact 81 small
stones of a total value of 100000.
There were in a small brown leather
wallet which had my name stamped
on II. Two minutes ago. this lady,
whose professional name is Miss
Mary Regain said she thought she
saw my daughter enter the women's
dressing room and hurried away.
Miss Regain did not come back BY
accident ! discovered at once that my
diamonds were missing"
You want to make a complaint
against this lady. Mr.. Drayton?" in
quiried the officer
II certainly do, and / want her
searched" Mary's protest served her
not at all. A second policeman had
appeared. and she was crowded into
taxi, together with Mr.. Drayton.
1T the police station she was searched.
j.. her handbag WAS Mr.. Drayton's
little brown jewelers. wallet, and in
that wallet were the 81 diamonds.
That night Mary spent in cell.
X \ X
CLIFFORD appeared the next day
just as Mary's case was being
called In the Police Court She was
bound over ana was released upon
heavy bail.
Outside Clifford had his first chance
at speech with Mary. IL suppose you
know exactly what this game is?'
Not the whole game. But my steal
ing Of those diamonds was q frame.