The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-08-02

kind" Lila snapped. II said | a..
sumed It to be in good ORDER"
"You had no trouble locking ~"
Lila hesitated a second. IN o."
she admitted reluctantly. But see
here. Mr.. Weeks" she added sud.
denly. "You're entirely on the
wrong track II you think Mr.. Dryer
put that lock out Of order"
Weeks scowled. did you dis.
cover any clues At tho office" he
asked kod. Rod said no.
why are you paying for the
Jewels?' the detective questioned.
his words coming like machine gun
bullets.
Because they were In my care
and was responsible for them." he
said. "Your first thought was that
I had stolen them. Wouldn't every.
one else think so. too? Well. !
didn't do It. and when Mrs. Loree
consented to let me pay the insur.
ance on them I considered that .
wiser course than trying to con.
vince the world of my innocence"
THE detective decided to do what
= was asked Of him. regardless OF
his private opinions. There was
something fishy here. but as no one
seemed to Do crying for redress he
was willing TO 60 on with his IN.
vestigations along the lines laid
down for him BY his employer.
Before he LETT they arranged a
way for him to search the ONCE.
Rod would remain after tho other
employees were gone and admit him.
Lila made up her mind to bs
there too. but she said nothing Of
her Intention Ct tho time.
When Rod got hack to the ONCE
after lunching with Lila he found
. memorandum OF Berthe 1.ou's call
on his desk. He tried to get her
on the telephone but there was no
answer.
Lila. too. tried to reach her. after
standing 10 minutes In the lobby
OF the theater and losing her pa
thence. She thought. when BERTHE
Lou did not answer. that she was
on the way. It was nearly curtain
time. 50 she left BERTHE Louis ticket
at the box ONCE and went into the
theater.
Berthe Lou did not arrive during
the hrst act. Lila was getting =
little worried. She called the
apartment again. Still no answer.
Well. II she didn't come by the
end OF the second act 1t might
b = good idea to telephone Rod.
But II he couldn't get the apart.
ment either he would go tearing OF
home and forget about the detec.
tive. And Berthe Lou might arrive
after Ill. and mako the upsetting
Of their plans . needless sacrifice.
The play ended and Berthe Lou
did not come to the theater. Lila
got into her car. the cabriolet that
had thrilled her 90 the first time
she rode In It. and which now she
would have exchanged. on occa.
sions only. for the old rattletybang
car that Rod and she had climbed
poles and Jumped fences In once
upon . time.
THE detective was there ahead OF
! her. Through the open door Of
Cyrus private once she could see
him moving about the safe when
Rod admitted her to the anteroom.
For . moment she stood leaning
against Cyrus desk and watched
the search. A queer smile played
around the corners Of her mouth.
Halt an hour later the detective
left them. Lila turned to Rod. "Cy
keeps some good stun IN his safe.
doesn't hef Let's have . drink"
I'D rather not open Vt again.
Rcd demurred. I'm fact think "a
better y getting along. Lila Berthe
Lou was trying to set me b. tele
phone and haven't been able 70
reach her. I have . feeling that
something 70 wrong
ITO fo Contlnucdl