The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-07-27
XIV Continued

CHAPTER AAN (ConIlnueQ)
The detective turned to Lila. "But
you say it was in good order wher
you gave it to Mr.. Bryer?"
"I didn't say anything of the
kind" Lila snapped. II said I as
sumed it to be in good order"
"You had no trouble locking it?'
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 if you think MIR. Dryer
put that lock out of order"
Mr.. Weeks stared hard at her
How do you know?" he shot at her
sharply.
But Lila had her answer ready.
Because he is paying for the jewels.
And he could never dispose of them
for their full value so what would
he have to gain by stealing them?"
Weeks scowled. did you dis
cover any clews at the Officer" he
asked Rod Rod said no.
why are you paying Cor the
jewels?" the detective questioned,
his words coming like machine gun
bullets.
His manner angered Rod and he
took his time about replying.
because they we're in my care
and I 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 a
wiser course than trying to convince
the world of my innocence"
"And if you don't care to believe
the truth and stop wasting time
asking foolish questions you can
drop the case," Lila spoke up.
The detective decided to do what
was asked of him, regardless of his
private opinions.
There was something fshy here,
but as one seemed to be crying for
redress he was willing to go on with
his Investigations along the lines
laid down for him by his employer.
Before he left they arranged a
way for him to search the Office.
Rod would remain after the other
employees were gone and admit him.
Lila made up her mind to be
there too, but she said nothing of
her intention at the time.
When Rod got back to the Office
after lunching with Lila he found
q memorandum of BERTHE LOUIS call
on his desk. He tried to get her on
the telephone but there was no an
SKIER.
Lila, too, tried to reach her, after
standing ten 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,
so she left BERTHE LOUIS ticket at
the box Office and went into the
theater.
BERTHE Lou did not arrive during
the first act. Lila was getting little
worried. She called the apartment
again. Still no answer.
Well, if she didn't come by the
end of the second act it might be
a good idea to telephone Rod.
But if he couldn't get the apart
ment either he would go tearing off
home and forget about the detec-
tive. And BERTHE Lou might arrive
after all, and make the upsetting
of their plans a 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 so the first time
she rode in it, and which now she
would have exchanged, on occasions
only, for the old rattletybang car
that Rod and she had climbed poles
and jumped fences in once upon a
time.
She glanced at the clocR on the
panel above the rug rod and saw
that it was about office closing time.
With ordinary luck in traffic she
would arrive shortly after the Office
force had left her husbands place
of business for the day.
The detective was there ahead of
her. Through the open door of
Cyrus private Office she could see
him moving about the safe when
Rod admitted her to the anteroom.
Any clews?" she asked. They
told her there was nothing at ALL
For a moment she stood leaning
against Cyrus desk and watched
the search. A queer smile played
around the corners of her mouth.
Half an hour later the detective
left them. Lila turned to Rod. ICY
keeps some good stuff in his safe,
doesn't he? Let's have a drink"
I'D rather not open it again"
Rod demurred. TN fact I think I'd
better be getting along, Lila. BERTHE
Lou was trying to get me by tele-
phone and I haven't been able to
reach her. I have a feeling that
something is wrong"