The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-04-24
RUTH


Z RUTH
DEWEY GROVES
He had . chancs. q Stephen hur-
RED Across the shaw room to M. Net
ties offloe, to observe The young man
unnoeioed. Stephens appearance
WAs surprise 70 him. He most cer-
tainly hooked the antithosis of thief.
But 0hoet did not rely . treat deal
upon appearances.
He wound up his questions By ask
ing the salesman Il he'd ever seen
Flint before that day ana let him 70.
Then the secretary came up and
told him Mr.. Nettle wanted him In
the office.
He found Stephen standing before
the managers desk, white.1aced and
shaking With suppressed anger over
the caustic remarks his employer had
Just finished hurting ct him.
0r. 0ettle WAS reduced 70 q purple
speechlessness, having said Ill that
he dared In the face Of the restric-
lions Short had placed upon his
tongue.
short nodded briefly to Stephen Is
Mr.. Mettle waved IN introduction and
mumhled their names.
From the insurance company" the
investigator said. Stephen nodded
again.
"sit down." Short went on. STE
phon dropped WeaS1ly into . chair. He
suddenly felt dad tired.
I'm Afraid m have 70 oak you to
50 over the story again" the investi-
gator said Enthusiastically, with
careful attention 20 the details."
Stephen ct up . little IN his chair
and started his tale anew. Short In
tor1ected . question now and then
ana Stephen answered as explicitly q
his memory enabled him to recall the
events Of the day.
No. he had noticed nothing to
arouse his suspicious until the actual
theft had occurred. Did he think
he might have been followed from
New York; He did not believe %.
What was his opinion OF the theft?
It was the first time anyone had
asked It but Stephen had formed an
opinion on his trip TO town.
Il believe my pocket wAe picked
hy one Of those men In the room who
might have seen me lock the car and
put the keys In my top-coat." he said
simply.
Then you do not believe that the
theft was planned7"
stephen at up suddenly. Howl"
he asked.
AZ Short answered With I question
Of his own he observed Stephen close
". Hasn't It occurred to you that
this man Flint Is = suspicious char
acterf"
HE might BE-" Stephen agreed.
Didn't you think It queer that he
should ask you TO stop 1t place like
J. B.'s?"
It seemed the sort Of place he'd
hang out IN. IN : way" Stephen re-
plied. ,@ TAN.
In what way?"
well. he's ! hard boiled egg even II
he has Z fine taste In cars"
80 you didn't think 1t out Of the
ordinary that man who could afford
to buy one Of your cars should have
friends In that neighborhood7"
Stephen considered that he had an
swered the question once 80 he simply
said no.
Short got up to 60. There was I
matter he wanted to attend to ct
once.
wen have Z report for you In Z
few days." he said to Mr.. Mettle.
nodded to Stephen and went out. On
the street he hastily called Z cab and
gave the address that Stephen had
written after Lefty's name on the list
Of persons desiring road tests OF the
agency's cars.
Back In the office Stephen was
learning, greatly to his surprise. that
he was not to lose his position. But
no was 20 far from liking Mr.. Net
ties manner toward him that he
would have preferred to Be dis
charged.
He felt that his future with the
agency was doomed. No doubt, he
thought, Mr.. Nsttle WAS only keep
ing him On to close . few sales he
had in prospect when, very likely,
he would b kicked out.
It WAS after closing time when he
left M. Mettle's offioe, but several
Of thu salesman had fingered to talk
With him. stephen WAS disinclined
TO 60 over the story again. Deter-
minadly hgushing the men aside. he
made Tor the door. Outside he de-
cided hed 20 holne without stopping
downtown for dinner.
He almost went past his station in
the subway - deeply was he plunged
into thought on the train. But not
once did 4 occur to him that he him
self waS under suspicion Of anything
grAver than miSjud6ment.
When he got 10 his room he ne
membered that he had q d4te With
Pamela. And be felt @ much Ike
keeping It - ~ did IKE sitting on .
llaepole. But h. thought he'd better
cal her up. 0he might let him of.
| Pamele most eunphatically refused
to oquaider e. e1faTgola y giving the
thing n our honor" che said Of the
party 70 which Stephen WAS to take
hef. "our engagement, you know"
"You said you wouldn't announce It
until your fa&her came home" st.
phen reminded her.
TITS nothing formal. Nobody win
take Il sefioualy until dad gives II
out" Pamela Assured him. 'Dut
l A. -