New Britain herald., 1929-04-24

to take definite form, for the inNes- tigator now had his premise ready made for him.
 He continued to question MT. Met tie until he learned all that the latter knew about stephen. The young mans friendship with Pa mela Judson. which Short mentally checked as repairing liberal funds, his loans from the other salesmen. and, flnaly, his urging Mir Metue to let him demonstrate the sports model in a road test. These were the highliehts in Stephens life that reflected suspicion. The theft of the car and the big mistake in Ste ph-ns earlier career were matters that needed only suspicion to tas- ten them upon him as definite charges.
 By the time stephen reached the office Mr, Metlle had been warned not to say anything to put him on lis guard until we've finished oug Investigation" Short had said If there's nothing against him, you'll be glad to know It."
 I'm through with him. Mr. Nettle exclaimed heatedly. Guilty or not guilty. I'm through. If he didn't take that fellow Flint out to steal the car then hes got mighty poor judgment anyway. I'm through with him."
 Not until l tell you" Short in- sisted. Give him the devil if you want to, but don't fire him.
 When stephen returned Short was taking with the salesman who first approached Flint when the latter came n to look at the cars on display From him Shor. learned that Flint was a hard-look ing customer Nr. Mettle had said the man was q bootlegger, or claim ed 10 be.
 Probably a member or an organ ized gang Of thieves,' Was shorts oplnion.
 He had chance. as stephen hur- ri,d across the show room 10 MT. No,tlr'e office, 10 observe the young man unnoticed Stephens appear ance was q surprise to him. He most certainly looked the antth- p~is of a thief. But short did not r,ly & great deal upon appearances.
 He wound up his questions by asking the salesman if he'd ever seen Flint before that day and lot . him go.
 Then the secretary came up and told him Mir Mettle wanted him in the office.
 He found stephen standing be 1 fore the managers desk. white faced and shaking with suppressed anger over the caus1ic remarks his employer had just finished hurLins a: him.
 Alr Mattle was reduced to pur- pie speechIessness, having said all that he dared in the tacr Of tn" re- strictions Short had placed upon his tongue
 Short nodded briefly 10 stephen as Nr. Nettla waved an introduce ton and mumhlod their names.
 From the insurance company, the investigator said, stephen nodded again.
 Sit down." Short went On. St"- phen dropped wearily into chair He suddenly felt dead tired.
 "If afraid I'll have 10 ask vol to go over the story again" the n- vcstigator said half-apoloeetically with careful attention 10 th" de- tails.'
 stephen sat up a little in his chair and started his tai" anew Short interjeoted q question no" and then and stephen answered as explicitly as his memory enableo him to recall the events of the day
 No. h. had noticed nothing tt arouse his suspicious until tn actual theft had occurred. Dl1 h. think ho might have been tollo"e' from New York? He did not be ; icve so.
 What was his opinion of th' theft?
 It was the first time anyone haC asked it but stephen had formed al , opinion on his trip 70 town.
 T believe my pocket was picke, by one Of those men ill the room , who might have seen me lock tn . ear and put the keys in my top < coat" he said simply , "Then you do not believe rha the theft was planned ?'
  r stephen sat up suddenly. "Ilow? : he asked.
 As Short answered with quos f ton of his own he observed Stephe, 9 closely. Hasn't it occurred 10 yo Y hat this man Flint is suspicion ] character?"
 n He might be-" stephen agreed. "Didn't you think # quo"r tha h. should ask you to stop at d plac like J. R.'s?"
 Tt seemed the sort of place he hang out in, m q way" stephen re piled.
 Tn what way?'
 Well, he's bard-boued egg eye if he has q fine taste in cars"
 50 you didn't think it out of tn ord nary that man who could at
 ford to buy one Of your cars shoul
 have friends in that neighberhood ?
 stephen considered that he ha answered the question once so h simply said no.
 Short got up 10 go. There was
 matter he wanted 10 attend 10 c once.
 wen have report for you i few days" he said 10 Mir. Mettl'
 nodded 10 stephen and went ou
 On the street he hastily called
 cab and gave the address that Stt
 phen hal written after Lefty
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