Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-17
THE EVENING STORY

down on a chair, too dazed to utter q
word, unconscious of the chattering all
about her, of the girls earnest efforts
to excuse and comfort her. Then, vague
ly aware of short, teSty argument be-
tween Argyle senior and junior about
police efficiency. Next Fred at the tele-
phone with orders to have something
radio broadcast immediately-great
stress on the big cash reward offered to
aid in the return Of something. Rising
from the phone, You'll find, dad, that
cash offer will bring quicker results
than any police detective could"
What did all that matter to her?
But the typewriter, new one they had
bought recently at her own request:
they had permitted her to choose it; its
price would come out of her salary, OF
course, even If they did not fire her.
But remorse and chagrin cut her far
worse than did that prospect.
Meanwhile, Lillian, at the window,
had reported that no one was hurt.
Gee, but the crowd! Blocks the alley
to both ends! There's a rusty little
Ford, though, that sure got its nose
broken-typewriter landed square on
its engine. People trying to pick UP the
scattered keys. A cops having hot
spiel with the man in the Lizzy." Then
presently, For the love o. crying out
loud! What's that cop arresting that
man for! Amt he had trouble enough
with his car all busted" And Lillian
damned on her hat and ran out 70 get
particulars at closer range.
Slowly BeSS reused herself to go also.
She had to wait for the elevator and
when it came up out stepped an officer
leading a defiantly curSing young man
whom he ushered directly into the jew
elry Office, closing the door in Bess' face
as she would have followed him.
| Instinctively she remained standing
| there and, amid buzz of voices, pres
emily heard the officer saying, "Ycs, I
| had heard your broadcast not two min
uteS before Now, this bird didn't seem
near as mad about the accident as he
was anxious to get away-that made me
suspicious. So / searched him and
here's your gems"
Not wanting them to find her hang
ing around. Bess hurried off. Her head
was aching now and she longed to get
away, anywhere: so, on an extravaganza
impulse, she hailed a taxi. Where TO.
miss?" "Oh, Greenvale Cemetery"
Peaceful there and no crowd. After
dismissing the cab Bess strolled long
time amid the quiet beauty, where
both her parents lay. Gradually it
dawned on her that her careless acci-
dent had been the direct cause OF the
recovery of the firms stolen jewelry
and she even began to see the rldic-
ulous angie of the affair.
Bess really dreaded to give up her po-
sition there, SO prudence and pride see
sawed a long time before she decided
what course TO pursue. Then she hur-
ried back to town and to the savings
bank where her very modest account
reposed and withdrew an amount COW
ering the cost of the typewriter. This
she inclosed with an extremely dignihed
letter. stating her regret and her resig-
nation; registered it and went home.
knowing it would reach Mr.. Argyle early
Monday morning. Pride had conquered.
Already the late afternoon papers
were featuring the Amazing Jewclry
Theft and Recovery" Beside the por-
| trait Of the thief was her own, smiling
at her mockingly. BeSs went home in
a sort of miserable trance and took her
headache early to bed.
She moped down to breakfast Sunday
morning. not feeling much better. There
by her plate was an exquisite bouquet
| of roSes-also a special delivery letter.
With her expectant family watching.
she eagerly tore this open, disclosing
| the firms check for the sum they had
offered in their broadcast. Also a
happy-looking scrawl: Dear Bess,
you've got to forgive my ugly crouch.
| We always knew you could handle a
| typewriter! Please do stay in tonight.
I want to tell you so. FRED"
fHonyrioht 1o1oO