Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-13

glass with a good deal OF relish.
Such was the condition Of Soapy's
nervous system that he very nearly
damned the perch, the Dream, and the
checked himself in time. If ever, he
felt, there was a moment when diplo-
macy was needed, this was 1t.
Listen" he said, I've been think
ing"
1--WE been wondering If that closet
you wore going to put the stuff in is a
to take look in it. Maybe" said
Soapy, teasely, that occurred to you?"
What makes you think that?"
"1t just crossed my mind"
ooh? I thought perhaps you might
have been having look yourself"
Soapy moistened his lips.
But you locked it, surely?" he said.
Eyes, locked it." said Mr. Carmody
But 1t struck me that, after YOU had
got the butler out of the way by telling
him to. bring me drink, you might
have thought of breaking the door
OPEN"
Soapy was beaten, crushed, routed,
and he knew it. He stared out hope
lessly on bleak world Outside the
boathouse the sun was stu shining,
but not for Soapy
1--WE seen through you all along, my
man." proceeded Mr.. Carnody, with
ungenerous triumph. mot from the
very beginning, perhaps, because I
were what you professed to be. The
| first thing that made me suspicious was
| when I cabled New York to make in
| Quiries about well known financier
named Thomas G. Molloy and was in
| formed that no such pc son existed"
Soapy did not speak. The bitterness
of his meditations precluded words
And then" proceeded Mr.. Carmody,
IT listened outside the study window
while you and your friends were having
| your little discussion. And I heard all
I wanted to hear. Next time you have
one of these board meetings of yours,
Mr.. Molloy, suggest that you close the
window and lower your voices"
"Yeah?" said Soapy.
1t was not, he forced himself to
admit, much of q retort, but 1t was the
depths, and men who are IN the depths
seldom excel in the matter of rapier-like
repartee.
'I thought the matter over, and de-
cided that my best plan was to allow
matters to proceed. was disappointed,
of course. to discover that that check
of yours for million or two million or
WLidbCNCA IL was WOuLO NC COIlInlE
my way. But" said MFR Carmody philo-
sophically. there Is always the insur-
ance money. It should amount to a
nice little sum"
"You think SOP" said Soapy, goaded
to speech "You think you're going to
clean up on the insurance."
IT do"
"Then, say, listen, let me tell you
something. The insurance company is
1 eNrfva e. EAll 30 Sr.~ .f~A
isn't It? Well, what's to prevent me
| spilling the beans?"
1T beg your pardon?"
Whats to keep me from telling him
| the burglary was put-up job?"
MFR. Carmody smiled TRANQUILITY.
| your good sense, I should imagine.
How could you make such story credi-
bic without involving yourself in more
unpleasantness than should imagine
| you would desire? think I shall be
able to rely on you for sympathetic
silence, Mr.. Molloy."
| "Yeah?"
"L think So"
And Soapy, rejecting, thought so. too.
| For the process of bean -spilling to be
enjoyable, he realized, the conditions
have to be right.
'T am offering little reward" said
Mr.. Carn1ody, urging the punt out into
the open, Gust to make everything
seem more natural. One thousand
pounds is the sum am proposing to
give for the recovery Of this stolen
| property. You had better try for that.
| Well, I must not keep you. No doubt
| you have much to do"
Soapy climbed the steps listleSsly.
| The interview had left him weak and
shaken. He wandered aimlessly through
| the sunlit garden. He found little con-
! ISOLATION in the fact that some hundred
and fifty years ago the United States
Of America had severed relations with
country that was to produce a man
| like Lester Carmody. He was feeling
very low and In urgent need of one
of those largely advertised tonics that
claim to relieve anemia, brain flag,
lassitude, anxiety palpitations. faintness,
melancholia, exhaustion, neurasthenia,
muscular linpneSs and depression of
| spirits. For he had got them all,
| especially brain flag and melancholia;
and the sudden appearance of Sturgis
| fluttering toward him down the gravel
path provided nothing in the nature
of a cure.
1T beg your pardon. sir" said sturgis,
but have you seen Mr.. John?"
MFR. who?"
"Mr. John, sir"
So deep was soapy's preoccupation
that for moment the name conveyed
| nothing to him.
mfr. carmody's nephew, sir. Mr..
Carroll"
"oh! Yes, he went of in his car with
my daughter"
sir?" - ~ '' ~ '
soapy could answer that one.
Yes" he said. He won't be back
for some time"
"You see, when I took Mr.. Carmody
his drink, sir. he told me to tell Bolt,
the chauffeur, to give me the ticket
What ticAet?" asked Soapy YEARLY.
1T was a ticket for bag Mr.. Car
mody sent Bolt to leave at the cloak
room at Shrub Hill Station in Wor-
cester this morning, sir. now ascer-
tain from Bolt that he gave 1t to Mr..
John to give to Mr.. Carmody."
What" cried Soapy.
And Mr.. John has apparently gone
1t is quite SAFE"
''What?".
A look Of concern came into Sturgis'
face. His companions manner was
strange.
Us anything the matter, sir?"
shall I bring you something to drink,
sir?"
Few men ever become so distract that
this particular question fails to pene-
trate. Soapy nodded feverishly. Some
thing to drink was precisely what he
felt he needed most. Moreover, the
process of fetching it would relieve him,
for time, of the society of a butler
who seemed to combine In equal proper
tons the outstanding characteristics Of
a porous plaster and q gadfiy.
Yes" he replied.
Very good, sir"
Soaps mind was In whirl. He