The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-04-24
9 IJEJ BY
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tails
Stephen sat up little in his
chair and started his tale anew
+ Short interiected a question now
and then and Stephen answered as
explicitly as 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 be-
| lieve so.
What was his opinion of the
/ theft2
1t was the first time anyone had
asked It, but Stephens had formed
an opinion on his trip to town.
II believe my pocket was picked
by 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 planned?"
CTEPHEN sat up suddenly.
- "How?" he asked.
AS Short answered with a CUES
ton Of his own ne observed Stephen
closely Hasn't it occurred to you
that this man Flint is a suspicious
character?"
He might be" Stephen agreed.
Didn't you think it queer that he
should ask you to stop at a place
like J. B.'s?"
1T seemed the sort Of place he'd
hang out in, in a way" Stephen
replied
In what way?"
We'll, he's hard-boiIed egg even
if he has a fine taste in cars"
80 you didn't think it out of the
ordinary that a man who could al
ford to buy one of your cars should
have friends in that neighborhood?"
Stephen considered that he had
answered the question once SO he
simply said no.
Short got up to go. There was
matter he wanted to attend to at
once.
Well have a report for you in
few days" he said to Mr. Mettle,
nodded to Stephen and went out.
On the street he hastily called a
cab and gave the address that Ste
phen 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 he was so far from liking Mr..
Mettle's 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.. Mettle was only keep
ing him on to close a few sales he
/ had in prospect when, very likely,
he would be kicked out.
1t was after closing time when he
left Mr.. Mettles Office, but several
of the statesmen had fingered to talk
with him
Stephen was disinclined to go over
the story again. Determinedly
brushing the men aside, he made
for the door Outside he decided
he'd go home without stopping
downtown for dinner.
lie almost went past his sta
ton in the subway so deeply was he
plunged into thought on the train.
But not once did it occur to him
that he himself was under suspicion
Of anything graver than misjudg-
ment
NKTHEN he got to his room he re-
w membered that he had a
date with Pamela And he felt as
much like keeping it as he did like
sitting on a f1agpole But he
thought he'd better call her up. She
might let him off
Pamela most emphatically re-
fused to consider it. 'Margola is
giving the thing in our honor" she
said of the party to which Stephen
was to take her. Our engagement,
you know
You said you wouldn't announce
it until your father came home"
Stephen reminded her.
Its nothing formal. Nobody will
take it seriously until dad gives it
out, Pamela assured him. But
you're not going to let me down
/ tonight, Steve, old dear?"
All right" Stephen said resign
eddy, but I'm feeling punk, Pam.
I won't be a bit of good
We'll fix you up" Pamela prom
ised. Don't be late"
Stephen changed to his evening
clothes with anything but pleasant
anticipation of the evening ahead
of him. Before going to Pamela he
got a light meal in the restaurant
of his hotel.
While he ate it he wondered what
Pamela would say when she learned
what had happened. He hadn't even
any prospects to marry on now. And
hanged if he was going to live on
1 his wife'S money. Very likely her
/ father would squash the engage
ment anyhow.
He got up to go with feeling
/ that the day had been a disastrous
one for him. AS he swung down
/ the street he was unaware that his
leaving the hotel had been noted
by a keen watcher across the street.