Evening star., 1930-06-22


tening He sat by the table, closely comparing
the prints with the photographed ones
Ihat makes 1t worse" he said at last with
a desperate sigh "'TheSe prints don't match
up at all He probably worked with confed-
crate"
Il think Rollo is dear" said She And
he's just innocent as 1 am" But because
Hector still looked severe, "Or maybe I'm not
innocent. Honey, did I do wrong, talking with
Rollo like that?"
1T was all right, Doll"
mo. But you're mad at me-"
After ALL Doll" he admitted you're an
amateur. You meant all right. But you went
at 1t in the wrong way-sort of hindside before,
l mean. We were preparing to close in on him
IN systematic way And now you've put him
on his guard You've spoiled everything"
She was miserable. Twenty-four hours to
find 1856 suits of clothes and 66 pairs of extra
trousers. And all this was up to Hector Poor
pig-headed darling And he'd accused her of
spelling his star case
She left home and walked-and tried to think
Presently she came to halt and studied q
four-story brick house the opposite side of
the street. j. Wilbur Fenngs house. Almost
SuperStitiously she regarded it, drawing her
amateur conclusions The clothes had gone
through the roof perhaps. There was an apart
ment-houSe window less than IL feet above
But this had been boarded up as if to resist
the very thieves who had plagued Mr.. Fennig
man with a fierce black mustache eyed
ner keenly. detectives written all over him."
she informed herself.
For Maud, in her blindness had made de-
cision. Hector had called her amateur and
that still rankled. But hadn't Rollo said that
very morning that she the only original
detective he had ever seen?
Maud had theories Homemade, amateurish
theories which somehow scared her. Il just
know that's it," she kept telling herself for en-
couragement, and hoped that Hector wouldn't
catch her again in mischief. But she wasn't
going to see her husband lose his job merely
because he had system.
Too excited to be nervous, she took a taxi
to small but opulent tailor shop near Wander
bit avenue. A glazed partition at the back was
labeled "Mr. Hark' and through an open door
she could see a well groomed leg bending below
desk chair. An ogre-ish leg. I'm scared
blue" she told herself and walked in and faced
him
Worse than she had expected. A red-faced,
specialized, gigantic person, dressed formally as
a bridegroom, sat poring his books. He
didn't even look up, just glowered at the figures
his desk.
Il didn't want to disturb you, Mr. Hark.'
sfie explained rapidly. Really, didn't. But
you see this business about Mr.. Fennig's
clothes"
you're from the Cheever Bureau?"
I'm connected with it." She felt easier now
"You see, my husbands on the case, and he's
got to finish it up right away. So decided to
come TO you and ask why you stole Mr.. Fennig's
clothes" This SAFE she thought, talking it
over in friendly spirit. But Mr. Hark wasn't
friendly.
What sort of nonsense is this?" His voice
was low.
Now don't try to pretend Mr. Hark I've
got some f1nger-prints you might look at
CHE hshed out two sets of prints: the photo
- eraOhAd ones Hector had fOroOttep apd COMA
amateur ones she had made. She was glad she
had smudged hers, for Mr.. Hark's fingers were
large.
If you'll examine these" said she borrowing
her manner from Hector, you'll see the resen1-
blance." wild shot in the dark-as wild as
the impulse that had brought her there And
in a smothered delirum she saw how surely it
had brought down the big game. Mr. Hark's
face had turned gray. He had glanced at the
prints turned away from them as rom an
accusing ghost.
II so CAREFUL" he whispere5
There's no such thing as De .rect crime.
Mr.. Hark." She put the evidence be ok in her
bag, afraid that his haunted eyes mig ut catch
the deception you left smear on the wall"
she said. And hnger-prints are as euod as
. signature" Borrowed from Hector.
Mr. Hark's wrists crossed. as if already
manacled Il only ask you to take me awW
quietly he said. There's a back entrance
can't bear TO have my son see this" Sud-
denly he removed his glasses and she was sur
prised TO see that his eyes swimming with
tears. I've worked 50 hard to keep up my end
keep up"
And he buried his face in his arms
Exclusive tailors like you having an
awful time aren't they?" Maud sympathzed
with all those mending companies and ready
made clothes and everything" She was quoting
more or less from Miss Sybil Applebaum whose
hint had sent her on his trail.
Suddenly he sat up wiping his eyes apollo
getically
i've had the worst year a man ever had
I've been losing customers. I'm oyerstocked and