Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-23


such happy dusti'
THEY reached the plaza and strolled to the
center Of 1t, exchanging considerations on
the incongruity Of the bad modern fountain
In the heart Of the mellow past She talked well,
and walked well, the jadel He wondered what
had given her the initial shove downward
heredity, environment. excitement-eating?
Hennissey's answer was waiting ct HOLSTER
for him. Listens like c. c. all right" the chief
wrote. His orders were to stay on the spot to
watch her like q hawk TO remember that ne
was up against the slickest one In the game
And remember again" any mail see it; If
she sends any mail, get it,
Three golden sunny blown days and
three soft black velvet nights Redding had
talked pears with every adult citizen Of San
Juan, and every second citizen at least had
asked him If he knew that the original Rose
of the Rancho" was buried over at the mission.
Every other night there was a picture In the
tiny tin theater, ancient and spotty films to
which Miss Harper went with an engaging
young enthusiasm, and Reddng followed sit
ting near the rear. The defective films he
told the hotel keeper In her hearing bothered
his eyes; sometimes they made him dizzy and
faint SO that he had to make a bolt of it. That.
he figured complacentiy, would satisfy her if
she looked back and missed him.
The third evening they walked down to the
little toy playhouse together and he yielded to
her tnsistence ON paying her own way; he had a
feeling that 1t was hardly cricket to make q
lady your guest and then rob her room He
dropped into the last seat and the girl went
forward She liked, she had said to be right
in the front-line trenches.
He waited only until the story was well under
way, then slipped quietly out. walking hriskly
back to the hotel with hammering heart 1t
had been necessary to take the amazed and
indignant Garcia partially into his confidence
to tell him at least that he had authority for
Investigations (the badge brought up from the
trouser pocket, cupped in the palm, just as he
had seen Hennissey do IT'D so he would not be
disturbed, but he found himself enormously
excited. It was the first time he had ever
swung job alone and he knew the fellows
were quite rs anxious about him as he was
about himself. There was big buy on, that
they knew, deal between San Francisco and
Los Angeles agents of the dope ring, and the
girls continued presence in San Juan made
them certain the delivery was to be made in
the meek little old mission town. But they
wanted copies Of her letters to and from Garini
He unlocked the door of No. 20, with
Garcias pass key and stepped In. Everything
was IN dainty order-the room, one would say
OF gentlewoman. That, once again, steeled
his arm and stinened his purpose. Intelli-
gence, education, surface refinement at least
and yet she deliberately chose to be a crook
Let her take the consequences.
No letters. no papers ON the table in the
bureau. He knelt beside the suitcase carefully
lifting the edges Of primly folded underthings
In paleSt pink silk. At the very bottom a brief
easel He got 1t out without disturbing the
order OF the other contents, unbuckled and
opened 1t and had his finger on the papers
within when the door opened and Miss Harper
stepped into the room. She gave small stified
cry and stared at him, then the hot blood
flooded into her face. so that's what you're
afterp she flung at him. Pretending to buy
pear orchards oh, you cheatl came back to
a wa0tA ENAxA f~ k~RmZ
stairs but I never dreamed-Leave my room
instantly.
REDDNG was on his feet, Garcia, the bung-
ing fool-but even If he had stopped her
shed suspect-the fat would be in the fire
Well, there was nothing for 1t now. He would
arrest her and send for Hennissey: ct least,
he had her. He walked toward the door and
she stepped aside thinking, apparently, but In
conceivably, that he was going to obey her; but
he shut the door, locked it and put the key
in his pocket.
There was sudden panic in her face quickly
overlaid with furious anger. Unlock that
doorl"
He shook his head. mo, Miss Daisy de Long.
alias Rose Manning, alias MRS. Farley Hudson,
alias Coca Cora, not till I've tied you up
securely" He pulled the brown silk cord from
her bathrobe and advanced upon her. There
was genuine fear in her eyes then.
You're insanel" she gasped. Garcia! Help!
Garcial"
''ae won't come He has his orders"
How she struggled and Fought He was
overpowering her, of course, but not easily for
she was both strong and frantic with fear and
rage
It's your own fault IL hurt you" he warned
her, piniOning her hands behind her back.
tying them, making knot after knot, fastening
her securely to the knob of the bathroom door
Now then! There you stay till the Federals
come and meanwhile"