The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1931-04-02
"A House, a Rosebush,
a Clothesline
By DORA SANDERS THOMPSON


Kitchen. II was spring. but Nadine
didn't want little house with a
rosebGsh and a clothesline as Jack
Dillon had suggested last night:
she wanted romance-romance
with mystery
"Will you wait on me, please2"
Little Madness golden head came
up with a start as she erased her
thoughts from her mind at the
sound Of sauve masculine voice.
'1-I-pard0n mel" she apollo
gized hurriedly AS she waited on
the sleek stranger. she could not
help admiring him. He thanked
her for wrapping the box of candy
just as though she had done him
a special favor then bowed as he
lifted his hat and went out. His
manners were lovely, she thought.
He hinself-why, he was romance,
and mystery. Next day he came
back In a taxi Nadine caught q
shining CLEAN of dark blue as the
taxi swept ut to the curb and
thought of Jack who took such
pride in his taxi-it was his own
now; all paid for last month.
The following week the mystic
rious stranger came almost daily;
always asking for Nadine: always
Immediately dressed always
sauve and gallant. Once he asked
her If she would accept a box of
candy from him. She told him 1t
was against the rules for clerks to
accept candy from strangers.
'But I'm not q stranger now, am
I-Nadine?"
'N-No, not exactly"
She accepted the candy and was
thrilled with the idea of having the
man of mystery for a friend. She
found herself wondering what bust.
ness he was in, but he told ner
nothing except that his name was
Tracy Loring. Curiosity whipped
her imagination into the glamour of
romance. AT last she was finding
mystery-mystery and romance.
The days be didn't come became
the longest days in the week Then
came an invitation TO attend the
alter with himl Her joy knew no
bounds
At the theater they sat in a box
Exquisite perfumes; lowered lights
The woman in front of them wore
diamond earrings and an ermine
wrap. Little Nadine thrilled TO II
all How long she was utterly alb.
sorbed by the play on the stage
she did not know, but some slight
movement on the part of the WON
an wearing the ermine wrap caused
her attention to wander for one
slight moment. In that moment
she noticed one of the diamond ear
rings come unfastened and drop
unnoticed by the wearer. to the col
lar of the wrap where it cleaned
like a tear. Then so suddenly
she seemed hardly aware of it, she
saw the long. slender fingers of
Tracy L0ring reach out and lightly
deity. touch the woman's ermine
wrap.
sick feeling at the pit of her
stomach at the thought that eapt
so suddenly in her mind but she
could not tear her eyes away from
the fur collar where the diamond
no longer cleaned like tear.
Wide-eyed she continued to stare
at the stage, but her interest was
gone. Gone WAS something else
romance with mystery; she wanted
to go home, now.
4 At the last curtain the man of
mystery seemed in hurry. Out
side she was trembling. A tlief!
And she, would she be an accom-.
plice? And then Nadine saw the
friendly grin of a policeman,
friend of Jacks. She smiled back
at him, pausing almost impercep-
tibly; but the sauve stranger tight
ened his hold on her arm as he
bent toward her smilingly and whis-
pered: Keep going and keep
quiet!"
Little Nadine was trembling so
she could scarcely stand as a taxi.
a familiar, shining blue taxi, drew
I'D at the curb. She caught only
a glimpse Of a familiar shoulder
as she was hustled inside; she did
not catch the quick direction given
the driver But it didn't matter.
she knew it was Jacks taxi and
she would he safe She glanced
at the mysterious stranger who was
smiling at her. but not as he had
smiled before.
at is not often that let business
interfere with pleasure" he began
in that sauve voice, "but to-
night :" The taxi suddenly
came to a halt, the door was thrown
open and two policemen stood
there. Before Nadine could cry
out, they had handcuffed the
stranger. Nadine drew back, I'm.
able to speak. Would they take her,
too?
But the next moment Jack was
there and he was holding her In
his arms and the policemen were
taking the stranger away.
Good work, Jack' one of them
called out.
Jack, Jack, what does it mean?"
Don't Lother your little head,
honey; your mysterious friend is
the Candy Kid--expert jewel thief.
Connected with the robbery of a
famous diamond last week. I'll
get part of the reward, honey.
What would you like with it,"
"a little house, Jack, and a rose
bush and IA clothesline !"
tCopyright)
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