The Washington times., 1931-01-23

oGOlcu.
Yes, and it would take Sher-
lock Holmes himself to find
them" Tracy said, dejectedly.
You can bet this can't be
solved instantly" Carson told
all. Il thought Tracy's story
of the holdup might throw
some light, but it hasn't. 1t
looks as though the only thing
left is to notify the insurance
company and let them send a
private detective to work on the
case. However, before you do
that I'd like to have another
talk with the butler, Higgins"
They All Agree
It was agreed to let matters
stand as they were temporar-
lily, at least. Duke Carson
sought out Higgins to talk to
him alone; Connie rejoined her
mother upstairs, and Jim Tracy
drove off to his home, promiS-
ing to come back in the after
noon. Kitty, puzzled and very
much absorbed in her amour
for Jim, went to her room.
It's no use" Connie told her
mother; none of us has the
faintest idea what to do. The
pearls, though, aren't the worst
of it-Kitty seems to have
fallen desperately in love with
Jim. It's too ridiculous! I don't
think he cares anything at all
for her, but he's making a dead
set at some money"
And you," said her mother,
with sudden, uncanny wisdom,
ARE losing your head over this
Carson man, aren't you?"
Connie could feel her heart
start: there was a tWinge of
humiliation that her secret
was so easily fathomed, even
by her mother. Yet she felt
no necessity of concealing the
truth from her mother.
HE has a strange effect on
me-" she admitted.
It's impossible for me to
think that you could fall in
love with some one else" Mrs.
Calvert observed, but if you
were anybody else, I'd say you
had all the symptoms. There's
a look in your eyes-all girls
get it. I hope you won't let
yourself in for anything so
foolish, dear"
Connie Is Foolish
Yes, Connie told herself, it
was foolish to give way to any
unsteady sentiment, SO far as
Carson was concerned. The
trouble was, though, that she
did not have complete control
of her feelings-affection. fas-
cination, love could not be
switched off and on like an
electric light. A pOiSe more
powerful than mere mental di-
version controlled such things.
No matter how much Carson
attracted her, she was thor
oughly aware of her obligation
to be circumSpect.
"I'll try not to be foolish"
she promised.
Connie" her mother said,
leaning forward suddenly, her
hands claSped, I'VE have been
so close to each other all our
lives that I am keenly sensitive
to everything you feel. We've
always been absolutely truthful
to each other-you're all 1 have
in the world, and want to be
so careful of you, dear. When
you were about to marry Jim I
thought he would be somebody
to take care of you and be good
to you after I was gone. 1 knew
he wasn't a particularly Splen-
did character, but I thought he
had enough good qualities to
protect you. But with that Gar
son man around-I have such
a worrying feeling. The pearls
don't matter-it's you I'm think
ing about"
What's the Use?
"It'S no good worrying about
me. mother" Connie declared.
Whatever happens either way
will happen in spite Of what
either of us thinks. So far as
Carson is concerned it Will be
nothing-or everything"
Bringing Kitty into the house
hasn't affected you at all, but
you've not been yourself since
you met Carson. I can always
tell when a man attracts you.
Usually, it doesn't amount to
anything; but this time there
is something in the air, and 1
don't like tim afraid, Con-
ME. Why don't you send him
away, and give yourself a chance
again-to clear your head-WIth-
out being under his influence"
But that, Connie replied, was
not advisable at present. Gar
son was trying to help them
about the pearls.
And, besides, mother" she
declared spontaneously, Il want
him-I want him!"
More Tomorrow
Copyright, 1881, King Features