The Washington times., 1931-01-14

a hundred dollars. 1t was
either a case of deliver or get
shot-there was nothing else
I could do. They ordered me
to turn my car around and
drive back in this direction. I
suppose as soon as I was out
of sight, they went the other
way. The best thing, I
thought, was to come right
back here and notify the
police"
Connie, started and sympa-
thetic, urged Jim to sit down.
will the police be able to
do anything, Mr.. GarSop?" she
asked.
Probably not" Carson re-
piled. "Still, it will do no harm
to notify them. It's strange,
Tracy, they didn't take your
wrist watch, it's entirely visible
on your right wrist. Small
operators, such as they evidently
were, don't have the usual
scruples about taking jewelry.
I've known them even to take
fountain pens"
Tracy looked down at the
watch on his wrist.
II guess they must have
overlooked it," he said. They
seemed excited and I know I
was myself. I can't even give
an accurate description Of the
car or men, except they were
kind of young and tough-look-
+ ing. Foreigners, I suppose. I'd
like to get my money back, of
course, but I suppose it would
be a waste Of time to notify the
police. They'd probably waste
a lot Of time asking me foolish
questions and accomplish moth
ing in the end"
We'll, I certainly would
notify the police" Connie de-
clared. "It's the most ridiculous
thing I ever heard Of. Nothing
like that ever occurred in this
neighborhood before. You might
have been killed, jim"
A Lucky Fellow
IT guess I was lucky to get
off as cheaply as I did, and I
suppose Carson is right about
the police-they'd probably do
nothing. Looks like I might as
well pocket my loss and let it
go. Besides, it might get my
name and yours, Connie, in the
Stamford papers and they'd
rake up stuff about our broken
engagement. No, I think I'll
let the whole business slide.
The only thing is, I'm not so
keen about driving along that
road again by myself going
home tonight"
II wouldn't think Of i'll" Con-
ME declared.
Jim looked at his watch. it was
now past midnight. Thanks,
Connie, I believe I'll do that.
Where are you going to put
me-in the east room?"
mo, that's Kitty'S room, now,"
Connie told him. You can
take the room across from it,"
I'm sort of an established
institution around the house,
Carson. In fact, I used to stay
over night so often when we
came in from late parties when
Connie and I were engaged
that her mother advised me to
leave a. grip of night things on
the place. I've still got some
stuff upstairs, haven't I, Con-
nie.?"
y. I'm the closet Of the hall up
stairs" she informed him.
Jim'S Decision
"Well, I think I'll go up and
hit the hay. Hope my car
didn't wake up your mother or
Kitty.
you know where to go, JIM"
Connie told him, Familiarity.
sleep tight-see you at break
fast"
The screen door opened
slightly from the inside and
they saw Kitty'S form wrapped
in pale silk and her alert, in
quiring face peeping out at
them.
whats going on?" she whis-
pered. II heard your voices"
"It's nothing, DEAR" Connie told
her. Jim had some trouble
with his car and decided he
would come back and stay over
night" -.
"Oh!"
The door closed softly and
Kitty disappeared. Tracy stopped
a few minutes longer with them
on the veranda, where he lit a
cigarette and tossed it away
half finished. When he, too,
had disappeared into the house,
Connie and Duke Carson looked
at each other.
What a queer. terrible thing
to happen!" Connie breathed.
There's nothing queer about
q man being held up on the
road-it happens every day and
every night. The queer thing
is that Tracy should come back
and tell such a yarn. He was
no more held up than you
were"