Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-11

claim that II was all q mistake, and
to run There wasn't anywhere
to run to, for one thing. But she
might have tried II anyhow II she'd
remembered two seconds sooner
who the mar IN blue serge was
He was the man who'd come 20
their studio hast night pretending
70 be a name-taker for the city
directory.
His manner remained perfectly
civil as he led her out or the eieva-
tor a1d ushered her across a broad
han into q room, where he asked
her II she would mind waiting a
few minutes Mr.. Forster, she said
would see her directly. II the jaws
Of some trap were closing upon her
she wasn't meant TO be ware Of
them yet.
He closed after him as he went
out the door they had come IN by
and she noted in her first panicky
glance about the room that it,
other doors were closed also.
There was complete silence
She checked her impulse to
flight with the reflection that II
wouldn't do any good. How had IL
happened? How could they have
known she'd come here when she
had only turned into the hotel on
the spur Of the moment, In pursuit
OF Claire. Shed never even heard
OF G. ]. Forster until Martin had
told her about him last night Her
notion that the hotel clerk and all
the rest OF them had mistaken her
for some one else would no longer
serve as am explanation The man
In the blue serge suit must have
recognized her. though his stiff
face had not betrayed the met II
had been as Mr.. Forster's agent
that he had come 20 the studio
last night TO see whether she lived
there. IL had been on the strength
OF his report that Mr.. Forster him
self in his limousine had followed
her and Babe this morning. offered
them the lift Babe had so gladly
accepted. and incidentally, found
cut where they worked. That
seemed 10 hang together.
II was d queer sort OF room she
was ~ha--large, wen prop0rtioned.
with a high barrel-vaufted ceiling,
beautifully but rather heterUgene-
ously furnished, partly as a draw
ing-room and partly as an Office.
since there was an enormous fat
topped desk. bare except for a
bronze bust OF Napoleon, IN the
middle OF IT. What was II that
made the place seem 50 queer7
Why. there wasn't n window In the
whole rooml
The early twilight or q cloudy
autumn afternoon was already
closing IN, which might be why she
hadn't noticed the absence OF day
light in the room when she first
came In. But was that the only
reason7 Probably not. There were
pictures all around the walls, biz,
handsome oil paintings regularly
spaced. all OF them heavily framed
and TN shadow boxes with n special
Light over EACH and they broke I'D
the walls more or less az windows
would.
The biggest Of them ali was
above the fireplace down nc the
end Of the room IL was m land
scape which Rhoda decided looked
as Ii IL had been painted from
stage scenery rather than from ma
ture itself. The thing that held
Rhoda's interest down az that end
Of the room was the IRE that was
bazing I'm the CRATE Just before IL.
IL was an unusually picturesque
FIRE. with It's leaplng flames. and
Rhoda stared at IL O full half-min-
ute wondering why she didn't hear
It purr or crackIe before sha dis
covered that II wasn't a Gre at all.
II was a highly ingenious electrical
counterfeit and must have cost q
lot OF money. No doubt Mr.. Fors-
ter was eorrespondingiy proud Of
IL. though why. she wondered. was
the chair that was obviously his
placed on the wrong side or his
desk, not where be could watch
the leaping artificial flames but
with bis back to them7
The door opened and Mr.. Forster.
supported BY one Of his canes and
on the arm OF the man IA the blue
serge suit, came into the room.
He paused just outside the door
for a sharp. family puzzled look
NJ her. MS II he'd expected bis an
pearance to produce some sensa-
ton that hadn't come or. Then nc
gave way what had been in his
mind BY saying. "Wsve already
met today. you see"
Yes" she answered. N little
vaguely, II know"
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