The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1932-10-14
The Last Card
By DUFoRD JENNK
60 by Mcclure Newspaper syndicats.)
(WNU Servicel


(WNU servicel
ATAISIE was certain she recog-
1V1 nized him the moment she saw
him. quietly studying the crowd that
poured into the doors Of the great
city station.
She felt. for moment, as If all
hope had gone. She had brought her
father safely through the net that
was closing around him, only at the
last to have escape seem impossible
Almost free, dad" she said cheer
fully, patting his hand.
II know, honey. but I feel as II
ought to return and-take what
comes"
"Returnf Neverl There's just one
thing to do, and we are going to do
It'll You know that Steinert group
wrecked your bank, and that Ii they
get their hands on you, you will be
the one to suffer. You are not guilty,
father, but you know they have you
cornered in technicalities so that you
will have to suffer. II we can get
away, they will have to make good
the banks losses, and then in year
or two we can bring out the truth,
perhaps. To return is to play into
their hands,"
Again she comforted him as she
had many times since the dark hour
when his supposed friends had
wrecked the bank to which he had
given lifetime of devoted care.
Nov, look, father. l want you to
60 on to New York alone"
"But-"
'Please. l am your guardian now.
Go to the hotel we picked out. I'll
Join you tomorrow, and we'll sail the
next day."
'I'll co." he said simply, with the
quiet assent Of one who has ceased
to plan for himself.
"And now, Mr.. Detective here is
where play my last card with you,"
she said to herself. Il know you were
sent here to catch us. I saw you
with those lawyers"
She went swiftly toward the tall
form she had seen. AS she drew near
he turned gray eyes upon her that
widened with sudden interest.
$50 it does pay to be beautiful"
she thought with mixed feelings. 'T
shall make him forget his business
Ii 1t can be DONE"
"Can you tell me If the 7:15 west
has pulled out?' she asked anxiously.
Il am sorry, but they just closed
the gates" he said with interest
be?" she asked.
II don't know" he answered read
lily. "But we can find out"
With glow Of triumph she fol-
lowed him to the information win
dow, where they learned that the
next train was at eleven o'clock.
At her cry of dismay, he spoke
quickly. You're out of luck, and so
am I. I've got to meet every train
from the east until midnight. And
I'm as hungry as the traditional
bear. What do you say we hustle
over and punish the viands?" he said
smiling.
II am with your she answered
heartily, almost ready to do a little
dance at the success of her scheme.
They settled themselves comfort
ably at secluded table, and he or
dered small feast with skill and
anticipation.
She had been able to get a mere
glimpse of him at the conference in
her fathers home, and she knew he
had not seen her. Her intention to
fiirt with him died soon. His gray,
fine eyes, clean-cut manly face in
some way or other made 1t impossi-
BILE for her to try such tactics.
The repast appeared, and as they
disposed Of 1t they chatted. She kept
her eye on the clock, and saw the
hands creep around the minutes to
the moment when the express would
bear her father away to the safety
of mighty city where one could
lose himself as If In an unpeopled
solitude
He leaned back. "Hang 1t, / wish
l knew where certain chap is"
DO your" she said mildly.
"You bet" he answered. "Tm a
cub lawyer In the office of Mixer &
Browne. A bunch Of high flyers in
finance wrecked bank up country.
President Is a fine chap, and they
got him In bad fix, no fault Of his.
where they could Jail him and grab
his bank. He trusted 'em too much.
Best thing about 1t Is, one OF them
got sore at the rest, gave out the
whole story, and Mixer telephoned
me to rush down to the station and
see IL 1 could catch Harms, the pres
ident, who had tried to get away.
Don't blame him bit. Best thing he
could have done. They traced him
to the four o'clock train why,
what Is the matter? Don't you
"You mean the truth has come out!
That-that-you mean President
Harms will not be prosecuted?" she
gasped.
He stared at her. "Surel One Of
the gang-but what it is--''
"He Is my father" she said broken
iy-and then told him the whole