The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-11-17
lSi.
NOW COON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER, VIII

CHAPLER VIII
Bannister repeated, in a tone
Of disbelief, Checked out? You
mean she's gone? But there must
be-
"NIiss France checked out of
the hotel early this afternoon,
the voice over the wire told HIM
crisply.
Rannister heard the click that
meant that the telephone call had
been disconnected. He put down
the instrument he had been hold
ing, stared at it rather stupidity
for an instant and then turned
away. He walked slowly across
the lobby toward the door.
But he had not taken a dozen
stems before he was back. He said
to the room clerk. 81 understand
that Miss France has left the no
tel. 10 you know if she left a
message for me? My name Is
Eannister-"
The room clerk turned. Il see,
sir" he said and began sorting
through a collection Of envelopes
A moment later he shook his
head. "There's no message ne
said.
"And she didn't leave a for
warding address," Bannister per
sisted. He knew. even as he ask
ed, that she hadn't. Juilet
France had gone away from the
Hotel fremont because she did
not want anyone to be able 70
find her. Evidently she hadn't
trusted him. hadn't believed HIM
when he said he would try to
help her.
Or did this disappearance have
an entirely different meaning
Did it mean that the story the
girl had told him that morning
wasa tangle of lies, made out OF
whole cloth to appeal to his sym
pathy? Did it mean she was q
clever adventures?
"No, there's no forwarding ad'
dress" the clerk said briefly.
Bannister thanked him. turned
back toward the door. This time
he went out to the street, hailed
a taxi and told the driver to take
him to the Shelby Arms.
He felt rather as though he has
Owed from a high spring-boarC
and landed flat. The more he
thought Of it the more he Wa
convinced that the girl had uset
him to suit her purpose-and how
we'll she had done it, too! -ther
artfully gone her way. Wha'
those purposes were, what part
he had played in them, Bannistel
could not guess. Of course hel
story about going to see Trac!
! King to ask for a job was ridicul
Gus on the face of it. So was hel
explanation about the revolver
And she had said she had NJ
friends and was so terrified o,
| the police and the tears had core
into her eyes!
Bannister muttered, Damn"
and drew his brows together. b
had forgotten that he had gon
into this thing to help Julie
France, that his visit to jim Pax
toms office and the sudden, i'm
promptu suggestion that h
should 90 to work for the Pos
had all come about because o
the girl. He wanted to know now
more than ever, who Julie
France was. He wanted to know
whether or not she had killet
Tracy King-and if so, why.
The cab slowed and came to,
halt. Bannister got out. paid thu
driver and walked slowly up thu
steps. For an instant he had
vision Of slender, green-clat
figure silhouetted against tina
cntrance-a figure that drew
back from the stormy night, the1
darted into it. But the vision wa;
gone almost as quickly as it hat
come.
Bannister pulled the heavy dooI
open and stepped inside. He wa
in q large. ohlong entrance, car
peted and furnished almost like
room in an impressive private
home. Chairs, a divan and table:
were arranged with taste. He no
ticed a tapestry that he did mo-
like and a tall vase Of bronze
chrysanthemums placed before {
mirror. The only detail that was
! unlike a home was the hotel desk
at the rear. A man stood there
| 4 little at his left sat the switch