Evening star., 1933-09-24

touch with the city from which Mr.. Smith
had made his telephone call the night before,
and had learned that . man answering his
description had hired car there shortly be-
fore IL o'clock.
Hes probably the bird we're after" the
officer in charge Of the case said. He could
easily have driven here in that length Of time.
And the car has not been returned Well
broadcast an alarm for him, and get him
sooner or later"
The next development Of importance came
toward noon, when a highway policeman on
the outskirts Of town three hours drive
away. came upon Mr.. Smiths abandoned car.
Shortly afterward it was learned that man
answering his description had boarded an early
morning train there
Early that afternoon, Jean and Lenny were
sitting in the living room Of Lennys home,
where Jean had gone to escape the curious
people who had heard Of her terrifying ex-
perience and wanted to hear about 1t directly
from her.
You ought to be finishing your packing
if you expect to leave for college tomorrow"
Jean warned Lenny. Lenny laughed scorn-
fully.
DO you think can leave here when there's
more excitement going on than ever before
in our lives?" he demanded. TIN staying
here until this matter Is cleared up"
IE picked up the ivory elephant ana looked
I ] at it speculativey. The key to the whole
thing is right here Jean," he said positively
Somebody wants this elephant awfully bad
Why? We know it isn't because 1t is worth
. lot Of money"
Jeans brow was puzzled. She slowly shook
her head. For a moment they rat in Silence.
Then Lenny uttered an excited exclamation.
"Jean!" he cried. THAT note your uncle
wrote you. Maybe there's q clue in that.
Where is it?"
Jean produced the note With excited f1n-
gers they opened it and once more read Peter
Holloway's last message to his young niece.
The second paragraph attracted Lenny's parti-
cular attention.
I'm sending you little token Of my love
he quoted. keep it forever, guard It we'll,
and may-it always bring you good luck. And
If you ever feel particularly down hearted.
remember my little joke about the greedy
elephant learning to pack his trunk, and you
will be able to smile once more Why should
he tell you to remember that story. JeanP"
u DON'T know" Jean answered quickly. "Do
you suppose there Is some hidden mean
ing? I don't even remember the story he is
talking about very we'll
II d." cried Lenny. Don't you remember
circus started that day and he was telling us
a lot of funny things about them-about the
mother kangaroo who had her pocket picked,
and the stuck-up giraffe who gave all the other
giraffes a pain in the neck, and so on. And
then he told about this young elephant whose
mother was teaching him to pack his trunk
before they went on their Summer vacation.
The little elephant took his trunk of and
packed it all right, but he wanted to take
so many things with him that he packed it
too full and couldn't get it back on. And
So"
Lenny suddenly paused and his mouth
dropped open. With trembling fingers he
grabbed up the ivory elephant, held It In one
hand, and grasped the trunk in the other.
Gently he pulled at it, but without result. Then
he tried to turn it. It held fast for . mo-
Ment, and then slowly began 10 ua1screv.
To be concluded next Sunday.