Evening star., 1934-02-23


UV book down to the lake. 1t
was a favorite haunt Of hers.
Here lying on the soft turf
In the pleasant shade, she proceeded
to resume the adventures of Janice
Devereux, detective. Eut barely had
she had time to read the opening
murder chapter Of IL when the
sound Of footsteps told her that her
sanctuary had been invaded. Legs
passed her and halted on the brink
OF the water.
Parting the brushes, she peered
out. And the sight she saw stirred
all the woman in Medway to its
depths.
"Hey!" she cried, and it might have
been Mrs. Grundy herself speaking
What do you think this place is? A
bath house?"
Mr.. Carlisle was still tottering
where he stood. He looked ike
gentlemanly poplar swaying in the
breeze. He gasped painfully, and
with good reason.
ANY feminine voice speaking at
such a moment would have startled
Mr.. Carlisle. What rendered this
one so peculiarly disintegratIng was
the fact that he recognized 1t. IN
deed. one might say that 1t had been
ringing in his ears ever since the day,
II months ago. when it had called
him a two-timing piece OF chcese-a
remark which had been followed al
most Immediately by the descent on
his frontal orbital bone OF large
china vase.
1t was the voice of his lost Gertie.
The next moment she had come
ont of the bushes and was facing
him.
"Gertie!' cried Mr.. Carlisle.
We who had been privileged to
peep into Gordon Carlisle's soul can
understand his emotion. Although
at their parting this girl had crowned
him with vase, all the old love still
remained. The first shock OF as
tonishment over, it was ecstacy that
predominated in the bosom he was
now hastily covering with his coat.
"Gertie At last After all these
long. long, weary months!
The girl was looking cold and hard
and proud. Ancient grievances still
ranked in her bosom, for women do
not lightly forget. Well, MI Carlisle,
she said.
1t was plain that such icy aloofness
wounded her companion. "Gertle,
he said, and there was qulver IN ms
voice which had once extracted H.
pound subscription to the Home ior
Brave Ailing Mothers from a man
named Macpherson, aren't you going
to let bygones be bygones?"
mo, I'm not
Mr., Carlisle gulped. He sought Tor
words that would soften this obduracy.
you don't know how I've missed you,
Gertie.''
Says you"
i've been searching for you every
where"
Says you"
"Yes, saws mel" cried Mr.. Carlisle
passionately. What would I be doing
over in Europe if I hadn't heard that
you had gone there"
Medway laughed scornfully. And
I suppose you came to this chateau as
the Duke de something because you
heard was here? I know all about
YOU. I was there when Miss Putnam
was talking to the butler. She was
saying PUT you in the yellow room
Personally" said Medway, speaking
with a sort of queenly disdain, I'D
put you in the ash can
NO" admitted Mr.. Carlisle, Il did
not come to the chateau because I
heard you were here. I'm on a Job.
And I'll bet it's the same job you're
on. You've hired yourself out as a
maid to get chance of grabbing Mrs.
Gedge's ice"
well, have you any objection?"
Certainly, I've an objection. Just
pushing your head into trouble, that's
what you're doing You haven't a
chance working alone"
Medway bit her lip reflectively. She
had started on this enterprise with a
gay optimism feeling that surely the
time must come when Mrs. Gedge
would forget just once to lock up her
trinkets. She had learned now that
she was in the employment of woman
who never forgot thing like that.
Whats the idea" she said. do
sou want to team up with me?"
We'll, why not?"
II don't know why not. I've nothing
against a flfty-ffty strictly business
proposition. But what good would you
be? This thing isn't in your line.
You can't bust a safe"
II can, too, bust a safe. Soup
doesn't know it, and I didn't tell him,
but if it's the ordinary sort of safe
these women have, can do it easy"
who's Soup"
'You remember Soup Slattery We're
In this thing together. The idea is
that I let him into the house and he
does the blowing. But that's all wet.
Now I've found you, we'll double
cross him and keep the stuff for our
selves"
Midway was impressed. Where did
you ever learn to bust safes?"
Plug Donahue taught me. It was
Just after you went away. He saw I
was all shot to pieces and needed
something to take me out of my
self :"
Never mind all that apple-gravy.
Talk business. If you want us to
work together on this joo-fifty- fifty
I'm willing. I've seen for quite a
while it was too big for me-"
Mr.. Carlisle breathed emotionally
IF you knew what it meant to me,
Gertie, to feel that you and l are
once more -"
say, listen, said MedWay, heres
something that's on my mind. Could
a sap that says he's Senator Opal
not really be Senator Opal?"
Nobody would say he was Senator
Opal unless he knew it could be
proved against him." said Mr.. Carlisle,
who was not supporter of the great
lawmakers views on the suppression
of the demon rum. why, is that
old pest here?"
Him or somebody that claims to
be him. And found him just now
shopping around in Mrs. Gedges
room, where the safe is. And when
I put it up to him, he had some s.org
about being interested In antiques"
II "