Evening star., 1934-12-15
CHAPTER XVI.
MOLLY'S STORY.

nj SHOULD have been distinctly
- annoyed" said Jerry. Il hate
losing pals, especially when I'm
L out of England" He stuffed
some villainous- looking black
twist into the bowl of his pipe and
rammed it down with his thumb.
Anyhow" he added, "I gather that
it's all over now. and that I've just
dropped in for the tail end of the
banquet"
Don't be in such a hurry" said.
What you've heard SO far is only
the overture"
He raised an inquiring eyebrow.
"Ohl" he remarked hopefully. 80
there's more to come, is there?"
'Plentyi" In as few words as pos
sible I went on to describe my inter-
view with Seymour and then amidst
q profound silence I continued my
story till reached the unpleasant
point when Mr.. Stillman had stepped
forward with the coil of rope.
"The swine meant business all right,
jerry" I said: "one could see it in his
face. Don't know how it would have
struck most people, but personally I
much prefer being shot to being tor
tured. I was just getting ready to give
him a plug in the jaw and take the
consequences, when a beautiful voice
up in my bed room suddenly began to
telephone to the police.
I stopped and turned to Molly.
This is where you come in, partner
I added.
"But look here!" Jerry Strengthened
himself and eyed me suspiciously. Are
you trying to pull my leg or is all this
Drury Lane stuff an absolute fact?"
"It's the plain. unvarnished. strike
me-dead truth" I protested. You
wait till you hear our young friend
here. She'll spin you yarn that will
make you sit up and whistle"
Thus encouraged Molly set to work.
In her soft Southern accent, with its
faint hint of an Irish brogue, she re-
counted once again the strange and
dramatic chain Of events which had
brought her to Queens Studios. She
told it all very simply, but watching
Jerry's expression as the tale pro-
gressed, it was easy enough to see that
he was already completely fascinated.
He made no attempt to interrupt or
question her until she had reached the
end, and even then he sat for mo-
ment or two putting at his pipe-his
eyes riveted on her face.
by Jove, you've got some pluck!"
he said slowly. do you mind if I
shake hands with you?"
He got up, and having performed
the ceremony with becoming gravity,
himself in his chair.
Molly smiled. II hate being cheat
ed" she observed. "It was fathers
invention and I want him to have the
full credit Of it,"
How does it appeal to you, jerry"
inquired. would you like to throw
up your idle, pleasure-hunting life for
q few weeks and join us In spot of
detective work? You won't find us
If we get back this paper
of hers; Molly has already offered to
II didn't do anything Of the kind!"
She darted an indignant glance at
me. IT said"
"Never-mind Nick" broke in Jerry.
HE always exaggerates. Besides,
mercenary as I am, I don't want any
bribing. I've been yearning to have a
cut at the sleuth business ever since
I was small boy, and now that the
chance has come" He rubbed
his hands together gleefully. Trench,
O'Brien and Mordaunt-Private In
quiry Agents Specially
Telegraphic address, Eureka, London"
well, that's very comforting" I
said. You'll make a magnificent tee
If there's going to be any
more of the rough stuff" I paused. |