The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1935-03-14
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Ozark deeds of violence" the
| fortune teller said. There's nur'
der in the tea cup"
"Murderr' Millicent exclaimed
''Not yours" the gypsy said
hastily. "The murder Of someone
who's close to you. There's dam
ger to you, but you're not going
to be murdered. The danger
comes from a woman. 7 can't see
her clearly. She's menacing you,
and vet she's the woman you'd
least suspect"
M;llicent hastily pushed the tea
cup away. =,
irritably. "Tm tired and nervous
and I don't want to hear any
more of your predictions"
The gypsy scraped back her
chair from the table.
'T'm sorry" she said; "Genu-
inely sorry. I've only told you ne-
cause thought you should be
warned"
Millicent flashed her quick
g!ance, and saw that the gypsy 3
t~ce was white and strained.
please forgive me-" she SAID
MiIlicent left tip for the walt
ress, picked up her check, her
gloves and purse, strobe to the
door. Strange chills tingied up
and down her spine. The hairs at
the back Of her neck seemed to
crawl at the roots, trying to brls-
tie.
The fresh bite of the wind
helped to steady her nerves. She
was sorry that the walk was not
longer. As she turned into the
lighted lobby of the office build
ing, she signed her name on the
night register, and was swept up
to the 18th floor. She walked
down the tagged corridor with
quick, nervous steps, the sound
of her heels clacking in echoes
from the sides of the corridor.
She paused before Drimgold's Of
flee and opened her purse.
CONSERVATION gripped her.
It was not her purse at all.
Milhcent turned the purse over
in her hand and stared at it curl
ously. 1t was an exact duplicate
of her purse-even to the mi
tials, IN. g." monogramed on
the leather.
With the quick mental process
es of one who has worked for a
living, and who, therefore, has
grown accustomed to responsible
tiles, Millicent Graves, standing
before Drimgold's door, made
hasty mental inventory of the
situation.
She had made up her face be-
fore leaving Drimgold's office.
She knew, therefore, that she had
taken her own purse when she
left the office. The substitution
must have taken place at the res
taurant. The woman in the black
ermine coat, with the high collar,
in taking the table Immediately
behind Millicent, must have left
her own purse near Millicent's.
Millicent tucked the purse I'M
der her arm, whirled AMI almost
ran toward the elevators.
She pressed her gloved finger
against the bell which summoned
the elevator. It seemed ages be-
fore it swept into view. When it
did she saw, to her surprise, that
the man at the controls was not
the janitor at all. but we'll
dressed individual of suave man
ners, who swung open the doors
for her with something of a flour
ish, and, at the same moment,
raised his hat.
You'll pardon me- he said,
"but I found the elevator on the
18th floor. I was In something
Of a hurry to go down. / rang
several times for the janitor. He
didn't show up, so decided to
take a hand at the controls my
self. figured the ianitdr could
walk down 16 flights Of stairs
better than I could. Then | heard
you ringing from the 18th floor
a nd couldn't conscientlously
abandon you to long climb down
the stairs. Would you care to
share in my adventure"
Perturbed as she was, Millicent
nevertheless recognized the mans
inherent strength of character,
was moved by his magnetic per-
sonality.
care you," she asked, "quite
certain that you know how to OPP
crate it,"
ooh, quite" he told her. "Af-
ter all, it isn't too complicated"
AS she entered the cage, the
man moved a lever, the door