Evening star., 1935-11-04

- reached her car parked in
front of the church, she had
~ learned of the robbery at the
theater.
She was the first person Jake Hill
saw after Carter and Sugar drove
away. Together they ran through
the lobby and took the elevator to
the Office.
The empty cash box was mute evi-
dence of the theft. Jane Lee sat
down to collect her wits. Sugar was
forgotten in the new excitement.
IT'S that Johnny. No doubt about
that" Jake threw himself into a
chair and ran his hand through his
thinning gray hair. Il ought to
known better than to give him a job
But the old lady from the orphanage
talked him up plenty. And he draWed
swell"
Jane Lee shifted.
She thinks all her little nobodies
are little tin angels. I got taken in
too"
Then she remembered she was talk
ing to an employe and changed the
subject.
But somebody must have seen
something" she said nervously.
Jake shrugged.
"A niger downstairs said he saw
a red-head leave the theater with a
travelling bag by the side entrance
about o'clock But that don't make
sense"
Mrs. LIE Masters jumped.
"A red-head! Did he give any
other description of hero"
He said she was short and had on
something green" Jake offered in
differently. But I didn't see nobody
like that around, and I was in the
buildin' theu'
Jane Lee smiled slowly.
That makes sense to me- know
who it was
She got up, quivering with excite
ment. Jake's jaw dropped stupidity.
mo kiddin'. Well. we better tell
the sheriff. Maybe the kid did have
mol, after all"
But Jane Lee was out the door
before she caught his last words
She almost ran the block to the
sheriff's Office And In few minutes
he had brought Sugar back to the
court house
Mrs. lie Masters was sure it would
not be wise for her to be seen en-
tering the picture. So she left orders
that Miss Friddle was to be held for
the night, and that she was to be
questioned at length in the morning
Sheriff Flint had no doubt that
Loriens wealthiest woman knew what
she was talking about. Anyway, he
had no intention of diSobeying her
slightest wish. If he did. it would
most certainly cost him his job.
Thus 1t was that Sugar found her
self in cell in the mllsty old Jail.
without having had a chance to tell
her story or ask any questions The
sheriff left her with a curt order to
think it over and decide to tell the
truth in the morning. Then he hur-
fied down to Jake Hills Office.
Jake was slumped in the same
chair where Jane Lee had left him.
He shook his head
II been sittin' here hopin' the kid
would get cold feet and come back.
But I guess there amt no such luck"
The sheriff looked around.
"Is everything like it was?"
absolutely. 1t amt been touched -
Lets take a look around" He
opened a drawer. The boy lived
here. didn't he?"
Jake snorted Indignantly.
Didn't I treat him like a brother?
He bunked here, with private bath
and everything. That's gratitude for
you! I'll probably get canned"
'What's this?" the sheriff pulled a
bundle of envelopes from the bottom
drawer.
He opened one of them. Jake
got up.
Letters from GIRL" Flint ex-
claimed excitedly. Maybe thisll
help"
Jake read over his shoulder:
Dearest Johnny: I'm SO sorry I
was mean to you yesterday after
noon. 1t was all my fault, and /
promise never to make you unhappy
again. The first chance I get I will
be down to see you. Miss you terribly,
really. Even if I am a bad girl
SOrnetlINeS, 1 love you very, very
dearly. You know that. Don't you?
Your loving, SUGAR"
Flint grinned.
Say, that's the name of the red
headed dame just picked up at the
Sidel boardin house and locked up
in jail! Mrs. LIE Masters tipped me
off,"
Jake's eyes popped.
No kiddin'! thought she had a bee
in her bonnet when told her niger
saw red-head leaving here. thought
1t was lot of baloney"
1T sure looks like we're getting
somewhere" Flint handed the letters
to Jake You read the rest of 'em
and let me know if you find clue.
I'll take another look around"
Over in the corner was large cam
vas turned to the wall. The sheriff
walked over and turned it to the light.
Then he left out low whistle. 1t was
girl in slip of a bathing suit. and
there was no mistaking her identity.
We'll, I'll be sea horse!" he ex-
postulated hoarsely. That dame is
the same girl took to jail I'd swear
It,"
"Say!" Jake scratched his head.
"You're right. I've seen Johnny with
her. She come here to pose for him,