The Coolidge examiner., 1936-02-07

lieving or pretending to believe the
yarns"
And what were the yarnsT
"Simply that this beautiful girl
cajoled Corey, captured him, mar
ried him, murdered him, and inher-
tied the Maiden millions"
Fleming Stone stared at the
speaker. "You believe all that?"
"No," returned Garth. speaking
gravely, 81 don't believe the stories,
but believe they are current in
some Washington circles, and are
getting more widely rumored. More
over"
Moreover" Stone broke in, "if
a breath of that libel, that slander,
is heard up here, it will go very
hard with Perilla Maiden. And If
it is current in Washington it must
become known here. Farman will
see that it does"
"That is true. Farman Is the
one to head off. And 1t must be re-
membered that all Farman's talk is
the result Of Madame Malden's
hatred of her daughter-in-law. I've
been down there quite a bit since
Corey's death, and the old dame
doesn't seem inclined to relent in
any way. That girl is true blue
There's no call to defend her, but
great reason to keep her from un-
just suspicion. / must be on my
way, Stone. May I telephone before
I go?"
"Sure. Right there, unless you
want a booth. There is one."
'Oh, no; this is all right"
Fleming Stone sat in brooding ST.
lence while Garth dialed a number
and had a short conversation. There
was vague reference to a registered
parcel.
''It's just too bad" Stone broke
forth, as Garth ceased talking, ito
think Malden's old mother Is to
blame for all the Farman rumpus.
l shall have to 60 down there. I
want to see those friends of NAL
den's, too. Carmichael and what's
the other one? Carleton? Do you
know them?"
"Only slightly. Do you feel, then,
there's no chance of hushing it all
up?"
"Of course shall hush 1t all up,
in the course of time, but it will
take a long time, and may be too
late. Also, it will take intimidation,
even threats, and those are not good
weapons to use"
do you know Farman?"
"Never saw him. What sort is
he?"
T ''Not a good sort. He is sly, but
plausible; clever, but sneaky; smart,
but tricky"
When Garth went away Flem-
ing Stone went to the telephone
and dialed a number. A few words
of conversation contented him and
he turned to find his man waiting
to announce callers. These were
Tony Gaskell and Bob Coles, who
had both been at Perilla's bridge
party the night before and were
now on their way home to Philadel-
phia.
Young Coles took the lead, and
said, at once, II have come to see
you, Mr.. Stone, to make little ex-
planation."
Glad to hear you, sir. What is
It about?"
Bob turned red and was quite
evidently flustered, seeing which,
Gaskell took up the tale.
"Coles is a bit embarrassed, Mr..
Stone," Tony said, with a half
smile, because he fears you don't
understand him."
81 don't entirely" and Stone gave
a kindly smile, "but 1 should be
glad to-"
II mean in regard to Mrs. NAL
den," Gaskell proceeded. Bob is
by nature a tease, and on her we'd
ding day he more or less bothered
Perilla, and now he's sorry he did,"
why confess that to me?" asked
Stone in surprise. "Has he said the
same to Mrs. Malden?"
"Yes, 1 have" Bob broke In. his
courage returning as he noted
Stones friendly manner, "And she
has been good enough to call it
square and let me be friends with
her again"
Il am truly glad, but again I
must ask why this is retailed to
me-"
Nov for It," said Tony, looking
quizzically at the blushing Bob.
"Our young friend thinks he has de-
tective Instincts"
"And wants to become a detective
and wants me to take him on as
apprentice while he is learning"
Stone said, with an air mostly
bored, but showing slight glimmer
Of interest.
"Yes," cried Bob, gleefully, "and
you're going to do it, aren't you,
Mr.. Stone? 1 see it in your eye!"
There's a sample of his detec-
tive instinct already" laughed Cas-
kell. How about it, StoneY