The Nome daily nugget., 1936-01-24

amused surprise on her face as she saw his puzzled glance.
 My error," she laughed. Sorry. l thought you were some one else. But you'll do. I've only got to be res cued from some one who's had designs on my toes most of the evening, and I simply cant afford to lose them this early in the season.
 There was about her the poised con- fidence of the attractive female whose garb and face are impeccabiy right and who knows 1t.
 Come and talk to me while l give the outraged toes a rest" sine Invited, leading him to an unoccupied corner.
 She seated herself in a deeply up holstered chair, tossed rayishingly beaded bag on the tiny table in front of her and glanced across to where he had seated himself.
 Anyway" she said. i've seen you before somewhere"
 Somewhere, know" he prevaricat- ed charmingly.
 Let me see" She was thoughtful.
 At the Brayton's last week, per haps?"
 T was there" he acknowledged.
 "I, too, but I left before the excite ment. Were you still there when Dora's jewels were discovered miss ing?"
 Unfortunately, no," he shook his head ruefully.
 'I always miss out on the excite ment."
 "So do l." she sighed.
 Anyway. that's probably where I saw you. And now that we're out of that beastly jam, tell me about your self"
 Nothing much to tell" he said promptly.
 'I really don't belong to all this.' He glanced in the vicinity of palms, orchids, gardenias, orchestras and gala evening ensembles.
 "Tm Harry Gordon, just chap from the wide-open western plains. I came East to take some postgraduate work at Cornell and somehow or other Aly name was placed on the list they use for the stag lines at these brawls. That's how I blossomed into higher social circles where l dance to pay for my supper"
 She appraised him thoughtfully. Darned good looking, he was. And his dress suit fitted him faultlessly. You might tell me who you are," he suggested.
 Cynthia Baden" she smiled. Baden. he thought quickly.
 Yes, there was Baden somewhere in the back of his mind. Rather on the fringe they were, If he remembered rightly and he probably did.
 Money? Yes, he was sure of that 'It was my good fortune that 1t turned out to be me to whom you ran for rescue instead of the person you thought 1 was," he sighed contentedly. "The evening l rescued very beau tiful lady will be one of the memories I'll cherish when l go out West again" You're not going West too soon, are you?" she smiled at him provocatively.
 I now" he assured her gallantly.
 "There, I knew you were kindred spirit" she said approvingly, placing white hand on her throat.
 "It was just fate that ." she paused suddenly and fingered her throat.
 Her eyes were suddenly apprehen- sive.
 My my pearls" she gasped; ; "they're gone!"
 Thank God his facial muscles never betrayed him.
 Your pearls?" he repeated with ex- actly the right information to meet the circumstance, while his face bore the exactly required touch of surprise and soicitude.
 "Oh, say, are you sure?"
 But his brain worked nimbly and coolly as always.
 Something queer about this. he re- viewed swiftly.
 Danny had placed the pearls in the agreed jardinicre, where he had recov- cred them deftly.
 Then as he was about to make an unobtrusive getaway, this girl the ev- dent owner of the pearls, had tackled him.
 Coincidence? Well, it was too pat for comfort.
 Too, she had mentioned the Bray tons where he and Danny had pulled that other stunt. No question about 1t.
 She knew or suspected something. Either Danny or he had slipped up