The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-07-06

room-she's the woman who spoke
to me in the lobby, although I
didn't know you'd heard her-and
she'll repeat to you what I just
told her about my divorce"
But how am I to know it's
true? How am I to know you
weren't dCceiving her as well as
me? Sine you kept that back,
posing as a bachelor, how am I
to believe anything?"
Gently he took her hands. BE
fore we went on the plane, you
remember / sent messenger to
my hotel with money to pay the
bill and instructions to bring a
bag to me?"
THE bag you took to Yuma and
brought hcre?"
He nodded. II checked 1t in the
mems room downstairs. My di-
vorce papers are in it, Elizabeth.
You can see them for yourself"
She broke down. He took the
sobbing girl into his arms. But
this time without ardor. More
like an elder brother or father.
You're all on edge. Hop into
bed, darling, and let me tuck you
up"
You'll come back for me not
later than six o'clock, Gerald?"
He promised.
The room was dark and it seemed
as though she had been sleeping
for years when she was aroused
by a peremptory rapping. There
was something in the harsh, in
sistent quality of those knocks
that made Elizabeth spring from
her bed in alright, switch on the
light, and then stand helpleSSly
staring at the door-knob which
was violently turning, though the
door did not give.
Use your pass-key, McGraw," a
Stentorian voice doomed. Follow
ing the grinding of the key in the
lock, the door opened, revealing
three strange men.
Where is hep" snapped one
of them, glazing at Elizabeth.
Another peered about the bedroom,
while a third strobe into the bed
room.
where's who? What do you
mean?" she faltered. who are
you? What do you want here?"
We're from the district attor-
ney's office. We want Gerald Bru-
ton" The first man produced a
paper from his pocket. "A nice.
chase he's given us. Here's a war
rant for his arrest"
Elizabeth Bruton stared at the
detective, her face ashen.
They had come here for Gerald?
They were going to arrest him be-
cause he had eloped with her, a
minor? He was to be punished
because she had deceived him as
to her age?
You're making a terrible mis-
take" Her own voice sounded far
away, like that of a stranger. She
put out hand to steady herself,
caught at the back of q chair.
Don't play the innocent angel,
sister. You know what I mean"
Had Gerald married her when
he already had legal wife? Was
his divorce a lie? Would they
both have to go to Jail together
on charge Of bigamy?
The detective tapped the paper
in his hand. He shifted: "You
know darn well he's wanted for
defrauding innocent investors in
Frisco, and Chicago wants him
on the same count. too. Where's
he hiding, sister? Come on.
Come across"
She moistened her dry lips with
the tip of her tongue. She felt
she was choking.
He'll be here any minute. He'll
explain. It's all a mistake, I tell
you"
yah? The same mistake that
rated him a two-year stretch in
New York;"
she sank helpleSSly on the bed,
her face hidden in her hands,
great shudders shaking her.
The men from the district at
torney'S office were unmoved.
They had witnessed too many
scenes of this sort to be anything
but SkeptiCal about them. She
was stalling to gain time. Put
ting on her act.
Ito Be COntinued)