The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-08-21
Ack and AekLe44

saying, "but the young man is so
anxious, so excited, Mr.. Brent.
He said he couldn't leave without
seeing you
Bring him in" Brent spoke
hoarsely. IF he's a book agent -
mo, sir, he isn't" Simpson had
answered confidently, and then
vanished.
A moment later he was usher
ing in a dark-haired young man.
The stranger stood regarding
Brent timidly out of dark, melan-
choly eyes.
81 have a message for you, Mr..
Stuart. That is, had a message
for you and then lost II"
IL see" Brent's tone was hol-
low. "Then what was the good of
coming here?"
Il was pretty sure knew what
was in the message. The young
lady trusted me. In fact, she paid
me handsomely to bring 1t to
you"
81 don't know what You are
talking about" Brent said. Wont
you sit DOWN." .
The young man must be out of
his head, though he looked sane
enough. And trustworthy.
81 hurried off as soon as l
could" the visitor began abruptly.
II had to tell 'Frenchy' something,
give him some excuse. He's the
man who owns the place where |
play in an orchestra. When | was
halfway to town Isput my hand
in my pocket and the slip of pa
per the young lady had given me
was gone. | must have pulled it
out with my handkerchief. re-
membered your name, though, and
l looked up your address in di-
Yes" Brent put quietly, "then
you camped on my doorstep all
night, | hear. Or practically"
That's right" The dark eyes
lighted for a moment, humorous
". "Your man tried to throw me
out several times. But he was very
nice when | made him understand
that my message was important"
what made you think it was?"
Brent queried. He thought, heav-
lily, how different would have
been the reception given this
young man, if he had been here
last night. He would have been
sure then that the message was
contested with Molly's disappear
ance. Of course it wasn't. Just a
crank's story. Or maybe some
silly girl had sent him a mash
note.
"She seemed such a nice girl"
the stranger said. $50 worried
and excited. She looked relieved
when | nodded my head to let her
know would go. think she
wanted you to come very much.
If l had only read the note-but
l didn't. Pm pretty sure she was
afraid something was going to
happen. And it did, Mr.. Stuart,
while l was gone. The man she
was with was killed by the po-
lice"
"Good heavensw Brent ex-
claimed. Surely, the boy was
crazy. $500.
HE robbed bank, they said. "
''What was the girl like" Brent
inquired mechanically.
"Goldeu-haired. Pretty"
Brent's heart leaped. Golden
haired. Golden Girl. But the
Golden Girl was dead. Only an
hour ago he had stood by her
casket.
"She was little" unused the
young man. "She wore a green
dress and a hat with a green
feather on it. Wait a moment
have something here I'd forgot
ten"
He pulled out a crumpled piece
of paper. "She wrote some re-
quest numbers. This is one"
Brent barely glanced at the
crumpled paper. Still holding it,
he said, 81 appreciate your COM
ling here. Il was good of you to
be so interested. But | assure you
there was some mistake. | don't
know that girl, or if | do, it is
in some quite casual fashion. l
haven't an idea in the world why
she should have sent me a mes
sage. But you've been put to a
great deal of trouble. | should
like to pay you" 49,.
mo, thanks" the boy said. "She
did that. 1t was $50. | only wish
| could have reached you last
night. Maybe you'd have gone
back with me"