The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-08-14
SQUARES THINGS

SOOAkeL0
1--WE squared things with the
officer, for the time being.
could see"-he gave a curiouSly
sharp look at her-"that you hao
no wish to talk. I understand
that. But before we leave, you
must give him a description OF
your assailants. Otherwise" he
added, with another piercing
glance, she may assume that fol
reasons Of your own you don't
wish to assist the law"
at want to be let alone. I'm
afraid"
"Of what?"
"Of stories in the papers. Of
what may follow the stories,
Toni said desperately and in
discreetly, thinking Of her family
and friends in San Francisco
She pictured the scandal sheets
her photographs sprawling across
the exposure of Marie Antoinette'S
descendant, the mysterious
"marquiSe," who was only 9
foolish girl from San Francisco
trying to start a new life in New
York.
"Of what may follow the sto
RESP" thought Guy astutely.
Then she was not innocent?
It was as he imagined at the
beginning Of their acquaintance?
She dare not face the police
Dare not draw attention OF
headquarters to lie Chateau de
Ia MarquiSe.
He said gruffly: "Here's the
officer. He's going to ask yoC
what these holdup men looked
like. If I were you, I'd give hin
a straight answer. It'll be better
in the long rum"
Thinking it over afterward
his words, the bruskness Of his
tone, seemed strange.
"Officer," Toni said truthfully
though her voice trembled, 81
haven't the least idea what the
men in the cab looked like. ]
could only identify the ragged
old creature who fell before my
horse and who probably was ir
league with them"
HE sure was. He rode of
with them in the machine.
Notebook and pencil were poised
"You wouldn't know the others
II you saw 'em again, miss?"
Toni was positive.
At $50 that evening, Toni ar
rived at LIE Chateau de Ia Mar
quise.
She was still badly shaken from
her experience of the morning
Nor had Guys odd attitude in the
matter Of the attempted kidnapping
done anything to reassure her. In
deed, it seemed that the mornings
events had somehow alienatec
him.
AS though it had been her OWL
fault!
ODD INSINUATIONS
True, he had turned up in the
nick Of time to rescue her. But
afterward, in a restaurant, where
they had had hot coffee, he had
made the oldest insinuations.
Incredible as it seemed, he had
even limited that she either knew
or guessed the identity of the man
who had tried to abduct her! And
that, for excellent reasons, she
wished TO protect them!
"Or am I going craZy?"-she
wondered. Her head still felt
dizzy.
Tonight, she would beg off from
the performance. Niklas would
excuse her when he heard Of the
attempted kidnapping.
But NiklaS was not in the club
yet. And the place was filling
Business was good. She had proved
a great attraction.
But it was dust and ashes to
night. For q gulf had risen be
tween herself and Guy. Com
pletely, thought Toni, Of his OWL
making.
Now, as she sat behind the
palms, toying with an early dinner
for which she had small appetite
she saw a slim girl in an archio
chiffon gown enter alone.
Toni had seen photographs Of
the once famous Lola Marquita
Spanish dancer and friend of Mix
lass, with whom he had been as
ISOLATED in the entertainment:
world for some time. From re
marks let slip by Diaz, the head
waiter, and Lou Steiner, it seemed
that Lola, ever since the opening
Of the club, had been in a santa
rum taking some kind Of cure
From lowered voices and mystic
rious references, it seemed there
was something sinister in her i'll
ness.
FORMER BEAUTY
Probably, thought Toni, Mix
lass one-time favorite had beef
drinking too much.
Giving her q quick scrutiny from