The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-07-21
. SERIAL STORY COPYRIGHT 1893
MYSTERY AT THE LAZY R * *2>' SERVICE I'm"
BY CLARKE NEWTON
Continued from page one)

Continued from page one)
tailored bolero suit. united the
wiSp of 4 veil and laid aside her
straw sailor. Then she turned
To the bags the porter had plac-
ed in her StaterOOm before she
arrived. Nikkie thought about
the trip ahead with feeling of
anticipation. She hadn't seen
her aunt and uncle for five
years, which seemed suddenly
Il long. long time, because pre-
vIOuSly she had spent at least
part of every summer on tn"
Lazy X. Ranch and Aunt Amy
had really taken the place of a
mother in her affections since
her own mother had died.
Nikki supposed that Uncle
Jim was buiSier now that ne
had turned the Lazy X into
dude ranch. She remembered
him writing that you Eastern
ers will always pay a good
price TO be entertained. but |
can't tell any more what I'll
get for 4 carload of steers at
Chicago" He mad been very
successful. Nikk knew.
Five years away. And during
those five years she had finished
school. made her debut, spent
year in Europe and become en-
gagged to Steve Mallory, the young
attorney who was 1T this moment
arranging his own luggage in an
other statcroom. He would JOIN
her i'm 4 few moments for Stephen
Mallory was impatient OF things
which kept Nikhi away from HIM,
a he was impatient with details
and momotony and dizziness. She
had known Steve less than Il year
but hr had Way 81 brushing
aside opposition.
Nikki glance at her OWN profile
in the mirror, slightly imperious
profile. if she recognized il as
such. and pressed the release
snaps Of her dressing case.
She raised the lid and stood
staring with sharply indrawn
breath. She touched the case with
one finger. II was an UNCONSCIOUS
movement.
For in the case. instead of her
own neat array Of toilet articles,
Nikki saw bundle upon bundle of
green and gold currency heaped
in fascinating disorder.
There were packets Of ten dol
lar bills. twentieS and tfties,
precisely bound and each labeled
$1,000" They had evidently
been packed in stacks of denoml-
nations. but in movements the
bundles had been mixed and CON
fused.
The first thought Nikki had was
that the interior of the case look
ed like Il bank teller'S cage after
an earthquake. Letting her breath
out slowly she touched the money
gingerly as though expecting to
see it fade away and be replaced
by the familiar golden tops OF the
Jars in her toilet case. But the
money remained.
There must be- at least 4 hun
dred Of the bundles, y TX K /
thought. Whose money was il and
why was it in her bag? Nikkl
thought back. The maid had pack
ed for her. Well. the maid Ger
tsinly hadn't put 100000 in her
bag. Nor had anyone else. II was
impossible. But there it was, I'M
possible or not.
A dozen thought started through
her head. She should call the con-
ductur. No. better call Steve.
Maybe the money was stolen.
Maybe il was counterfeit. They
might be involved in some long
investigation and have to return
to New York. They might even be
suspected of something. heaven
knows what.
Then Nikki saw u brown moroc-
co edge among the piles of green
and yellow. and she lifted out a
mans wallet that apparently had
been tossed into the case with the
money. II was an ordinary enough
wallet. Nikki had seen others like
il in the hands Of escorts who had
leafted out bills 70 settle count
less checks for countless dinners
and lunches.