The Washington times., 1938-09-17

COl NdOlC PfN
daiquiri cagily as she swept ap
praising grey eyes over thu
cocktail lounge. The place wa'
crowded and very gay.
1t was the after.matinee hou
and the bar, the tables, even tht
hotel lobby outside was Surfeitet
with chic, bejeweled, beguillnt
drinkers. But the glance of the
blonde ignored them all to come
back again and again to a quiet
middle-aged woman seated neal
the exit.
There was nothing outstanding
about the woman herself. She
was portly, plain faced, common
place, almost. But, thrown care
lessly over her chair back was 9
magnificent Six-Skin sable scarf
whose dark sickness was enough
to make any female stare with
envy, even in that opulent gath
ering.
DUPLICATE SABLES
But as the blonde pushed away
her unfinished drink and rose tc
70, she picked up snowy neck
piece of her own. In the smoke
filled room it seemed almost a
duplicate of the other.
Fur over arm, the girl started
for the exit. But as she passed
the other sable-owner's chair, with
sudden awkwardness, she brushed
against it and knocked the gor'
geous furpiece to the floor. With
cat-like dexterity she retrieved the
fallen finery and passed on.
No one seemed to have noticed,
as the two furs lay for an instant
side by side, that the stout Wom-
ans was genuine, the other a
Shoddy imitation. And that the
imitation had somehow gotten
back to the woman while the
genuine was rapidly disappearing
out of the hotel on the arm OF the
dexterous blonde.
Until the fleeing girls French
heels had clicked on the outside
pavement, all went smoothly. She
had even gotten one dainty foot
on the running board OF a taxi
before a heavy-jowled, well-tall,
ored man accosted her with a hard
hand on her shoulder.
mot so fast, Miss" he purred
ominously. II want to talk to you
inside"
Il don't know what this is all
about, but can't we talk in the
taxi" she said nervously, as
curious people began to collect.
"All right. around the block,
driver, and shake this crowd" he
agreed. Then, as the cab swung
into traffic, mo use stalling, sis
ter, I saw you switch that fur.
And me standing right in the
doorway, too. What'd ye think l
wear over my eyes? Cobwebs?"
Switch? Why, this is my own
fur!" she cried, and shook the
neckpiece Indignantly. "Or wait a
minute, is it? Why, I do believe
7 have made a mistake! This isn't
my stole. Why, I can't imagine
1 must have"
DETECTIVE HIGH-PRICED
"Save it, blondy," he sneered.
''You're wasting it now. I've been
watching you all afternoon. You
acted suspicious enough. got you
clean, and my guess is you'll do
time for it."
Time! Are you policeman
mo, hotel detective. Didn't rec
ognize me, huh? Well, I'm new
and l gotta make a showing.
Crooks got away clean at a big
Jewel robbery at my place last
month and without a few quick
collars I'm likely to lose my Joo'
We'll, I'm a business woman. :.
she retorted, drawing some bills
from her bag and stuffing Them
into his dapper breast pockeU,
"There, take that and the fur and
let me go. o. K, miSter?"
"A lousy fifty" he grimaced'
counting the bills in disgust. mo
dice, sister, even for you, can't
do it for less'n half grand"
You're awfully high priced!
But if / must, I must. Drive over
to my hotel and I'll give you the
money. You're asking for more
than carry around in my pocket
mister!"
Not till he had carefully exam
ined the modest hotel suite tt
which she took him did he &C
cept the proffered money.
Don't go yet" she asked
''Now that we're partners, prac
tically, we ought to get &C
quainted."
"I'Il stay a minute, always wa:
q sucker for blondes, but who
said we were partners?"
We'll" she sighed. If you
aren't, I've been badly rocked
For five hundred I should ge
protection in your hotel for
month at least. Here I give yol
the profit on my last three
jobs
BOTTLE FOREBODINGS
She got out a bottle of rye ant
poured him a drink but he shovel
it back.
Hate to turn down good stuff
but I'm not drinking till the first
Funny thing, bat gypsy fortun
teller told me I'd get into troubl
because of a bottle this month
Well, until the month is over In
staying away from all bottles
whether they hold rye, gin o
brandy"
coke" she laughed. I'll drin