The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-27
CHAPTER XVIII


 There were four entities in the living room of the Pennington Parker Restatorium. Rearing from left to right: CD Miss Sally Penn fngton, @ MT. Kinks Parker, (3) MT. c. K. Titus, tD Wolfgang, the dachshund belonging to Miss Clara Fenimore.
 Sally Pennington broke a breath less silence.
 "If I don't hear just what hap pened in exactly two seconds, she said, I'm going to scream my head off."
 "okay," said Kinks. q guess I'm elected. Well, 1t was very simple. This morning found the Great Pierre utterly confusing Mrs. Clipstack with sleight-of- hand stuff. And just then I hap pened to remember that there were such things as loaded dice Also I remembered that Bull Grimm and that fellow, Spaldini were absolutely crawling with money. So, putting two and two together, it seemed to me that 8 crap game might help the situa- tion. With the Great Pierre con- ing in strong with his prestidigita- tion. Get it?"
 Sally gasped and nodded. "Gc on."
 T preached it carefully to the Great Pierre and he caught on. II was to be joke of course. He was to slip me some of his win nings during the game. Well, he did. And when I'd got $200 cleared out. And well, you know the rest"
 But 1t - 1t was cheatingl" said Sally, dismayed.
 well, of course" said Kinks "I'm going to tell Bull what hap pened. I'll give him and Spaldin too, an I. o. U. How we'll pay them I haven't figured out yet But why worry? We've got sis months. The only thing is, hope Bull can take joke. It woulc be inconvenient to get 'da woiks just now. And, incidentally, wher I put the car up the game was still going on. Bull and Spaldin are down to their last yacht"
 Where did you go this morn ang?" Sally asked suddenly.
 Kinks grinned. ITO New Haven We had to get some dice. And we did. One pair loaded and the other on the level. And did the Great Pierre do his stuff? Boy, oh boyl"
 well" said Sally, tits all abso- kutely swell. I can hardly believe we're able to keep the place." Ther . frown creased her forehead. "Oi course, we'll have to do 1t all ovel again six months from now. And don't like the Ames connection They'll be furious after today. They may find some way to cheat us ou' of t yet"
 c. K. Titus spoke for the first Sine.
 i T think not" said c. K. Titus 6ally and Kinks looked at him. 'Rh2" said Kinks. I'm afraid" he said, with { shaAowy smile, that I owe yor young people an apology. Yol see, my name isn't Titus. It hap. pens to be c. K. Farnsworth. own an organization called Farms worth Hotels, Incorporated"
 Kinks shook his head. T don't get it."
 You will presently" said Mir Farnsworth nee Titus. "Our cor. poration Is always interested in houses that can be turned into small country hotels. Well, a rep resentative of mine came to Win stock to look around and happened to meet Spencer Ames. MT. Ames mentioned this place and ever brought him to see it."
 "Ah," said Sally, suddenly re- membering something.
 However" said MT. Farms worth, T wasn't entirely satisfied with my mans report on MT Ames. MT. Ames told him one ol two things that made me suspi- cious. So I came to see for my self. I make practice of doing that, anyway, before buy 8 property"
 "You mean you want to buy our house?" Sally asked, her face falling.
 I'm coming to that" said Mir Farnsworth. T did not wish to use my own name here on &C., count of Ames. So selected Titus and came to find you peo- pie running this - this madhouse And then last night MT, Parker told me of your difficulty. I ap- peared disinterested."
 "I1l say you did" calculated Kinks. You just walked out on me-"
 Farnsworth gave quiet chuckle T only let you think so I had nc intention of seeing you lose this place. had my own suspicious oi this man Ames. He'd have bought Il in, of course, and sold 1t to me You can believe 1t or not, but If you hadn't raised the money today, Ic have raised 1t for you. I only"- his eyes twinkled at Kinks = wanted to see how resourcefu you were, young man. And Tn very well satisfied You ought tc make first-rate hotel manager.
 "Me2" said Kinks, blinking al him.
 "Ill never sell this place." Sally said swiftly, to be turned into a hotel with bar-rooms and bowling alleys and and things. I won't have 1t altered"