Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-06-03

run along"
/, With a flounce, Ada Minis ran alonl
There's something odd about tina
/, woman Miss Withers decided, as witt
PIPER she rode across town in a taxi
Piper dropped her off. outside tn
sombre West Side brownstone when
she kept Lares and Penates. IN tele
phone you IN the morning II I &c
any bright ideas" she promised.
But she called long before morning
Oscar she cried into the instrument
whe he answered. do you know what!
happened? It's the most amazing
thlng, you won't guess in a millior
"Offhand," he told her dryly. "Pc
say that you found one OF those purple
postcards in your letterbox."
There was a gasp, and then wonder
II ing silence. How did you know"
Because got one myself" con-
teSSed Oscar Piper, and his voice bore
a FAINT note OF uneasineSS.
He was downing an aspirin next aft
ernoon when his office phone shrilled
4 Hellol" he roared. Then, "Oh. it's
you. thought it was the bureau OF
missing persons reporting again that
they have nothing TO report on the
| Princess Marcia ArteScu."
by the way, Oscar, have you seen
me new movie that's opening at the
NOVEL" roared Piper. Here I am
/ up to my ears in the toughest murder
case OF the season, and you want me
! to take you to the movies. Why"
] Skip It, skip it, said Miss Withers
YEARLY. II only"
AT least you might try to help
| with the Voorhis case" he went on.
I am, Oscar Here's an idea. With
draw the officers you've stationed at
the scene Of the murder. And see to
1t that a cleverly- worded announce
ment to that effect is in the first edi-
lions Of the morning papers"
'Hildegarde." accused the inspector
ARE you up to something's"
Never you mind" she said. For
heavens sake, do as I say. And meet
us at the Voorhis apartment tonight
"Us2" he echoed, Who's us9"
But she had hung up. The inspector
said profane things to the telephone,
but since he had no better straw at
which to clutch, that evening found
him at the Administer Arms. He was
somewhat startled to see, as Miss With
erS quickly admitted him to the dark
ened apartment in which old man
WORMS had died, plump, pretty girl
standing in the shadows. She had he
thought, been recently crying.
Who's this?" he demanded brlsque-
ly.
Who do you thinkP" retorted Miss
Withers. Its the princess"
How in-say, we've had dragnet
Miss Withers nodded. 81 suppose It
IN tH,nf - rrfv1i
might be driving to New York. Well,
1t did to me. And a wire to the Florida
motor vehicle department, signed with
your name, Oscar, brought me her IL |
cense number. ALI had to do was to |
assign four of my pupils, In relays, to !
watch the Holland tunnel for an in |
coming car with that number"
"An right, all right" The inspector |
subsidized. But how does she fit into |
the ,Picture9 Has she any idea who
I'm here" said the Princess Marcia
Artescu, soberly, Ito find QUIT mean,
must know one way or the other :"
Whether or not she is married to
a murderer" Miss Withers finished
abruptly. 1--WE promised her that
much"
'T couldn't see him until I knew"
confessed the plump girl. 81 don't
mow whether he flew up here after
)ur quarrel to look for me, or whether
ne came -. to do something else"
The inspector had his own ideas, but
lie kept them to himself. whats this,
! stakeout?" he demanded Of Miss
''Exactlyl" she said, and turned out
they waited, that ilI-assorted trio,
or the better part of an hour, crouched
Town behind q big divan In the foyer.
Toward the end, the inspector began
to himself about ~gnipe
hunts" And then there came a sharp
loor there was soft knock, and then
he click Of key.
The door opened and closed again.
;omeone took a cautious step forward
nto the foyer. Miss Withers heard the
beside her, as he took q
uick breath and poised for action.
Ihe clIgtched at him in horror, but
was too late.
"Oh, these red-blooded men Of &C
lon :" she moaned to herself, as
he inspector plunged forward and
rappled with the shadowy figure.
farcia screamed twice.
Then Hildegarde Withers was at the
ght switch, disclosing the inspector
rome ON the floor. wrapped firmly
round the vainly struggling figure OF
he Prince Stanislaus
''StanI" cried Marcia.
Got him." grunted Piper, demon
rating q neat arm-lock He rose to
IS feet, keeping the prince well sub
led.
"But Oscar" Miss withers began,
lon't you see that
This Is q ridiculous mistake" the
-ince broke In. Really, officer
came here looking for my WIFE,"
,anislaus insisted. Marcia, r"
His voice trailed away as he caught
e look on her face, look mingled o
pain and loathing. Marcia turned 3
yay.
'Tt all fitsl" Piper went on. you
Jed old man Voorhis because you
IRE afraid he would distnherit your
fe. Then you rushed off in such q
Irry that you forgot your umbrella
I you came back TO get IT,"
Yes, Oscar, but" Miss WitheTS #
ed to interrupt. cit wasn't raining #
len I came into your officel" #
u. - a. f.