The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-13
CHAPTER W

Mary's adventure began when she stepped out of the telephone booth earlier that evening The Duke was talking with Nick Hart. Glancing casually toward them she crossed to the lounge.
 "My wrap, Mrs, Meadows" she said to the cloakroom woman. I'm leaving early"
 If Jane Meadows called you by name, your social stock went up. She contributed the right air Of responsibility.
 Mary stared thoughtfully at her, "Eias Miss Janice French been here tonight?"
 "No. Miss Franklin" She To- wered her voice. But hI 'ad to lay Ger down on that couch last evening. She was what you might call passin' out"
 'who took her home?"
 MT. Martin imself."
 As Mary hurried down the stairs, the Duke tapped Nick on the arm. Follow her"
 After the babble of the Dove, the silence of the street was sooth- ing to Mary. The club doorman leaned sleepily against an iron grilling. Opposite was a black roadster which Mary recognized as the Dukes own car. Down near Third avenue a policeman stood by an empty shop window, swing ing his night stick. In the soft, half-light of a rain-veiled city the prosaic scene was touched with mystery. "The New York Gazette, and don't slow up because I'm a woman"
 She glanced out the rear win dow. Through the rain she could barely distinguish the shadowy lines of the black roadster, swing ing suddenly away from the curb. i've changed my mind," she cried to the driver. Drop me at the Grand Central subway station in- stead"
 Throwing two $1 bills at the bewildered man, she climbed out of the cab at the Lexington avenue entrance turned abruptly down the nearest subway stairs and was half through one of the numerous underground passageways before the long, black roadster had nosed to . stop in front of the Lexington avenue entrance.
 At 40th and Madison avenue, Mary stepped breathlessly into another cab. "Forty-five E. 10th street." she said to the driver.
 The house in front of which he eventually stopped was an exact copy of a French chateau at Fon- tainebleau. It had recently been converted into apartments. Mary pushed a button beneath blank door-plate. There was no response. She pressed the button again. There was the sound of shuffling feet on hardwood stairs and then a fumb- ling at the door. "A woman's voice called out sleepily, And what do you wish?"
 'Let me in." said Mary. Tt is important"
 Clutching her flannel dressing gown about her as the cool wind struck her face, the maid grudg- ingly opened the door. "Mais oui, it's a curious hour for you to be sounding ze doorbell." she whis- pered in broken English. "If you want Mees French she ees not at home"
 Mary slipped a s5 bill into the maids hand. T want to wait for Miss French"
 guspiciously the girl beckoned Mary in the hall, closed the door and silently led the way to sec- 0nd floor apartment.
 Would you care to walt here. Mademoiselle?" she asked, usher- ing Mary into a huge living room shrouded in shimmering pink taf- feta hangings. Mary dropped down on c couch.
 "f'll sit here"
 But when the girl left Mary jumped up to her feet and began looking at photographs on the nanleI. studying the titles Of the bcois on the table and searching Ht fnc desk.
 Excilsdly ahe pulled several candid camera shots of Q man and