The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-11-16
The Lady Is Reckless
By ROB EDEN

1t since his flight many years be-
fore.
She hurried downstairs to the
check room and demanded to
know II anyone had called for her
bags while she was gone, or had
taken them out.
The porter in charge, insisted
that they hadn't been touched
since she left.
Back in her room, she forced
herself to be calm as she tried to
recall the exact wording of the
letter.
Whole Phrases
BY an effort of concentration,
she found whole phrases and then
complete sentences coming back
to her. and she picked up a pen
from the writing desk and some
hotel stationery and started to
write.
After several attempts, she read
the letter over and over, and
finally agreed to herself that it
was virtually word for word as
her uncle had written it.
At least, she would have the let
ter for a guide In case 1t should
later fade from her memory.
That done, she turned to the
question of the box and who had
stolen it. The repair man. she was
certain, was the guilty man.
Retrieves Sketch
She retrieved the sketch she
had made of him from the cheap
suitcase she had taken with her
to the Fenwick estate.
1t was a good likeness, she was
certain she had caught the fea-
lures of the man remarkably well.
II he were a professional thief, he
might be known to the police. so
with the sketch carefully wrapped
under her arm to prevent smudg-
ing, she took taxi to the central
station.
There she inquired for the
Identification bureau. and once
having found it, asked permits
sion from the sergeant in charge
to look through his file of pic
lures. the rogue's gallery, So
called.
Curiosity" he demanded.
Certain Man
mo. have a definite purpose.
I'm looking for a certain man."
What for. what's he wanted
for 20
I'm sorry. I can't tell you
that"
Huh. sounds funny to me.
You're wantin' to look through
the pictures with some one in
mind. and won't say what he's
wanted for. Is II a secret ?"
well, sort of. yes"
I'm sorry, Miss. If you want
TO look through here, you've got
to say who you're loolxin' for and
what he's done. You can't have
no secrets fnOm the police depart
ment."
But this is public property"
she insisted. Il have a right"
you have no right at all TO
come in here out OF curiosity TO
try and find some neighbours hus-
bands picture so you can go out
and gossip about it. II you've got
legitimate reason for being here,
tell me and I'll see If I can help
you. II you won't do that, I'll
have to turn you down"
Turned Away
Jill turned away. She couldn't
take the police into her confidence
on this case. In the first place, II
would sound ridiculous. after all
she had nothing but suspicion TO
go on.
And II she revealed the secret
cache at Fenwick's and its con-
tents. the police would insist on
going there openly. which would
defeat her purpose. Or more,
someone might tip off Fenwiek.
She remembered what Brock
Lands had told her on the train
that Fenwiek reputedly was the
political boss who ran Rawiton.
Any political boss. she knew. must
number among his principal sup
porters the police department.
No. she'd have to try some
other way TO identify the man she
was certain in her own mind had
stolen the box.
With various plans running
through her head. she all but col
L ftGAA NTH