Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1940-06-08
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with any sort Of trouble is to look
it squarel, in the face and defeat
it or minimize its strength. This
dictum Bill Bailey knew. He knew
it from reading about the pioneers,
who shot at-rather than run from
vicious grizzly bears and muir
derous Indians. He also knew 1t
from experience, because often a
big opponent in football amounted
to nothing if charged directly and
with force.
On the other hand, Bills expert
ence with women was negligible.
He wouldn't have admitted it, but
he was still boy who thought
girls were just lovely creatures to
dance with and laugh with and
eventually to fall in love with.
That girls are human beings. prac-
tically as normal as males and
even more sensitive, simply had
never occurred to him. He had done
q lot of thinking about the theft
of the bracelet, in q careless mas
culine way, and when he had de-
cided to work trick on Lola Mon
tesa the trick had backfired right
into his face.
Since Saturday night he had
been certain that Lola was the
thief. This morning he had evolved
his clever trick to make Lola con-
TESS. If he could make her talk"
about her past and her present
criminal actions, he would have
definite evidence to use against her
in court. He had felt no compunc-
tion-or at least not much-about
trying to worm his way into her
confidence this morning, because he
felt that she had taken advantage
of his and Mr.. Merrifield's trust in
her. He felt that he was doing what
any shrewd detective might do. But
Bill hadn't reckoned on Lola's
tears.
Many a stern man is suddenly
helpless, or course, when a woman
cries. He had thought at first that
Lola was just putting on smart
act. He had tried to act tough
about it in return, but his own act
fizzled. Something an intuition
stronger than reason-suddc-ly
told him that pretty Lola was not
acting, that she was as innocent as
a baby, and that he himself was a
bungling boor. This realization
made him angry at himself and he
took it out on Jeremy in careless
outburst, although he caught him
self up in time to apologize for
that.
Thanks, Jeremy-my lordy"
Bill was awfully upset, helpless
there before Jeremy's astonishing
offer of friendship. He had just
been insulting to Jeremy, and heard
Jeremy offer him a million dollars
if needed! He knew, too, that the
offer was genuine.
"See here, Bill"
mo, Jeremy, but thanks-thanks
a lot, my friend. II know now
that you are my friend. Just-just
trust me, will you? There's moth
ing you can do for me right now.
I've got to go talk this out at once
with Lola and Gayle. Where's
Gayle?"
"She is with Lola. They went be-
You'd the swimming pool some
where. Lola was crying"
II know. I'm going to them. I'll
be seeing you later"
Bill FASTENED away. His face held
set look now, of humility and de-
termination.
In his heart he was still confused
because he couldn't think just how
to right matters. He decided while
walking across the vast lawn that
the best way would be to lay all his
cards face up, apologize to Lola,
and explain his actions to Gayle, or
at lesgt tell Gayle what he had
done.
AS it developed, he came onto
Gayle first. She saw him and came
to meet him, questions in her eyes.
II accused Lola of the theft" he
murmured without preliminary. Il
tried to proposition her to join me
in other thefts, and"
What? What, Bill?" Gayle was
amazed.
yeah, I know. It was crazy.
tried to pose as crook myself. 1
figured I could make her agree to
team up with me and so get the in
side track on her own operations,
see? It didn't work."
Gayle just stared up at him, bit
ing her lower lip in distress.
"Lola's not guilty of anything.
She didn't do it, I tell you, GAYLE"
"Then what made you think so 2"
IL searched her room. I read
her diary. Mrs. Hummelshine,