The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-05-22
DANtING+DAN5ER

Continued From Page 81


returning. What were you after
here, anyway
The man was silent and seemed
very frightened. She noticed that
he was roughly dressed. although
his face was smooth shaven A
SLOUGH hat was pulled down over
his eyes
Keeping him in sight out of the
corner Of her eyes, she moved
over to the dresser.
One drawer was opened and the
purse she had carried when she
was downtown was lying on top
of the dresser. The contents had
been dumped out beside it. Her
money was there. too.
A possible solution of the mys-
terry flashed into her mind. The
man was after her ring, The
four-leaf clover ring which Vic
tor Waring had tried to buy from
her and which someone already
had stolen.
With this thought came another.
Did Victor waring send YOU
here to steal my ring?" she sud-
denly demanded.
A slight change of expression
on the mans face made her think
that she had accidentally hit the
solution squarely on the head.
"A fine thing" she remarked.
sarcastically, while he's pretend
ing to try and buy it from me.
he sends a burglar here to go
through my house and steal it."
The mans chin seemed to set
more firmly as his jaw muscles
flexed. He was recovering from
the surprise he must have felt
when lights suddenly flashed in
his face, and he turned to con-
front a determined girl with a
gun pointed squarely at his chest.
Il see it all, now" Madge went
on, speaking aloud her thoughts
as they raced through her mind.
THE plot was for Mr.. Waring
to get me out of the house, while
you took your own sweet time
looking for my ring. Isn't that
right ?"
The mans mouth opened as
though he were about to say some
thing, and then snapped shut as
he changed his mind and remained
silent, staring at the girl.
you don't need to answer I
know I'm right" she said. Swiftly.
she wondered what she could do
to prove her suspicious. She was
furious with Waring for his double
dealing, for his effrontery in dar-
ing to send a prowler to break
into her house, to go through her
belongings, while he kept her en-
gagged in conversation at the Uni
versity club downtown.
You should have worked faster,
Mr.. Burglar" she said, with
bitter smile. Mr.. Waring gave
you plenty of time to ransack
the whole house"
Then the idea came to her. She
would make Waring face his hire
ling, and force him to admit he
was behind the plot to steal her
ring.
Walk slowly over to that
desk" she commanded, gesturing
with her revolver. The man
obeyed slowly.
Pick up the phone book and
find the number of Louis Tatum.
You spell it T-a-t-u-m, in case
you don't know"
"All right, here it is, now
what? ?" The man spoke for the
first time and glanced up at the
girl standing over him. His voice
surprised her. 1t wasn't the sort
Of voice which went with his
rough clothes. 1t was a cultivated
voice.
Now dial the number" and
for some reason she didn't under
stand. she added, please"
The man did as directed. Ap-
parently the phone was quickly
answered, as he said, Hello. just
minute, please" into the trans
mitter and again turned toward
the girl. inquiringly.
Ask If Victor Waring is there"
she directed, and heard the man
speak the question into the phone.
There was a pause for nearly a
minute and then he turned back
to Madge and nodded.
Good Have whoever ia on tina
phone tell Mr.. Waring to come
Immediately TO the home of
Forbes Kendall. Say 1t is very
important"
Madge smiled to herself as her
burglar repeated the instructions
and then replaced the phone on
its stand.
Shed made a good guess. War
ing had gone directly to the Tatum
party after leaving her.
Now we'll see what he has to
say when l show him his hired
thief" she told herself.
ITO Be continued)