Evening star., 1942-01-03


mighty Owen talking to his very
their bedroom and I was in the ad-'
joining bath and they were talking
louder than they ought or else
they didn't know I was there" She
looked at Johnny sharply ana
scowled at his knowing grin.
We'll, anyway" she went on,
"Owen was apparently turning over
some papers to Clarissa and his re-
marks were none too fiattering to
me, the only guest in the place at
the moment. He said, I don't feel
quite safe leaving these things in
nv desk. Clare. even though 1t Is
locked at all times. They're COM
plete records of all these recent
transactions, and you know what
it would mean If they were to fall
into the wrong hands could just
picture Clarissa nodding In that
matronly way of hers, and then she
said, TT wouldn't be good. Owen,
would it?'
owen laughed in that deep, man
about-town way that he has AZ
fected, and then I suspect that he
planted . very benevolent kiss on
Clarissa's fat cheek. At any rate 1t
was several minutes before heard
ANYTHING more, and then there were
padded footsteps followed by scrap
ing sound, like . picture or some
thing being moved from its place
on the wall. A moment later there
was the sound of something like a
tin box being opened and closed and
then the scraping sound again. Then
CIarissa said, There you are, my
dear, they're all slowed away with
the family Jewels.
Agroe on Suspect.
Johnny waited for more but Patty
said nothing. At last he gave .
short chuckle and said, Amazing
nv dear Sherlock. But what makes
you think I'm 20 keenly interested
in the private conversations OF Mr..
and Mrs. Morgan?"
"Oh, Johnny, don't be 50 dumb !
Cant you see, what those papers
were?" Patty's evaporation was en-
tirely genuine. He said they were
records Of all these recent transac-
tions.' Well, what have his recent
transaction been? Haven't they all
concerned Mulvaney Machines
Inc.?"
Johnny sighed. 1--WE no more idea
of what they've been than you have
Patty. Maybe they were what you
think, but Owen Morgan Is a busy
man. They might have concerned 9
dozen different ventures"
"An right, they might have. But
the papers have been in his desl
right up till now, and all Of . sud-
den he doesn't feel safe having
them there and he wants them ir
the family Jewel box, hidden in thu
wall behind . picture or something
How does that tie up with my goin(
out with you the other night? He.
apparently thought his desk wa4
secure enough against the servants
up until now, but there's . strange
guest in the house and he isn't 81
complacent. He wants his precious
records slowed away where no on'
can get 1t them. And his guest is .
friend of the Mulvaneys."
Johnny shook his head dolefully
More hunch material" he said
I'VE still don't have any facts. We'll
1T least you seem to suspect tn
same guy Mike and I do. It's Just ,
shame We can't get any proof for ou
suspicious"
But Johnny, don't you see7" Pat
tv exclaimed 'The very fact tha
there are documents to prove tn
thing Is wonderful. That's some
thing you could hardly have dare
to hope for. Now all we have to d
is get hold of them and-and ther
you'll BEL" !
Patty Is Serious.
Johnny grunted cynically. "Y0'
say that as If it could be done"
well, why can't it be done?"
Johnny shook his head. II wis
you wouldn't risk getting involve
in this thing, Patty. It's swell Q
you to want to help and all that, bu
tit just doesn't seem right for 70
to be working against people whe
you're . guest in their house and
and everything"
"Yes, father. Go on"
I'm serious. It just isn't
we'll"
1T just isn't cricket, that's viii
you mean" Patty said. We'll, I don
happen to be playing cricket. Yo
know, Johnny, there's . lot -