| Show nn W A A W A V TO M C THE STOUT STORY SO PAR FAB larry cutter startled pretty jacqueline jack anthony public stenographer at the hotel Kay Ray near by telling her that she could realize her bet globe lobe trotting ambitions by marrying marry lax him she bhe accepted his hi pro before the afternoon was over jacqueline elme had roade made her decision that first feeling of hurt because larry had not let her know he was back vanished he must be warned lie he must bel be but how there was a problem it would be simple enough to call his room but dan dangerous gerou s even if she went into the nearby drug shop and called from a booth the conversation might be overheard the lieutenant might be checking on larrys calls but she could write him a note there was the solution type it use no signature and place it in a plain envelope jacqueline felt a little thrill run up her spine she was trying to outwit the police in her excitement she was able to appreciate the humor of that letter the first one she ever had written to her husband and to ten tell him of all things that the police were on his trail actually she guarded her information a little more closely than that but she hoped larry would understand she left the office promptly at closing time and went three blocks out of her way to put the note in the postoffice post office looking guiltily over her shoulder as she thrust the envelope through the slot the first working hour of the next morning was taken up by a customer who was maddeningly slow with his dictation about the time he seemed near the hoped for finish of his work jacqueline glanced into the lobby just in time to see larry passing he gave her a bright smile which she returned mechanically then began typing once more from the corner of her eye however she watched her husband drop into a chair and unfold his newspaper that meant he was coming in as soon as her customer left before the client was finished jacqueline had assured herself that lieutenant staples was not in sight then larry looming in the doorway his familiar drawling voice asking Is miss sherlock home then larry had received his note and understood the mes message sagel elines sense of relief was so great that she repressed a thankful exclamation with difficulty larry dropped into the official chair and produced some papers from his pocket his face was perfectly sober but there was a glint of amusement in his dark ey eyes e as he said just one letter plea please se he paused as jacqueline inserted a sheet in the machine with fingers that trembled slightly this is just a personal letter 11 larry raised his head and stared up at the ceiling as though giving his entire concentration to the composition dear jack he began A few staccato taps of the keys silence yours of the nineteenth instant received contents carefully noted please accept my thanks for information contained I 1 am somewhat at a loss to know how this particular data came to your attention but I 1 am accepting it gratefully I 1 was not particularly surprised to read what you had to say and will be pleased to discuss the matter more in detail when the opportunity port unity presents itself I 1 hope it may be soon paragraph with renewed assurances of my appreciation I 1 beg to remain yours very sincerely all without changing his tone larry me in an offhand off hand fashion where I 1 can see you tonight its important please jacqueline took the sheet from her machine and looked ov over erthe the few lines as if to assure herself there were no errors she held it out gravely saying in a low tone tonight baxter street entrance of the south side hospital nine twenty five cents larry rose to his feet chuckling silently as he reached in his pocket for the change youre superb then he added rapidly dont forget that my montreal friends are todman kell limited thanks todman kell jacqueline found herself repeating as larry walked away without another word why did he say that oh now she knew it if anyone were to ask her to whom he had written she was at liberty to mention that firm she though this was a dreadful game she was playing and fascinating she always had been longing for adventure and now she was in the installment NINE dosal and they were married after ter sign int ing a contract providing that he li Is to care for her and that she may continue to live as she he Is living uvan lor for six lz months after which the she could tear up the contract he save her in V U S 4 I 1 midst of one that tha might end she shivered a little and tried to forget that jacqueline was dr kennedys Kenn edys first visitor that night making the stop at his office before going to see her father vinces operation was scheduled tor for tomorrow at eleven 1 I dont believe there is the slightest cause for apprehension was the doctors comforting report your father has responded very nicely to treatment im not looking for any complications if I 1 were you I 1 should go to work tomorrow as usual you can call up the hospit hospital al in the afternoon it if anything should d happen ill see that you hear at once a promise surely absolutely by evening you should be able to see him trot along now and dont worry but it was not so easy to be cheerful when she found herself wi with th vince she bear the thought of anything happening to him at nine jacqueline gave her father a lingering kiss she left the room smiling at him through her tears and waving a cheerful little farewell then out through one of the side entrances to baxter street parked in the shadows was a long roadster from which larry leaped when he heard elines step youre very prompt was his greeting hop in well take a little spin somewhere and talk as we go jacqueline said nothing until they were some distance from the hospital larry might have guessed the reason for her preoccupation for he asked quietly visiting the sick tonight my father what you mean hes a patient why I 1 thought I 1 mean I 1 know he was in the city he has been in the hospital for blittle a little time came home sick then tough nothing serious I 1 hope hes going to be operated on tomorrow the doctor thinks there is no danger 1 I wish I 1 had known Is there anything at all I 1 can do for him doctors or nurses oh no larry had gotten all these things for vince but he know it care to tell me larry she burst out miserably vince has been in town all the time he kept out of my way until until he finished one of his inventions and her voice was breaking breakie 9 treacherously 1 I see larry offered easily he wanted to surprise you and he was taken sick instead larry she began 1 I manage about vince I 1 had to use some of your money my money those bonds whatever are you talking about those are yours yours to use in any way you like 1 I know but I 1 you dont understand I 1 wont spend any more than I 1 have to and then I 1 will put it back if I 1 1 I if you think you had sold yourself what youre trying to say it yes wish you could forget it im only too glad to do anything I 1 can for your dad but well fix it any way you like when is the operation going to the hospital the doctor thought id better wait until afterwards until evening he promised to call me in case 1 I get you ill tell you what ill do if you dont mind my passing myself off as a friend of the family ill drop around and make sure that every things all right okay that would be awfully good of you its all in the family so to speak and now that out ot of our systems I 1 want to talk about something else im curious about that note of yours would you rather I 1 sent it it was mighty square of you jack but theres one thing I 1 cant camj figure how did you get wise to the cops that was really an accident lieutenant staples hes a detective who is around the hotel quite often he happened in the office just visiting then right out of a clear sky he asked me ma it if I 1 ever bonds bond ii as surety surely she cashed a 1000 ll bond when her lather vince anthony needed an operation detective staples told lacque Une that he was w watching larry now continue with the story had written any letters for you just like that eh eha your friend lieutenant staples apparently is a discerning gentleman do you mind telling me how he got my footprints under his magnifying glass dont you see he figured if you had been staying at the ray near you might have dictated letters to me and and you able to tell him what they were about where our hero ran atoa vito a stone wall t when he described you I 1 shead she ad bitted quietly 1 I did remember thit that you had given me several b business us letters and that was all I 1 did tell him her pride would not let her demand an explanation vinces welfare seemed the only real important thing in the world just now if anything should go wrong tomorrow larrys quick sympathy and desire to be of help had touched her strangely his very nearness brought comfort he was so big and dependable larry broke the silence look here jack I 1 dont know whether that gumshoe gum shoe gave you a bum steer on purpose ori or not I 1 was rather looking for something like that to happen but I 1 think be worried with it I 1 told you that fate was in all this and youve helped me a lot tonight all im going to say because youve got troubles enough of your own without packing any on my account could you eat anything provided we can find any place that looks inviting oh no I 1 think perhaps we should turn back now its getting late whatever her highness commands nothing was said after that until larry slowed at a busy intersection a mile from courtland street jacqueline laid her hand suddenly on his arm 1 I think better let me out here I 1 can take a car why 1 I just happened to remember nonsense theres no danger of that ill see you home of course A few squares from the apartment house larry said quietly dont worry about tomorrow jack im going over to the hospital and stick around until its over just as soon as I 1 get definite word ill give you a ring you can depend on me 11 thank you so he brought the car to a quick halt in front of number coasts clear run CHAPTER VIII jacqueline never forgot the long hours of that next morning fortunately she was quite busy but it did not keep her thoughts from straying constantly to the hospital and wondering how her father had come out of the operation when men larry finally called at one thirty her hands were shaking so that she scarcely could hold the receiver to her ear larrys voice was quiet and reassuring Every things fine oh are you sure perfectly ive just talked to dr kennedy himself no complications he tells me nothing to worry about so far I 1 guess you thought I 1 had forgotten you but abut you see an operation is like a procession they never start starton on time larry did not see fit to tell her that kennedy had added he had found anthonys condition somewhat more involved than he had thought and that the operation was long and tedious but successful im so glad and so much obliged said a choked little voice at the other end of the wire glad to be of some us use e by the way the doctor thinks your dad will be able to see you after dinner f ill go to him as soon as I 1 can fine goodby good by 9 it was not until she had her first glimpse of vince that the girl realized what an ordeal her father had been through his face was pinched and very white jacqueline leaned over him and placed her hand on his forehead vince she whispered softly his eyes opened slowly and looked up into her anxious face hello skipper for more than an hour jacqueline sat motionless in a chair close beside the bed holding her fathers thin hand watching him as he slept TO BE CONTINUED |
