THE MYSTERY GIRL
By CAROLYN WELLS._ (Copyright,
(Continued from Yesterday.)
“rcppy, that's so. Little Old Mau
rice wants a wide—and—who do you
suppose has caught my fancy?”
“Who?" was the mechanical re
sponse.
“Why, none other than the little
Miss Mystery. Oh, yes, I know she is
under » cloud—but 1 can get her oft—
1 m a bird of a lawyer, you know—
and we'll tlx all that up. Then, I’ll
elevate that little nonentity to the
elevated position of the missus of
I' letaoin slirdiu traion hrdlu tsoinunu
Maurice Trask. Hey, my boy, how’s
that?”
Had Lockwood's calm not been ha
bitual with him he could scarcely
have vrnaint.iKied it through this
scene, s As it was, he was a boiling,
seething furnace inside him, but his
judgment told him that any exhibition
of surprise or annoyance would only
irritate the other man without doing
any good.
Moreover, it' Trask were really a
shrewd lawyer, and if he knew some
ililug that would make any trouble
for Anita—and she had hinted that he
did—then, Lockwood argued, he must
keep friendly with Trask, at least
until,he found out more of the mat
ter. •
Sif he said, lightly, “lias the lody(
agreed?”
“Well—not yet; but—I say, Lock
wood, you're hit it* that same direc
tion, eh?"
"I admire Miss Austin very much,
yes.”
"Well—you keep off—do you hear?”
••I hear." said Lockwood in his irn-’
perturbable way, but when Trask
looked up anil caught the cold stare of
his secretary, lie dropped the subject
and returned to the buoks.
Since Dr. Waring a death Lockwood
had formed the habit of going back to
the Adams house for his luncheon.
This, of course, in the hope of seeing
something of Anita, and also, because
his new employer preferred it that
way.
At luncheon Trask took occasion to
eulogize Miss Austin.
Helen Peyton stood it as long as
jibe cculd. and then broke out with:
"1 don’t see what you can find to ad
mire in that thin, sallow little thing!
And. besides, sho is a wicked girl. I
think she killed Dr. Waring, but even
if she didn't, she came over here to
see him, secretly, late at night, and
if that isn't wrongdoing, i don't
know what is! But just because she ■
puts up a helpless bluff, all the men
fall for her!’’
■’Jealous, Miss Peyton?” and Trask
looked at her shrewdly.
“No,” Helen tossed her head. "I’ve
no reason to be. That girl is nothing
to me, and the sooner she gets out of
Corinth the better. If the police will
let her go!”
“Now. then, Miss Peyton,” Trask
began, in his most emphatic manner.,
“and Mrs. Peyton, too, once for all,
I will hear no word against Miss Aus
tin in my house. I’ut any meaning
you like into that, but remember it.
One word against Anita Austin, and
the speaker of it goes out of my
door never to return. Am 1 clear?
"Clear? Yes, but I can tell you—”
“Hush, Helen,” said her mother.
“We want to stay here, don’t we?
Well, then, as Mr. Trask is evidently
much in earnest, 1 insist that you
oliev his wishes—ns I shall.”
"That’s right, Mrs. Peyton. And if
your daughter forgets my hints I
trust to you to keep her reminded.
That's all about that."
In this fashion Maurice Trask
settled every question that arose. His
word was law. and he spoke no un
necessary words.
The servants could obey or leave.
The housekeeper had been told the
same, and the secretary understood
it, too.
Returning to the library after
luncheon, Trask sat at the desk in
deep thought. '
"Got to get the girl," he told him
self. “Plenty’ toehold over her head—
but she's skittish, that's plain to be
seen. Also, she's in love with Lock
w’ood. Got to get him out of town.
Nothing doing while he's around.
Now, how? Morton hinted of his
being deeply in debt. If sb, he's got
some past history’, guess I can get
something on him—got to, whether I
can or not. H'm. Wonder if the lit
Hle girl did do the sticking. Hard to
believe it, and yet that kid's got it in
her. She sure has! And she s a
Truesdell all right. Nobody ever had
those beetling brows, almost joining
above 1 hose dark eyes, in that level
line—why. if she’s a Titlesdcll—!
Good Lord, I’ve got to marry her!
I'll have to scare her into it! Now,
Maurice, my boy, get in some of your
finest work."
Clapping on his hat, he started lor
the Adams house.
As luck would have it, he met
Anita and his secretary walking to
ward him.
“Playing truant?'.’ he called out
gaily to Lockwood.
"I'm just on my way to your
house,” Cordon returned, coldly.
“You, too, Miss Mystery?” and
Trask gave her a wide, smile. ,
“No; I ni going to the postofflce.”
“Ah, I see. Then, on your way.
Lockwood, and I'll step along with
Miss Austin."
There was no good way out of this
arrangement, so it obtained, and
Trask fell Into step with the girl, us
Lockwood turned off toward the War
ing house.
"Now. my dear young lady," Trask
began, unheeding her look of aver
sion, “you may as well understand
me first as last. I’ve got the whip
hand—or, as that isn’t a very grace
ful expression, let us say, l* hold the
trumps. I know all about you, you
see. I know why you went to the
doctor’s library that night, and—1
know wliat happened there.'1
“You don’t," said Anita, coolly.
“You're bluffing, and I know it."
“No, I’ mnot bluffing—not entirely,
anyway. True, there are some things
I don’t know yet, but—I soon will!
Don’t think you can keep anything
from me! I'm going to take a week
for investigation. Also, to give you
your chance. If I find out wtMt I
fully expect to find out 1 shall make it
all public—how will you like that?”
A great fear showed in Anita’s
eyes, and she murmured, brokenly:
“Don't—oh, Mr. Trask, don't!”
"Hah! Scared, are you? f thought
you'd be! Now, you know my price.
You marry me—promise to marry me,
that is, and I'll get you through tills
thing with bells on. No shadow of
suspicion shall remain attached to
you—or to anyone you care for."
"I heard you were not going to
rest until you learned who killed Dr.
Waring," Anita temporized.
"Yes, yes; but that was before I
saw you. Now, I don’t care if you
have killed half of the people in Cor
inth. I want you all the same. You’ve
bewitched me. Y'ou, a silly little slip
of a girl, with no particular claim to
beauty, except your big, mournful ,
eyes, and your peach of a mouth! I'll !
bring the smiles to that sad little
face. Oh. Anita, I’m not a brute, and
I do love you so. Guo up your fool
ish fancy for Lo kwood, for it Is onlv
a passing attraction. And lie hasn't
any money, and he’s deeply in debt,
and oh, I'm a thousand times a bet
ter catch!”
"If you knew how you damaged
your cause by talking like that—” the
girl began, her eyes cold w ith scorn.
"Then 1 won't talk like that,” Trask
said, humbly. “Only take me, Anita,
and you can make me over to suit
yourself, i'll do whatever you say.
I’ll read the books, you want me to.
I'll got cultured and refined—and all
that."
Anita almost laughed. "You are so
funny,” she said.
But this was a little too much for
Trask's self love.
“Funny, am 1?" he stormed. "Fun
ny! You'll see how funny 1 am when
1 tell the police why you killed that
man! You'll see if I'm funny when 1
refuse the evidence that might help
you out. When 1 keep still instead of
speakln' nut tti meetln : t uu took
here, Anita Austin, l hold you, in the
hollow of my hand, and don't you
forget it! You've got a deep, dark
secret—and though I don't know
quite all of It—I'll know it soon.
What M. Trask sets out to find out,
lie finds out. See? Now, do you
want to tell me who you are—or
not? Want to tell me who your father
was? Your mother was a Truesdell
—I'll bet on that!”
Miss Mystery's face fell. Abject de
spair was written on every line of It.
.She glanced at Trask, and his own
determined expression showed her
that she could hope for nothing front
him save on his own terms.
And those terms were too hard for
her. Just aware of loving Lockwood,
just learning to know what love
meant and how sweet it could be, just
realizing, too, the awfulness of her
Own position, the dire necessity for
^^^BINED WITH BEDDE^^^
_ GREAT STORE-WIDE _
W j
Contractors Demand Room so as
to Continue Expansion Work
Progress in this great expansion work
shall not be delayed. We s|iall sell re
gardless of any loss we are forced to
sustain. Grasp this wonderful money
saving opportunity.
An Incomparable
Smashing of Prices on This
Huge $100,000 Stock of Men's
and Women's Winter Apparel
Over 4,000 Square Feet Being
Added to Our Selling Space
When completed this will give the Beddeo Cloth
ing Co. over 11,600 square feet of selling space,
making it the second largest exclusive credit
clothing store in the entire United States. This
growth has been obtained in but nine years—
and only because of the confidence Omaha men
and women
HALF PRICE and LESS THAN HALF
Value Sensations in Mens
Suits and
Overcoats
Virtually thousands of garments. The smartest
style creations, and the way we have priced them
is almost a shame. Let nothing keep you away,
men. Your opportunity is here—at Beddeo’s.
In Four Amazing
Sale Groups
A regular battle
ground of value giv
ing—and the easiest
of payments will
care for anything
you may buy.
Action on the first
floor—and plenty of
it. Carpenters, brick
masons are busy.
Stocks must be
cleared out to make
room for expansion
work.
Less ■
Than
Half Price
LOT 1
$1^|50
LOT 2
$1J5°
LOT 3
$245°
LOT 4
$3250
Advance
New Spring
Millinery
The newest creations developed
in Satins, Hair Cloths, Taffetas,
Wash Hair Cloths—in Turban
and Polk shapes.
You buy these stunning new
Hats on the easy sort of credit
terms.
Third Floor
The Materials Alone Cost
More Than We Ask for
These Beautiful
Winter
Coats
Values you cannot resist and will not want to
resist. Coats in enormous varieties. Get yours
tomorrow.
Luxurious fabrics, rich colors, newest styles;
worth two and three times price quoted.
°.ne Ut . $14.50
°neL0‘ $18.50
°neUl.. $24.50
Lo1 $29.50
Les* than half price.
?rLot . $39.50
Lot.. $49.50
on. u. $59 50 |
Lot. $69.50
Less than half price.
Women’s Dresses in
a Mighty Sale
The very prettiest dresses ever gathered
by Beddeo. Masterpieces of grace, line,
color and finish will be placed into—
Four Choice Lots as Follows
One Lot at
$8.50
One Lot at
$16.50
One Lot at
$12.50
One Lot at
$22.50
Every dress worth two or three
times these daring low prices.
—
Railroad Fare Will Be Refunded
to Those Living Out of the City
Beddeo wonts bis numerous out-of-town friends to partici
pate in THE EXPANSION SALE, so be offers to REFUND
Railroad or Bus Fore ONE WAY up to a distance of 50 miles
on any purchase of *25 or BOTH ways on « purchase of *50
or over. It will PAY you and pay you BIG to come here
from ANY distance. You DON'T have a chance to take ad
vantage of excessively reduced FQPANSION SALE PRICES
very often You DO have the chance now. with your Rail
road fare PAID and with CREDIT inducements in the bar
gain. So DO come.
Beddeo Wires From New York as Follows:
We are making huge purchases of new spring ap
parel—have selected many new lines for our en
larged store—clear out every winter garment in the
house. We’ll open the new store with a 100% all
new slock. Make prices that will sell the merchan
dise quick. Action is what we want.
secrecy, the terrible result of Trask s
revelatkths. should they be made, al
together Miss Mystery faced a* dan
gerous crisis.
“You say you’ll give me a week?”
said Miss Mystery at last, grasping
at a hope of reprieve.
Trask l«»oked at her with curiosity.
“What good'll that do you? Better
put yourself under my protection at
once. Kvery day you lose is that
much nearer discovery."
“All right. I’ll dare it! They won't
—won’t condemn me. anyhow.”
“Ho, ho. Banking on your sex • to
save you! Well honestly, I don’t
really think they'd send a pretty girl
like you to the chair, but a trial would
convict you in the eyes of th«* w«> Id.
evefi if 12 men were too softhearted
to see you electrocuted. And tin-red
be * 1 m or i so ntyent—”
“Oh, hush! Mr. Trask, have you
no pity?" «
“Plenty for the girl that is t*» l»e my
wife. None for any other. And espe
cially none for a girl who scorns me
and throws me over for my own s< *•
retary. I’m a red-blooded man. 1 am.
ami you can’t play fast and loose with
me and get away with it!”
(To Hr < out In lied Monday.)
Saturday Musical —Free To All
January 6, 1923, 3:30 P. Af.
The thirteenth this season of these free musicals will be held
tomorrow and one hour of real enjoyment is promised you. ( onie
and bring your friends. The following well-known artists^ make
up the program: ('elco Solo, played by Marguerite Yolavy;
Dance Russian by Polly Bruno, pupil of Dorothy Devere; Piano
Solo by Irving Heller, pupil of Draco Dennison Schafer; Dance
and Contortionist by Anna Do Witt, pupil of Henry Stone; I’iano^
Trio by Ruth Runn, Helen Shibely and Rowena Shibefy, pupils of
Miss Marie Kieny: Celco Solo, played by Hans Hanker Song and
Dance by Helen Macfarland, pupil of Agnes Britton; Recitation
by Y'irginia Blundfcll, pupil'of Amy Woodruff.
Schmoller & Mueller
1514-16-18 Dl A WO Telephone
Dodge St. r AT Untie 1856
USE BEE WANT ADS—THEY BRING RESULTS
[tA national Institution Jrom Coast to Coast*]
The Store of the Town
Real Furnishings Values
at This Men's Store
•
Maintaining a reputation has been the policy of this house lor
the past 34 years. These fUrnishings values backed by
our good name.
Men's Shirts
Not in a long time has such a shirt selling occurred at this store—ami it
is a prudent move on the part of every man who reads this to attend
this unusual clearance.
In Three Great Groups
No. 1
Printed and woven madras and percale shirts. Fine
assortment of neat patterns—
$1.35—2 for $2.50
$1.50 and $2.00 Values
No. 2
Woven and satin stripe madras shirts. Stripes, checks
and plaids—
$1.95—2 for $3.75
$2.50 and $3.00 Values
No. 3
Fancy woven madras and silk stripes. "Shirts from
the finest makers”—
$2.85—2 for $5.50
Values to $5.00 .
Men's Pajamas
‘‘1 aultless and Universal makes,” all the
newest fabrics. Stripes, plain colors, white
silk stripes, mixtures; soisetts, madras, C
French percales and crepes. Fruit of the
loom; plain and fancy trimmed. Wonderful
styles and values that sold to $5.00, at—
$2.65—2 for $5.00
Men's Underwear
Blue mixed Union Suit;-, medium weight,
oJ mixed wool and cotton.
All sizes. •
$2.35—2 for $4-50
y Flannel Shirts,
'J f\07- f l-fT Duofold Under
ZdSJ /0 WU wear. Flannel
Pi.jamas and Night Gowns, Heavy Sweat
ers, Bath Ilobes and Jackets.
.
ALWAYS RELIABLE
15th and Douglas Harry H. Abbott, Manager
Takes the |S*
Slavery Out
of Wash Day