P5$" ' r 'Tttytvr y iv 'ifo-ffp yw ir1" tttI ?U- 'V'K',, ;' ,'"V.W'' irifff IfggtZU --jfWv LADYFINGERS By JACKSON GREGORY Copyright, tttt, by bhartes Bcrlbner'g Bong THIS STAItTS TUB STOttY Ladvfinpcr," thief but a gen .. ...Liif, n iimituf1 mcrrll disnosi !!m Is the object of a frame-up 4hat : fm' fasten the cracking of a info on him "-."' ' mt. iorttttft.iiti ia ninnnrtl bu a matter ana croon i-r and crook with the aid of 'amide detective ana a onoc o ovm ? ' a latcvcr anxious to get rid of PSZfingtn. He attempt' a diamond Xfrot the person of rich Mrs. pittherit, because Polly Lp Brim asks itMta net it for her, and he escapes !lo ikol, with' the detective in Tumit. He i engaged as secretary the woman ho attempted to rob, a. Arcwd business women with a real itart hidden under a rough exterior. lUiion, tho lawyer who Offered the tWOO bribe, has charge of the legal ntrt af this woman, and she had' ffVL inquiries of the where 'tZuts of a grandson. He finds tho illng man in the person of "Lady V.nVrs" He reported him dead. Walton hod been paying court to Ftclvn Daly, the supposed heiress. Me is fickle and uncertain. He tries 79 force a climax by relating to her ilat the grandson would inherit T,leed of herself. A large sumo) woHfl had bcin removed from the tlnty bank to Mrs. Stctherll s sac iZ one night Haddon tells Ashe he "J steal this money, give him $10,. COO and then get out of the country, nut Polly T'O nrun reveals to Ashe a an concootcd'tu Haddon and Am ?" to capture and steal from him the loot he steals from the safe, then to land him at tho penitentiary. AND IIBRK IT CONTINUKS BUT be had had ample time tn vhlch to consider his position from all teiln and his determination wds firmly -de. Now thcro was nothing to do but alt! Walt through tho hours which altcrnatclj- seemed creeping and flying He was given up Enid, but not for nil time. Surely not for nil time. That would be hideously imposlblc. Tie had written a letter which he would dip under her door tonight, which she would rd the first thing lu tho morning. She ww going to awake with him In her thoughts. Hl letter would bring snr- row, but she would unncrsinnu. nne would suffer, but Bho would forgive. ou. ,,,.i,i nlt. And some day, some one u day Already his clock indicated the elev enth hour of the night. The eleventh hour' Ills lips tightened -grimly. He took up his hat nnd left tho room. Ing ago had the big house grown silent. There wa no use waiting longer. He went nlong tho dark hall, down the carpeted stairways, silently. He came tn Hnid's room nnd stopped. I'pou his knees he slipped the letter under her door. And then, his bend again in hist bands, he -cmnincd very still, kneeling. "I am coming back," he whispered it Inst. "I am coming back, wmc time, Enid, (iood-by, Enid. " He moed on slowly, cautiously, making no sound. For a little he thought only of Enid, Enid sleeping Just yonder. But Bwlftly bin mind uritchcd from her to the Immediate, iwronnnl Hnneer which he felt to be lurking in tho darkness for him. The ono thing now wns to keep clear of ar rest, to keep his freedom bo that in the futuro he might bo arbiter of his own fate. Ilnddon nnd Ambrose might even now be watching him. Ashe must ba ready as well as he might. He thought of other nights in dark houses, with safes to be opened nnd a policeman just outside. The silence nnd obscuritv and void about him were fa miliar Through a window whose slinde had not been drawn he now saw that the night was clear with a moon. Yon der across the hall lay n little patch o( light. He must pass through it. He paired, listening. He was again taking his chance, nnd he knew it. realizing all that it meant. Hut. though intensified, his sensations were the old, oft-repeated sensations of f'thir chances taken. He wns prepared to leap forward or back instantly, to throw himself to right or left, to fight it out, to seek tho open bv n dash through window or door. His blood was tingling but rather pleasantly now than otherwise. For the moment tho 'motion standing highest in his brenst was nun of zest. He was I.adyfingers, hn had defied such as 1icutcnnnt Am broe fop ninny cnrH, T-adjilngers the debonair, fearless, confident ami capa ble. And while he moved oifc noiselessly, ready for anything, there wns some. one quile near him, some one who nlso wns taking her chance. Ashe himself had told her. "Sometimes it's the only way of getting the tiling you want." Rachel Stethcril herself, crouching like a thief in n little nleovo which looked into tin- study, wnitcd. She taw him conic to the study door. She wn-, scarcely breathing, her henrt wns heating wildly, her little old body wa sliakiug pitifully. "Oh. tloil!" she whispered over nud mor "l( is just n hoy'. And he won't do this thing, ho won't! I know he won't!" She mw that he hnd paused ngain. that he appeared to hesitate, lie took a tfrp forward and her trembling hands cliupeil each other tightly, lifted u little ns though adding their mute sup plication to tho iuiet prajer of her lips. It was mute ilnrk and yet not the utter blackness to hide his form entirely. She t ould sec that he moved another step, that again he paused. That again be I moved 'He iR coin bv!" In the tenseness of the moment her body ceased shaking ami grew rigid. "Thank unci, no is going by!" It was m bard there in the darkness to see just whnt ho did! Hut he had not passed on. Ho seemed again to hesltnto. tn lin llHtpnlnc rven as she listened, to be watching ns she atcln& He hnd come intn the room. She saw bim come forwnrd swiftly now, she even fancied that bIio saw mm lift bis houlilorh lightly. He hnd his hat on. He passed between her and a window. lie was going straight to the corner of the room in which the snfo stood. It was upon her lips to .call out, "Stop! Don't do this thing!" Hut he kept hep silence. She would wnit fntil the last second, sho would not be lieve until Ashe wns bending over the safe. In the ubsolutc stillness, Rachel Stctherll henrd tho swift, almost noiseless spin ning of tho knob. She dropped her yi'l face into her slinking hnnds only to jerk it. lin flivflln Lhirlni, ilirmtch till. darkness, listening, fearing, hoping, kIic "oriuy Mievv what now. In "r Hep pnircp pa liml k,cii. oven that dim light. Now tho door of the " Sll JO hnd U w it 11 r nnnn t nh iAnrft to those slender white, hands of his. One ' his bunds had gone quickly to his i'uckm .She had seen it In silhouette gainst the window. The safe had tinsci ngain. (. wns turning away, lows back to the door ."'''ilj there wns a Hash of light nnu Ilobblo Ashe swung about, stnrtled. ! W Hooded wlili Hot. ir ..n,.,wi - -v lUUill. fill rir mi incttiKif- n(.i na jo sec Haddon confronting' him triumphantly, Haddon and Ambrose n hpi"ll?!' f h,? mw llflchcl Slrthwll switch. ttaj' fro,n t,,e clcclrlc doI?;oid,,;ou,i"mi,tcrc,K "Yimi nnd- M,!':VC." llJfn ,,c rcali,c1 ,,iat I" 1' hn 1 .J.7 ",Cr0 Vn? n l00k Which llC voir J jiM.cn bof1, T1,cru was a Karning that vv-ns close. t0 tears, there wag pain ns of a oul lu anguish. He did not understand. bc"rc ifer. 10 tW U1 hamls tw,8t,n nfter0nin " Ju"1 " U,lcf J,1Rt a t,,,cf' He had never beard her voice like it was broken nnri um1 a !,,. this. less voice of n i..i . , , :J ",u uiiian had taken her one chance nnd lost. ... lr,.. Ilc "old with sudden b very old woman who aililflnn Ktl Jam iho.iiAsh? nl vo,,r wrvlcc- JI" i., .m ,I,',n',;?nK(,rs lf J' wish. deep bows "m'k 1,Cr 0,,c uf hls t,,''1',' ""o said wearily. "I know, nut I nlvvnys thought My o0d.! I nlvvnys hoped Hint you were n gen tlemnn In spite of It! I 0 fool, a inlsernblc fool. I think that vou live broken my heart. Hobert Ashe." no ,Sti ?ki!,R nt ,lcr wondcringly. In heRrT,lnd. "n,lb' ff wU m,ght "0 "u. ,"''ks:" I"1 said quietly, "as "., K'"'1 of " 'f If you'll andgeT't'ob'ed." "" BPt rM 0t ",C lnVh-lu?k '"yclinnre," she was saying n the same lifeless monotone. "It wns he only way to know If you were lit- mn f ,,r,,Cml,tlb1?' T Hlaml a bad ma ii, but not u h.vnocr to." Ashe Hushed and bit his lip. Vou imvc been good to me " began nu etlv. be nJTn "'.'T f.Crk0'.I.."p ,,cr ll(,nd nKl" nl Shut up! Talk to me about being good to you and then, the first time jou get the chnnce. rob me!" .I,!?1!- .Ji10!,1',""1" 1,c oxelnlmcd shnrply. "I ,H,l not rob you." Vou did!" she snapped hotly. "I saw you !" ..t"I,'r y(Jl'.r I'ar,lon." he nnswercd. I did not!" tl o'N-!lnt dld you ,ako out ot my .safe "Nothing." iiurr sne uung o ir"AK you will," lie "Hut ' at him. "Liar!" answered coolly, "Thlr, man is my prisoner! Stand .wnere you are, my gay I.adyfingers! So sut you nt inst, nave IV" Ashe turned mrlftlv , "So." he said briefly, it, Ambrose?" 'it's jou, Is Ijieiitcnant Ambrose Htenno Inin l,o room nnd heiiind him come Justin Had- 1?nL ynB. in,t' nnd nnxlous-cved. Itachcl Stethepil stared at them both with hnrd, unwinking eyes. "Who's your friend. Haddon?" she demnnded in an ugly voice. "And what In Ood's name are you up to now?" "May I introduce him?" nsked Ashe imperturbnhly. "Mrs. Stctherll, Lieu tenant Itichnrd Ambrose, distinguished in the San Francisco police nnd crook circles. Haddon, jou are quite the cur I thought you. Ambrose, nt your serv ice." Ambrose, his ejes glenming. came n step forward, his right band In his coat pocket, watchful and suspicious. "This mnn," ho explained to Itachcl Stctherll, "Is a crook. He is wanted in San Francisco for u good mnny things. Ever hear of I.adyfingers? Among other things he stole your diamond for you." Itachcl Stctherll went to her chair and sat down. She looked not nt Had don nor Ambrose, hut nt Anho. Anil h. smiling, met her look stendlly. Hut for all of his composure his heart was sick within him. To be trapped this wav. to be dragged away to jail, with Enid under tho same roof Rachel Stethcril wub very silent, her wrinkled old face n mask through which her bright, black eyes burned ominously. Her lips were working, but for a Uttlo no worus came. "If you hadn't lied to me," she aaid after a very long silence. "If you hadn't played the hypocrite "I didn't Ho to you," maintained Asnc stoutly. "To you I have never played tho hypocrite, xou have been like a mother to me and I have played square with you." "He's got a glib tongue," grunted Ambrose. "Hc'l get his chance to tnlk to the judge. You'll come along with me nnil not make any trouble, Ashe." Ashe stared nt him insolently. "What is the chargc?"hn demanded. Ambrose laughed tolcmiitly. , "Standing by nil jour rights, oh?" he sneered. "Well, then, for the theft of Mrs. Stetheril's diamond." "That all?" with undisturbed In solence. "And for burglary. You see. tny dear young crook, both Mr. Haddon and , myself saw you crack the safe there." Ashe laughed at him. "You've got great eyes for seeing in the dark!" ho grinned. "Mrs. Stctherll," said Ambrose, swinging about upon her, "will you. open jour snfo?" "No!" She wns upon her feet ngain. her outstretched forefinger close under Ambrose's nose. "No! I won't! And jou let that boy go! I don't caro tho snap of my fingers what he's dono! I refuse to prosecute! Hear me? You let him go!" Ambrose's stare of astonishment was no more marked than Ashe's. Haddon began to pluck nervously nt his under lip. "Open the safe!" cried Ashe. "Open it!" "Hluff, curse you," snnrlcd Ambrose. "Much good it'll do sou!" "I won't open It, repeated Rachel Stethcril. "And you won't arrest that boy! Lot him go, I tell you! It him go or I'll have Carter call my servants and chuck you out of the house. Yes, and that infernal sneak Haddon with jou! Do you hear me?" "I hear jou," said Ambrose stolidly. "Hut even you can't do n tiling like lint. I've got tny hands on Robert Ashe and " "You fool!" she screamed at him. "Who is Hobert Ashe? Where is Robert Ashe? That? That is Robert Stethcril Ellis. My great-grandson, if jou plcuse. And now that I've got him witli (lod't. help or the devil's, I'm going to keep him !" Ambrose looked nt her with sagging jaw. I.adyfingers the great-grandson of Rachel Stctherll of tho Stethcril millions? From her ho stnrcd nt Had don, whoso pnllor bad deepened. As for Hobble Ashe, for a moment bo wns stupefied. And then quick, hot tears sprang into his eyes. To him It was so simple, so futile, so pathetic. Tho old women meant to save him eveu now, and so Hut wns the thing so futile after all? If she mcniit to suve him, wdiy then vvliut was Impossible? And not yet had she opened the safe! It was incredible, but "Mrs. Stethcril," ho cried out to her Impctiiouslj. "I glvo you my word flint I have not taken a thing from your safe. Open it!" Sho turned upon him slowly and for a long time stood looking deep Into his ejes, the muscles of her wrinkled old face working pitifully. "If you are telling mo the truth CONTINUED MONDAT EVENING PUBLIC THE GUMPSIt's the Clotfies Tlwt Make the Man -Vm tstffs i cm vrcrw turX t cany wea wt swt amy NT oUR- SSTer. iteu. - tviev sav You werc such a ntRct u f- SU1Y AGAtrt- ALL XT NfctC IB MORE- Y'S ALL OtfY OF STYIE-Vf ( e SOtf YOU PLAYING Vj L0OKIM6 SCAPE CRoW THAT YoO Y. A LITTLE FRESUs6 YoV HAVE - ) 1 i Loov ,,wP A SCAPECerW SCARECROW jm H TAM? ISM NOT OHLY SCARLp YHfc CROWS PULL THE .-SLEDJEV UP LIKE AM ' UKe A AKtLKOW, KemEMBER WHEN ALL YrlOSE CROW 1 ' BOY OWT CROW BROU&MY BACK 1 ( AccoTOON Yo 0,ft? "I'M I ,T r rff DoYVltKE You SO EATING YHE 1 C0RH .ZW YHRLE A V ir aSmVWwTop f J Ml I .0,Rd AND SYEAUWGYUE LITTLE 1 V PAY BEFORE- SOMEBODY'S STENOGCam Knocks Their Eye Out so cam viEnT Down To The shore amd knocked a'll Those Poor fish sillv! 1 Wa frHf.-JO The Young Lady Across the Way I 1 I eVlttYOH HAS FOUND.HK " I 1 f A ( l I, il 1) N Sffio'SP f THY'V HI0PN HIS EGG f nSSKlif9JW tS (awJ) HiGHT IK HI5 OWN BEARD ? - n MiflSlBMm 'iK The young lady across the way 4, Ips. S S 1 I C MrHHHK 1 says can't the church bestir iusclf t&P 7 Sl 0 J Il ' KwVyirt V lll and exert its influence against any V? v r rr I' C3 SW'(ivAy more wars nnd thus save the young f H C hifj .)i & h&&fKP$l men of tho future from cnnonlra- r WJ TWpI' ''' V PETEYTlw Spring Sleeping Sickness : : : : : : By C. A. Voight I " I THE CLANCY KIDS Once a Leopard Had One and f 'iH-,' ' - I I l '"' U! "I ' IIIWIIII I .. ! I , SlrJ' fl ':.. 2&Fi , ' SWKTSSK . snrA f& 1 1 c'A. n 1 irr 'Jti srm LEDGER-PHILADELPHIA, SATURDAY, rff 1 n .1 S?'"' V, JUL O00 C& y-' t & r , "JS5 -Jfp?' THE FAMILY EASTER EGG HUNT : : liy FONTAINE FOX SCHOOL DAYS : -:- -:- jgfJWHeRE DIDYA) I ft (MY?Op.ue I -TIMMIET && TO HIM. J J I He Broke Out in Spots MABCH 26, 1921 Thc (man T SAYS Gov a ?eoieRtE Cop' rlnlil in;t. by Public lE.fSOAlLUV MORE pUJMIME.' EXTRA'. WATCH FOR MAYBE THATiFwHYHe who a Ave t 60T RIO OFIT.r, HL'S IDBeCAReFUL (ASOUTHAWDLINa A5i. By Sidney Smith By Hayward Iodgi - r Co isait This fuajmy .' har . via.i..ve viiH tou a ajice. easter. AERG &OIAIG TO MKE. IV& PlLLS AO (S&T BACK To BED. OUR "5RIP"WG SERIAL MOHDtf. Bu DWIG By Percy L. Crosby A . Y Br sL -- ,u W V('VV.VVU f mil "' " ' -- 1 TTTy. ''11 in iiimM M, ci,5je:f - "--fun rin )fil . -- - " '"fff ' '""" yfr-nn'tr
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