Paul? He's the very man we want!
"Who is lie?"
"Well, in plain language lie's one of
ihe cleverest detectives in the conn 1
try. though he doesn't call himself :
hat! He's a professional in\estigator
for banks and big business in general,
a sort of specialist in running down
clues. Nothing could lie more forlu
nate than our meeting with him! 111
nsk him to join us in tin* smoker
when he has finished dinner."
■'ln our car. Frank. I don't care to
leave ('arolita!"
"See here. Paul, aren't you letting
your heart run away with your head?
What do you know of this girl?
Haven't you sense enough to know
ihat her story is absolutely impossi
ble. from every point of view ? Girls
aren't innocent in this day and age!
Don't you realize that site proved
mighty clever in helping you to
identify that ring to the conductor,
even giving you the words that were
in it? A man of your money and posi
tion. to say nothing of your good looks,
has no business mixing up in such
adventures. Volt'll be hooked for a
million dollars' damages before you
know if’ It's a mighty good thing
.Mill wired toe! I declare, you behave
like a child in arms!" ,
••oh. shut up!" Paul retorted cross
ly, "you're about as romantic as a
string bean, and I'll be responsible
for my own actions. Do you suppose
1 haven't thought the tiling over?"
“A man who falls ;e hard as you've
fallen doesn't think, lie just squirms!
W hat are you going to do with her
anyway? Adopt her? Fine time
volt'll have explaining to the conduc
tor why you arc taking your baby
home!"
"Somebody has to cave for that girl. I
Frank. liven you admit that the ]
• lead man must have been her guard- j
ian, and that there will he nobody to
meet her in 1 .|>S Angeles. \\ hat is
'he poor child to do? Walk the
st roots?"
Mid just what do you propose to
do with her? '
"Take her to Mrs. Reynolds, of
course!"
"And supposing that Mrs. Reynolds j
s in Santa Barbara, although she
wired me from tills train —what i
»ire you going to do with this girl :
Upon arrival in 1-os Angeles at 1.
