"Alias nothing!" says Ma. "Gilligan is her right name and you can see my marriage certificate and the date is on it plain!"
"Better leave this to me for a moment, O'Rourke," says the nice gentleman, about Pa's age, he must have been. Then he turns to me while the cop took a back seat.
"Miss LaTour," the gent. began, "I am one of the local W.S.S. committee—Pioneer Division—Pierson Langton is my name. And I have come to see you concerning your sale last night!"
Well—believe you me—the minute I heard his name I had him spotted! One of the F. F. V's of N.Y. and I had often seen his name in the paper with war-work and all.
"Do sit down, both!" I says real cordial. "I am so glad to see you! It's kind of you to come, because of course I was going to bring you the money the first thing in the morning! Just wait till I get my make-up box!"
And without giving him time to say another word I hurried out and got it, the cop watching me with his hand on his hip. When I come back and give Mr. Langton the box and key, he looked real surprised.
"Twenty-five thousand cash!" I says. "Would you mind counting it?" He give me one of the funniest looks I ever had handed out, but he done like I asked. Then he got up, box under one arm, and bowed, and sat down again.
"Miss LaTour," he said. "I think I win a bet with our friend O'Rourke, here! I was sure you were all right. Your reputation was on the face of it too valuable for such an open fraud. And your utter disingenuousness is the final proof!"
"Fraud! What do you mean?" I gasped.
"There's been a complaint about your selling W.S.S. without no authority!" says O'Rourke at this. "Entered last night by Miss Ruby Roselle. We got your cards here, that she handed in. But you ain't got no stamps! I dont know but what we ought to make a arrest, Mr. Langton!"