Madame Pinkette & Co

Summary

Liane Fraser has a precarious subsistence as a telephonist until Fortune smiles upon her when she obtains the position of manageress of the necessitous fashion salon Madame Pinkette, the owner of which, Joseph Limsdock, falls in love with her. Because of Liane's spirit of enterprise, she soon turns the establishment into a first-class fashion palace, hiring Parisian mannequins to wear and show off its expensive costumes. However, a shadow is thrown on her happiness when suspicion of murder falls on her after a book-maker is found dead in her appartment. He was about to steal a cheque from her when Liane discovered him and managed to lock him in a cupboard. When she returned after cashing the cheque and intended to release the man, she found him dead. It is only much later that she finds out that he had been murdered by his brother.

Peggy, an adventuress, knows something about Liane's secret and blackmails her. She also forces the brother-bookie to marry her and is horrified when she learns that her husband is a murderer. In the meantime, the brother advises Liane to bet a large amount of money on the French stallion Foxling at the next horse-racing event, and to let the horse run for Madame Pinkette & Co. Some minutes before the race is to begin, the rumour spreads that Foxling has been doped. The jockey who was to ride him is suspected and is knocked down by the trainer. In order to save Limsdock's honour, Liane puts on the jockey's clothes and rides the horse to victory. Peggy's husband, the murderer, knowing that the police are after him, flees to a foreign country. Now that Liane is beyond suspicion, she can marry Joseph Limsdock, whose honour - and that of Madame Pinkette & Co. - she has saved.