Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-31

Christmas Eve burned StSduity. fdc
walked through the singing dusk. and
thought. not of the wrath OF his troop
commander. but of fir tree dominat-
Ing a shabby room with its tinSel
Spiendor. So thinking. he stumbled up
the steps of the hosiery and through
n ciu1Iy lighted hallway. where two
men in gray uniforms loanged on
retfee Their Inconsistencies was so
elaborate that Cameron knew instnc-
lively that they had been trying to I'M
ravel the tangled mutter OF voices from
the room at the stairs head
Hello. Cameron, one of the loungers
aaid to the recruit. Captain wants TO
see you. Hes up with Delaney now.
And have heart the. other I'M
plored, and leave that door open
little. willya2 We can't hear darneo
thing
Spurs clinksd as Cameron came to
attention and saluted stitf1y.
Captain he exclaimed, and waited.
Capt. Dover checked his noor-paclng
and the trooper felt his eyes pass over
him like ouesting hands. BY the edge
Of the bed. Delaney stood rigid. his face
A solemn mask. To the rookie, the
atmosphere of the room seemed TO
tincie with static disapprovai he felt
the CAPTAINS eyes fixed upon his Solleo
end nisshspen hat and saw the rugged
face harden. Dover shrugged his
shoulders and the irwin silver diamonds
OF his rank glittered IN the electric
light He turned again 70 Delaney
without comment.
why didn't you phone for more
neu?" he raped. picking up the m
terTupted conversation.
Because / haven't needed them, sir, :"
TNalsuev rcsnnndRd
Dover paced the floor heavily before
replying.
Didn't need them2" he sncrted
with two murders and a robbery and
another near murder on your hands?
what have YOU done 10 show you don't
need the whole troop TO help your"
Little enough Delaney admitted
steadily. "but IT, the captain pleaSes,
we've Done all 20 men could have done.
So far there hasn't been anything 10
take hold of And the murders don't
belong to us. They're In Duquesne and
are up 70 the Duouesne police.
Dover stared at him for an instant
before replying. Why haven't you
played your own game. them" he de-
Ynanded. Haven't you had enough 10
do without messing in with walker
we have, STR" the sergeant admitted
still levelly Walker asked Us for help
90 begin with. Since then, the whole
thing has been interviewer. sort OF. 1t
seemed best TO work together, untli
today"
sWav TIL today?" Dover snapped.
To-day" Delaney answered in mild
voice. i've come To think Walker mas
been letting personal feeling sway him.
Ee--he doesn't like Cameron"
Yes" the captain said shortly.
"there's girl mixed up in II some
how isn't there?" He turned TO look
Of the rookie. who felt himself redden.
You're new In the department,
Cameron" Dover said TO him directly
''Tnst may excuse you for being the
oniv trooper in the history Of the serv-
ios that some one assaulted and got
aWay with It clean You've got no alibl
for acting a he-yamp while In uniform.
That's the first thing that was drubbed
into you In training. ] thought you
had stuff III you and sent you out on
patrol with Delaney because j believed
h. could bring II OFT. I'm disappointed
Disappointed in f~''~ Of you-egpe-
cially in you. You are 10 return TO
bsrTacg5--~
He broke Of 10 stare angriIy at the
Door where some che raped.
what is ~" he snapped
Telephone a voice said outside.
Cameron lady Says it's urgent"
The grin on DoyerE hard face was
neither nirthful nor sympathetic. He
hesltsted a moment and then SPOKE ~
81 ominouglv quiet voice.
Answer he cali Trooper Cameron
Then come back and pack y03T saddle
bags Troopers EaDnon ano Ionllu-
son relieve you here. You return 10
bsrYacka "
Tight tipped and numb. the rookie
stumbled down the stairs. lie felt t1f
eyes NJ the waiting troopers upon MIN
as he passed along the ball snd took up
the dangling telephone receiver
What r. IT," he asked ouilV. and
even the voice that replied failed "
thflil him
TROOPER Cameron" Il asked.
ayes"
There was iong pause and then
Esther spoke again.
Il wanted 10 tell you she said ano
broke of To cough spaSmodiealiy,
You mustn't come out here tonight,
the voice commanded. and the cough
was repeated You mustn't, because
I'm too busy now 10 SEE you ! don't
want YOU to c1ne out here now
he felt bis heart banging against his
ribs 81 she paused Comprehension
came 10 him IN "A sudden. priekling
food Of excitement. He managed 10
SPEAK quietly
THAT'S q bad cough you have"
The dry hacking sound of II came
o. him over the wire was repeated
I'm 50 glad you hadn't started al
Yssdy" the voice said Come t0fn0F-
Fow. or some other time Only not To-
night You understand"
Il understand perfectly" he told her
s hung ap the receiver and Fsn upstairs
4 Eheedless ~ The amazed stafes Of The
Aeanging troopers.