Evening star., 1931-06-07

ing the Lion of Lithuania! If Burke'd give
him time. And he seemed to be giving It,
too. No, he dove! Straight for that
rock-ribbed stomach. The Lion had just wit
enough. at the moment, for a stumbling side
Slip If Burke'd hit him full he'd "a Knocked
him into the ticket office.
Burke was out Through the ropes. Some
chairs banged down. Quite mix-up. Ex-
cited people untanging themselves. Every
body yelling their heads OF. Now he was
up. His turn to shake his head. Wonder
he hadn't cracked his skull on typewriter
something. But he was climbing slowly
back
The Lion rushed, of course. Reached for
o head hold. But Burke lodged Ran across.
Another rush and another dodge. third
rush. This time. . Gosh! Wowl
bang. A hundred and eighty hats sailing
through the tobacco smoke. You couldn't
hear yourself talk. 1t wasn't like yelling or
cheering, it was just steady roar. This
time Burke. turning like a panther. had
caught him full and hurled him nat on his
back.
Well that was the nrst fall. Two out Of
three, you know. They were stil milling
round there at the press table where Burke
had fallen Something not right. Mr.. Sweeney
Todt wormed in there. The little girl from
the Planet had passed out-cold. Tough.
cop carried her to Squire Bassett's Office.
They had to help that poor Lion back for
the second fan. He through for the
evening.
Burke laid him like a piece Of hnoleum.
Sixteen seconds. What price Rough Red Ca
hoon now?
One other unexpected incident was TO stand
out IN Mr.. Todt's memory Of the evening.
Burke, when he was dressed, looked him up.
A handsome fellow. Some dresser, too.
new sort in this weird racket.
He said in his quiet way, WAS that girl
hurt?"
"Oh, she came round pretty well. The
Squire sent her home in his car"
do you know who she is?"
do know? Sure! Barbara Belts Of the
Planet"
An odd expression fitted for an instant
across the uncommunicative face. But Burke
only said. "Oh!" And then, after minute.
where does she hve?"
Haven't an idea Call up the Planet"
At see Thanks" And the big fellow walked
quietly out into the night.
Sweeney Todt stared after him.
YOU couldn't term it an apartment. Not
quite. Not when you'd walked up four
flights of dim stairs and then into q crowded,
very small living room. Hardly even fiat. The
local term was suite. But that was highfalut-
ing.
There was . thin little older woman. APP
parently the girls mother The girl herself lay
propped up on q sofa with an old-fashioned
afghan over her knees. There were books on
the sofa and on the floor. A typewriter on
sort Of tabouret at her elbow. And sheets OF
paper that had fallen here and there to lie
unheeded.
The funny thing the way they stared at
each other. When he'd taken her hand, that
was The face surprised him. delicate oval.
Framed in bobbed hair, rather brown, that
seemed to fly out around on its own. A cheer
full face The hazel eyes were wide and open
and humorously alert.
During this odd little space of time in which
nothing whatever was said he failed to observe
that she was staring too. Taking him in, bewil-
dered.
She was the first to catch it. She colored.
The hazel eyes sparkled.r
How wonderful Of you to look me up! Do
sit down."
ST can't ten you how very sorry am"
Coming out in the taxi, he'd put those words
together as decent Introductory remark
But she interrupted. Heavens, you mustn't
be! I've seen plenty Of men 60 through the
ropes"
He slowly turned his hat between his hands.
She fingered the typewriter. At the same IN
slant they looked up. their eyes met fun. and
they spoke, one:
iWho on earth .s..~' 3.s.' "a af-'-'""