Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-18

indeed no physical match on any
terms for his antagonist tried To
slip around him and get TO tie
door. But Max was quicker thar
he was and he met bis rush with a
blow on the jaw that was Ike the
kick Of a mule. A crashing sound
accompanied by a brilliant display
OF lights was the last thing Martin
was conscious Of for several min
utes.
The next thing was a stream OF
cold air and wetness and a pair
OF Light hands exploring beneath
his unbutt0ned coat He did not
remember Rhoda's trunk check
and ticket. that Max had said ne
meant to get, but all the same be
tried to push the hands away.
Even as he did 30 the for lifted
enough for him to realize that they
were q girls hands and that they
weren't picking his pockets
The shaky voice that said. TITS
all right Lie STILL" sounded like
Rhoda's and the face he giddily
saw bending over him looked like
Rhoda'S II couldn't be, could itf
What would she be doing here.
Where was this. anyhow? And
why was his head drenched with
water7 IL was Rhoda- She was
getting clearer every minute.
1T really Is you. isn't it7- ne
mnid.
she nodded and said. Don't talk.
Lie still"
As his vision cleared and things
got less swimmy he saw that she'd
been crying. and the shock OF that
discovery lifted the fog from his
memory. This was the room
where he'd encountered Max Lewis.
What's he been doing TO your
be asked
Max Nothing. He didn't know
I was here He thought I'd gone.
Just as ne told you
But you must have been here
to have heard him tell me So"
II was In that room in the dark.
Claire was In here waiting for
him, but she didn't zee me when
rcame in. Iheard all he and Claire
said while they were q~uarrelin-.
But they were both so angry. each
with the other. that I could hardly
tell what Il was about
II struck him that he ought to
know the framework OF their quar-
rel: probably he would when he'd
come to a little better. he asked.
why was he chasing you around
the place n he thought you'd
gomez"
He wasn't" Rhoda said i
wasn't running away from him.
I'd had a long talk with Mr.. For
ster. I think I found out quite IN
lot from him. Martin Then Y
talked with Max All he wanted
was to ret rid of me. and he
thought be had. And then Y heard
my uncle talking to Mr. Forster
and I simply bolted In a panic.
IL was perfectly silly. but I'm glad
! did or ] wouldn't have been here
now"
VIVA happened after Mar
knocked me out7- He had already
begun exploring his pockets
He took MI envelope she said.
-Out OF that pocket; the first one
he felt In. I suppose II must have
been the ticket and trunk check he
said you'd stolen from him He
didn't look inside Just crammed
II 10 his pocket and went cut as
quickly as be could"
How long ago was thatf I
mean, how long Was II Cut7~
she turned away from him az
she answered, T don't know. II
seemed q long time TO me Was IL
something important that he got
away within"
He told her how he'd seen Max
carrying or her trunk and the
stratagem by which Babe had got
the trunk check from him The
thing for Us to do be decided. is
10 get out OF here and beat II TO
that baggage room 7 know the
way TO the stairs. That's how !
got in"
But almost as he spoke there
came the clatter OF q metallic OBJ
Jet falling downstairs. Somebody
on the other side OF that door had
just had an unforeseen encounter
with Martins waste-paper basket.
Then. a they Involuntarfly stopped
with held breath, they heard a key
driven into the lock Right az
hand was a door, u little a1ar.
opening into what was probably q
closet Martin. catching Rhoda mp
with one arm mrs II she'd been u
package. fairly lifted her inside
and shut the door after them.
They heard the stair door open
they heard steps along the ccFri-
dor. But, instead Of going By. the
steps paused outside the closet
door.