Evening star., 1932-08-08

That's today, isn't it? I was out
all day. 1 went for long drive in the
country"
Took the air, eh? Nice drive in the
country with pal or SOP" Quinlan
asked a question.
mo. I drove the car myself. I was
alone"
Drove yourself" A cloud threw a
shadow obscuring the granite Sits OF
eyes, ITO bad. Now if there'd have
been some one with you, We could clear
things up in a hurry. Maybe we can
do it anyhow" He was silent while.
Then you keep a carp" Tony re-
treated before the question. shot with
startling suddenneSs from between
pursed lips. The head of the detective
emerged from between his shoulders like
that of a bellicose turtle. She was a
fly caught in the trap of his making
If she admitted having a car, he would
want to know more about it. He would
discover that the car belonged to Don
aid Kemp; that Dnald had left it for
her use. Donald'S name would be ap
propriated by headline hunters to make
a feast for the scandal gluttons. as hers
had been. If she refused to answer
evasion was tantamount to guilty
knowledge at least.
Il can't see what that has to do with
where I've been," she said Stoutly. Her
glance in the mirror met Tom Stew
arts eyes. There was that in them so
different from anything she had seen in
a mans eyes before-she was on the
verge of crying out against it.
There was sorrow in them. older than
the world, and shame, and infinite pain.
! They accused, and they pleaded not to
have to accuse.
"A car. if it belonged to you, might
have considerable to do with the case.
and it might mean nothing" Quinlan
| said. He was no longer doing or pre-
| tending to dOze. He was the darting
turtle. 1T might be interesting to
know how you came in possession of
/ the car. You're not a young lady of
/ means as we've learned. You're max
| ing your own way and it's been hard
! scratching at times. If the car was
present, we'd like to know-if maybe
/ 1t was a present from Selden. He gave
| away plenty of EN-"
Tony felt the red wave Of anger, of
hot denial that burned in her cheeks.
So that Is what they thought of her
/ Tom Stewart, for whom she held and
| always must hold herself sacred; this
detective to whom she had given the
truth as she promised she would do.
She said, gripping the sides Of the
chair with her hands that were Jumps
OF ice, and digging the toes of her shoes
y1clously into the nap of the carpet:
The car is not present from Jock
Selden. The only present I ever re-
celVed from him was cOrsage of vio-
lets. There is no other information
I care to offer"
"Um." Quinlan retreated into his
collar again. so long as it's not Sell
den'S affair we'll let it pass. Easy
enough to trace it If It's his. He al
ways gave the same make, and he did
plenty of talking, too. OF course, he
might have made an exception-my
advice to you, Miss BrOokes, is to come
clean
The red wave of anger swept Tony
I have come cIean!" she cried I've
told you everything I knoW-you'ye
aSked-eyCept something that doesn't
coneern efa you, you Or Or th3is17tragedy." 3Es7-g
again. TOMS eyes. ", With n the s pain irl'i1n In
them-pleading.
Then III be on my way" Quinlan
rose. "Selden'S family are not sure
about him jumping on his own. They
seem TO think whoever was with him
lent hand in one way or another.
They want the case cleared up. Good
, night, Miss Brookes. I'll have to ask
you to stay where We can call on you
If we need you. We may want you to
: go to Haven Beach and meet the An
, toinette Brookes they've got there"
Quinlan was gone. Why didn't Tom
} go, too? Why was he standing there,
waiting-Waiting for her to say what
she could not say Please go, Tom
| Please leave me- Why should you be
hurt about what do? I'm nothing to
you. Just girl you could take in your
arms on dark street, girl you could
kiss and kiss, in whose ears you could
! murmur endearments you didn't mean
l loving you while you played the
S fool
"Tony"
"Yes-Tom"
1 Why couldn't you tell Quinlan about
I the carr"
L ITO Re COntinupd1