Evening star., 1932-07-26

or the will to do Sc, Tom Stewards
arm was about her, drawing her INTO
deep shadow. His lips on hers, gently,
hungrily. Against her eyes, murmuring
endearments. Against the soft curve of
her cheek where 1t met her hair. Back
to her lips again. :. tom, you must
not I promised Lee-oh' my dear
She would surrender She had sur
rendered Then, as suddenly as they
had gathered her in, Toms arms re-
laxed. He still supported her, his hand
under her elbow She was giddy, con-
fused car had drawn up to the curb
near where they were standing. Voices,
mufied staccato. The door of the car
opened.
A bundle tumbled out onto the side
walk A loose, terrifying bundle that
sprawled. The car slithered away from
the curb, gathered speed, was already
disappearing into the darkness before
the bundle had come to full stop.
Tony wanted to scream. She could not.
Toms hand was across her mouth.
Quiet, dear" he warned. Don't
move. Lean against the ledge. I'll see
what's happened"
Tom left her there. He was bend
ing over the terrifying bundle. In
second he was back. Somewhere near
at hand whistle cut the stiffness A
siren sounded.
"Dead' Tom was racing her to-
ward Mrs. Higgins. Get into the house
and up to your room quickly There's
nothing we can do. If we're found
here in the street when the police come
We may be held as witnesses. I've got
10 leave on the job tomorrow morning.
I can't have you facing this alone.
don't like running away, but We didn't
see who was in that car, didn't even
get the license number or description
Of 1t. Tony, I wanted to"
The siren Shrieked again, closer: Tom
opened the door at the top of the
chipped stone stoop, thrust Tony inside.
The latch clicked behind her. She
could hear his scudding feet. down the
steps. Why hadn't he remained inside
the door, with her? She must get to
her room unseen, unheard. II they
found Tom she would 90 out into the
street again, take her place beside him.
The window, a tiny one In the front
hall. 1t faced the street. OF with hat
and coat first. II she met any one in
the hall they would think she had been
attracted from her room by the siren.
Up the street lights were flashing,
figures moving. Windows glowed yell
low, framing leaning half-bodies. Other
sirens had taken up the clamor. Tony
scanned the figures IN the circle OF
flashing lights intently. Tom was not
one of them.
She fed to her room. closed and
bolted the door. She was gasptng for
breath. Terror drove the blood in icy
rivuletS down her spine. A man, dead!
Sprawled on the cold stone while Tom
murmured passionate endearments
against her lips. living, burning words
that sung Of life and of love.
Tom loved her. He had told her so
not in words-there hadn't been time
for words-but his lips. She went
to the mirror. Strange she couldn't see
where Toms lips had pressed her face,
tenderly, passionately. Her lips trem-
bled into a smile, there at the corner
where his lips had fingered. The dear,
lean browneSs OF him.
Tony said aloud to lend conviction to
her thoughts:
tell her the truth. She'll hate me. l
am sorry for that, but there is no other
way. 1t would be wrong, wretchedly
wrong. to sacrifice love to her whim.
She does not love Tom. She Is using
him. He's an anchor to windward in
case her other plans fail. She would
spoil his life and mine with her self
ishness. He belongs to me, just as I
belong to him, have always belonged TO
him, since my creation. Tomorrow Tom
will tell her.
Tomorrow! Tom was going tomorrow.
No today. She would not see him
again for weeks, months maybe. He
couldn't go, leave her like this. She
must find him. Where? In the city?
No, she would have to wait for him.
He must come or there would be word
from him. She would wait. with this
new. this priceless secret warm in her
heart.
A day passed A bright, glimmering
day shot with gold and blue. Tony
read the papers A man had been
s'taken for ride" Rival Rangsters had
rubbed him OUT and dumped his life
less body into West Forty-sixth street
He had been dead at least six hours
when found. The policeman picked ur
q suspicious looking car, but 1t had es-
capped them in traffic. A patrolman
saw the car swing into side street
but thought nothing OF the matter unit
an alarm was broadcast. Too late. NJ
trace of the car. Only the sprewlec
body on the sidewalk. So far AZ wa:
known, no witnesses
In the morning there would be
ldkr from Tom. Tony would have Y