Evening star., 1933-08-03
e-suspect-that's ahsurdS she's sx-

abe-suspect-that's ahswd~ she's *
actly what she seems"
I'm beginning to think I don't NEAR
anything You'd best go along to your
brother. He'll grow suspicious. Ill 60
with you to the lounge"
Its not going to be easy" said Sue
| Facing him. knowing all along that Y
he suddenly produces his own token I
cannot produce mine to match 1t. ]
was almost ready this morning to give
up the whole thing. After all-why
do I want f1ve million dollars?" She
said 1t thoughtfully, as II she really
did wonder why.
Five millions" said rather bit
terly. "is not to be regarded with dis
respect. And IN this case, If you are
In for Q penny you're in for a pound.
We were walking back along the
north corridor. In two or three days
q the most she would 60 completely
out Of my life.
II was then that I knew what a
devastating thing II would be never
again to see her advancing toward
me. Never again to catch the gay little
challenge Of her mouth that was a
smile. Never again to watch the gal
liant lift Of her chin, the light In gold
CLEANS on her hair, the delicacy Of her
hands and her beautiful body.
Yes, it was. devastating. 1t was like
being caught In the vortex Of cyclone
that you hadn't seen coming.
But even in that destructive moment
and it isn't easy to know suddenly
that your only moments Of high ard
magic living are counted and are few
in count, and that they'll go swiftly
and irretrievably and finally-even in
that moment I knew could not tell
her, could not tell this girl with the
golden millions.
wished shed gone that morning be-
fore her brother came! wished shed
given up her claim as she said she
was about to do wished all manner
of insane things.
And something said: you won't feel
this earring at you for long; 1t would
be unendurable If you did, but you
won't, for even the memory of your
love will grow dim and faint"
And that, Of course, was worse, and
II Sue had turned just then, If shed
faltered or hesitated or looked to me for
help, the whole thing would have come
out.
But she didn't turn. And by the time
we reached the stairway I had walked
through heaven and hell and emerged
I loved her. and I was going to give
her up / was even with my own
hands helping erect that hateful. gilt
tering path along which her little feet
would walk away from me.
Well emerged 1t Is by no means
unique experience. And, after all
I'd rather have had it than not. So
there was no good making a fuss
about II.
It was almost a relief to wrench my
self back to the business at hand. The
business of helping Sue acquire those
severed her from me but which threat
ened her-threatened her-threatenec
her.
And time was pressing.
Francis was still in the parlor. A
We walked down the last steps into the
lounge, Loru came suddenly from the
parlor.
Your brother is waiting for you," he
said, and paused. his clouded dark eyes
meeting Sues gaze. He looked pecu-
liarly uncertain and i'll at ease. The
effect. he gave of not having concluded
his sentence, and thus of having still
something he must say to her, was SC
strong that both Sue and paused, too
motionless, waiting for what was tc
come
But If he'd intended to say something
further he thought better Of It; hs
made q rather strange little gesture
with his hands. shrugged and walked
away. She looked after him perplex-
edly, then turned toward me with q
question In her face. But I, of course
could tell her nothing; I only felt thai
| the detectives look savored, somehow
of warning
Sue took a long breath, gave me 9
quick little nod and walked swiftly to-
ward the stuffy CID parlor and the wait.
ing man. There was a fine temperine
| of steel in Sue; she never lacked cour-
age in crisis.
I sat in the lounge in full view o1
the door and waited. After few sec.
onds I found it impossible to sit. ane
rose, walking back and forth. watching
the parlor door, the lift. the galleries
After all, I'd seen little Marcel shot be-
fore my very eyes and had been pow
erless to prevent 1t.
And there was no denying the fact
that with Francis arrival Sues danger
was great His arrival had forced the
climax; now. II ever, the plot woulC
need be carried to its swift conclusion
for once he was convinced of Sues
identity that plot must automatically
collapse And blind and cropping about
in the dark as we were-not knowing
from what quarter trouble might come
there was every reason to fear that
that conclusion might have an unthink-
able. ghastly outcome.
With the token stolen. even the small
measure of protection its possession hac
given Sue was gone: with that in the
possession of the murderer the next steI
was inevits bly, to produce the substitute
| for Sue-and to silence Sue. And il
must be done at once. if ever.
Another terrible compile alton. tomOr
row. snarls Sues tangie still more.