Evening star., 1933-01-02
NsTAI.LMENT XXI

m" HERE exists notnmS! M
- Jessant at last declared dis
appointingly. "He was born
Il In Nice. Franco Italian
parentage Was once a
waiter, then manager Of night club
lie married miliner. but evidently
that didn't pay, because she divorced
him for infidelity. He is well known
O. O racing driver. and that's all. A
thoroughly commonplace record, with
nothing criminal on it. Perhaps your
lady visitor Of this afternoon was a
trffle hysterical, Mile. Sayers?"
It certainly began to look that way.
with a promise to see Armand early
next morning, Alacia left at about 1890
and headed homeward, Max, groggy
with food from his old owners hand,
sleeping on the seat Of the car beside
her. There was light in the garage
ut the rear OF the house when Alacia
drew up in front of it, but although she
blew her horn several times, robody
came In answer and finally she was
obliged to get out of her car and push
the sliding door of the garage back
for herself. Ordinarily she would have
left the car in the courtyard for Scott
10 put away, but the beautiful weather
which had gladdened the hearts Of Pari-
sians for the past two weeks had broken
suddenly, and several big drops of rain
already spattered on the windshield,
promising O heavy downpour within q
very few minutes. But when Alacia
entered the garage, there was no place
for her roadster.
In the space her own car usually
occupied, stood its duplicate. Except
for the fact that suitcase wrapped
IN tarpaulin was strapped on behind,
there was nothing by which the two
could be told apart. Evidently Santini
vsk, prepared to start and Alacia's
heart sank at the thought. for somehow
she had not been convinced OF the
drivers virtues by the colorleSs nature
Of his record in the police archives.
Her every instinct told her that there
was something wrong with this man.
yet apparently there was nothing to be
done. In q few moments he would
drive away to the great race which
was to be run amidst the flowers and
sunshine Of the Riviera, and what
would be the outcome? Unpleasant
rumors, perhaps scandal In the motor
world, or a clean victory2
She shook her head dubiously, and
ran her hand across the radiator almost
as affectionately as II the racing car had
been alive. Then, brushing sentiment
OF the monster, running a critical eye
over the immense engine beneath the
gray hood, and noting with satisfaction
its well oiled, cleanly state, wondering
the while, just exactly how one went
about throwing q race? Obviously the
simplest method would be to arrange
matters so that the condition of the
car itself could be blamed. Once in her
mind, this idea was impossible to
dismiss. Alacia knew almost as much
about the Europa as the head mechanic
ut the official garage, and the temp
tatioZ to check up before Santinfs
departure swiftly became irresistible,
She realized that after the thousand
mile trip to the south coast, this exam
nation would be of little or no value
when it came to evidence; but it would
give her an immense personal salts
faction to be sure that on the cars
departure from Paris all had been well.
She wondered where Santinfs mechanic
might be, thinking to call him and
have him start up the engine for her.
necessary. The man was undoubtedly
enjoying n hot supper In the kitchen,
preparatory to the long nights run,
and 1t was O pity to disturb him
needleesly.
Slippdng off the mandrake, Alacia
gave the car q mighty shove. and 1t
rolled easly out onto the floor where
the lightl was better, carrying her with
II On the running board. Then she
arrested its further progress and jumped
down. ~ she did 30 the sleeve Of her
rough tweed coat caught In something,
and she saw that one Of the screws
which hasd the windshield In place
was alSno6t ready to fall out. It was
OF the very smallest importance and
the loss offthe screw would have meant
absolutely nothing, not even rattle
In the windshield frame, but she was
in O mood to be critical
Delighted at having so promptly