Evening star., 1933-11-16

"We've already reached q decision"
Mathilda announced. "If Jeffrey Ran
dali wants a divorce, he'll come to his
wife and tell her so. Until he does,
she's remaining as is"
AT the cost of any sum you might
"At the cost of any sum you could
name"
Beatrice Randall pulled the silver fox
close under her chin. Her black eyes
were smoke pits of thwarted desire.
"Then I'm afraid poor dear Jeffrey
will have to 60 ahead on his eWn," she
sighed. "Not that he'll have any great
difficulty, other than the scandal
and all that. With the
Hume alienation suit and" lifting
a miniature watch on a diamond and
platinum chain "Oh, 1t can't be so
late. possibly. I'm devastated at leav-
ing you so abruptly, but must get on.
I'm seing Mr.. Burton, Mr.. Jack Burton.
You may remember him-from Green
Springs. He has so many astounding
tales to tell OF the springs"
Sue, the red wall rising again, blot
ting out her vision.
"Ask Mr.. Purton to tell you how,
acting under your orders, he staged
what appeared to be petting party on
the riding trail" Sue said, distinctly.
How unique!' Beatrice rose. I've
not the remotest notion what you're
insinuating, but the love Interest," can
well imagine that. Jack makes love to
every woman. It's his speciality"
Beatrice Randall was gone. Silence.
Minutes tickled. Still the silence;
Broken by Sue. Half rising, she leaned
across the table, staring at the place
vacated by her enemy. A bill lay be.
side the plate of mushrooms. Sue n1teo
1t gingerly by a corner. =, w. .r
" Careful" Mathilda said. TT may
explode. Or a tarantula will jump out
Sue smoothed the bill on the table.
Five dollars. Beginning at the left sne
shredded it rapidly, wadding the snreos
into the palm of her hand and dropping
them into the coffee pot.
You can be put in jail for destroy
ing currency" Mathilda rebuked.
TITS only a question Of time until
I'll be put In jail for destroying human
life," Sue said.
Sue. slipping a steak under the
broiler in the fat over Larry Rumson
garage"
$50 you contemplate murder in the
first degree" Mathilda said, whisking
the salad dressing. "Any special VIC
tims?"
"Tll begin with Bea. Herman is next
Then, if I'm not surfeited, I'll try MIS-
Henry Hume"
splendid program. Any favorite
methodist"
"Oh, yes. Strangulation."
"Not bad. Be sure to wear gloves Sc
YOU don't leave finger prints"
"Matty, I think I'll telephone
Tommy"
"What for?"
"I need to hear HIS voice"
Mathilda consulted her wrist watch
Tn about an hour" she said. Hes at
supper"
Telephone ringing.
"You answer, Sue. III Watcn the
steak"
1t was Larry. Pop across the hall,
will you, Sue? We're splurging. Steak
for dinner"
$50 are we. It's under the broiler
this minute"
"All right but this is particular
steak. Del wants you to take a peek
at it. And she's done some kind OF
pudding or what have you she's al
steamed up about. At least the pud-
aokay." Sue, clicking the receiver
"Matty, Delphine's been chefing again
She wants to brush off her medals"
Take the silver polish along to shine
'em. Any girl who can live through Q
mother like Delphine's ought to get the
Congressional Medal. And put on your
coat. You're overheated from the broiler
and it's draughty In the hall.
Sue, scurrying across the hall. Open
ing the door. Delphine went in for
subdued lights.
"Oh, Larry!" She would have to get
back before her own steak frizzled
There was Larry, over by the radio
She sped forward. Drag Larry to the
kitchen. His hand.
"Not Larry, Sue"
She stood still.
JEFF"
"Yes."
"But you can't be here-Jeff- you're
In Mexico. I must bel must be"
"You must be sitting down in this
chair, Sue" Jeffrey persuaded her into
the chair he vacated. You're to re-
main there until I've finished. Is 1t q
bargain?"
You mean is it another bargain?"
Sue managed. Jeffreyl The stubborn
lock at the back of his head. The
freckles, unutterably dear. The jaw
that thrust out to make him look
rugged. When he was just boy.
call it a new deal" Jeffrey took
both her hands. "I've been in Mexico
In and out. I came back the day Ma
thilda wired me Henry Hume's wife had
gone haywire. It took me while 70
get back, too long, unfortunately, GO
prevent many axes grinding. My plane
crashed and laid me up"
Sue, tightening the handclasp. Max
ing sure the hands were real.
JEFF, you should have let me know
about the plane. You're all right9
You're not hurt?"
There seems to be hope for me-
Jeffrey's quizzical eyes, smiling into
Sues. "And now about that new deal
I've an idea. We start on basis of
elimination. You mention names, in
the order of their Importance as a
menace TO the firm, and III supply the
answers"
Sounds fascinating" Sue, jotting
down mentally her list. Are you sure
you know the answers2"
1T have some good ones"
"Then wen begin. All ready?"
Shoot"
Private enemy No. Beatrice Ran
DALI
Caught. Red-handed. Bea tossed
the bust of Uncle Grizzly at you, Sue.
Persons told me. He was at the other
end of the hall and saw her throw 1t.
He tried to tell you. but didn't have
a chance. He was being watched either
by Bea or one of the servants in her
pay Bea arranged for the accident on
the Boston Post road, too. The driver
of the truck has been blackmailing her.
He came to the house drunk one night,
looking for her, and spilled the whole
plot to Persons. Bea paid Jack Burton
thousand dollars and expenses to
stage the petting party on the trail at
Green Springs. I have the Cancelled
check. Burton has disappeared-by re-
quest. Next name"
Private enemy mo. 2 - Herman
Henschler."
"On his way West. Left at noon to-
day. Herman's been educated. For
has laf co