The Washington times., 1934-12-03

seemed to flatten. Ever put
me on a job that didn't come
off right, Chief? Where do we
start?
For answer Sari's eyes rose
and, sweeping the crowded
room, rested at last on the
central table, where party Of
New York celebrants was jubi-
lantly adding it's own generous
quota of hilarity to the general
clamor.
Sinister
1--WE start over there" The
lips scarcely moved as he spoke
the words, and Steve, crushing
the cigarette on plate before
him, turned to follow the direc.
ton of Sari's gaze.
Eight young men sat at that
central table, and in all the
gay room of midnight jewellers,
none were so wholeheartedly
devoted to the pleasure of the
contents of many silver flasks
that from time to time emerged
above the table. Their heads
surmounted with fantastic pa.
passing moment. All we're
about the same age-perhaps
Is, perhaps year or two older
flushed and jovial with the
per caps, their evening clothes
trailing long paper streamers,
they threw themselves, joyous
and unrestrained, into the con-
genial task of showing the Ma.
tons Capital how New Years
Eve really should be celebrated.
At that particular instant
two of their party had just con-
cluded a spirited pantomime of
a bullfight, enacted with the
aid of sundry knives and forks
borrowed from surrounding
tables, and a piece of tapestry
taken from the opposite wall.
Nearby, three Central American
diplomats cheered the spectacle
with frenzied guSto.
But now the call rose for
Dick Lowell, and seized by a
dozen eager hands, man was
lifted bodily upon the table
amid a thunder of applause
from his little group. Tall
and very straight and slim he
was, his thick brown hair a
little disheveled as he stood
looking with a quiet smile at
the shouting, up-turned faces.
Beyond their own circle men
and women had paused to
watch him with a kind of ex-
pectancy. It may have been the
poise of head, a certain aSSur-
ance, or something untamed
and untamable in the mans
eyes that invested him with the
air of one who games with life
for the sheer love of the game.
It was an attitude that had
brought him sudden peril Of
more than one woman.
New Interest
AS he stood there smiling
down, a companion handed him
a toy pea pistol-one of the
night club favorS-and the
shouts redoubled as he held the
ridiculous weapon loosely in his
hand, his blue eyes, still puck
cred in amusement, roaming
the room for suitable target.
Then suddenly, although the
hand had scarcely moved, his
finger pressed the trigger, and
at the farther end of the room
a toy balloon exploded with a
loud report. A chorus of cheers
followed the shot, and the man
bowed ironically, then, again
raising his weapon, methodic.
ally dispatched three glass balls
that served to ornament the
Christmas tree.
Through it all the two men
had been silently watching and
now with half reluctant admira-
ton Steve exclaimed, That
bird can shoot, drunk or sober"
Shoot" Sari barked a short
laugh of irritation. "You fool,
he's the best shot on the South
west border. And, incidentally,
he's the man I wanted you to
see."
With new interest Steve
again sought the tall, straight
figure on the table. A powerful
form. Beneath the well-cut
evening clothes so negligently
worn, one senSed the easy play
of long, powerful muscles. The
lean, tanned face spoke of
wind and sun, and the eyes,
never quite at rest, were the
eyes of one who had known
the mnrld,S lnnelu nlaceS Rut