Evening star., 1934-11-24
CHAPTER Xiv.
BAD SMASH.
lA&I.a&t
TJudithyI
7 yLaaeI
ON looked at her and nodded

ON looked at her and nodded.
II see whas you mean, but I
didn't knowingly misrepresent
IL anything. When reached
the house, Silver met me and
told me McSwain was in San Fran
cisco and she was to drive me over.
preferred using my own car.
"She wanted to 60 by the way Of
the peninsula and had no legiti-
mate reason for refusing, so I took
that -oute. We had dinner with Nc
Swain. At the ferry building we
had to wait for boat and I tele-
phoned the house. May told me you
were in town, at the Steeles. that
you'd left in a hurry. called there.
received no answer, so drove by and
stopped in. Is that clear?"
Perfectly" Marian answered, land
I believe every word of it,"
Then suppose you give as honest
an explanation"
"All right. I received word that
Hamlin was in town. He had some
information I had to have. I went to
Anne's apartment, telephoned him
and asked him to come over. He had
been there only a few moments when
you arrived"
"Is that all?" asked Lon. "Can't
you tell me what the information
you wanted was about?"
Marian hesitated. Lon, I want to
dreadfully, but can't until you trust
me fully"
IT trust you, but I don't trust that
Hamlin fellow; he's got a bad repu-
tation."
If he has, Silver gave 1t to him
this evening, after you two had left
me-" flashed Marian, land she had
reason to do so. Lon, tell me, is Nc
Swain still in San Francisco?"
HE was leaving on late train.
Why?"
Marian didn't have time to answer.
The telephone rang with a sharp.
insistent ring. Lon went to it and
answered.
For you," he said
Mrs. Casad, this is the Police De-
partment of Walnut Creek. We have
a couple here by the name of Waki.
The man has been injured in an
automobile crash and the woman in
sisted I telephone you"
Yes" Marian cried, please, is he
seriously injured, and how did it
happen?"
mo, he isn't badly hurt, but his
car is surely smashed to the dickens.
How he ever got out of it alive /
can't figure. His wife was thrown
clear and lit in some brush. Wait, he
says he wants 20 talk to you"
Miss Casad. Waki. My automo-
bile iss dead" He paused moment.
ON head is mountain with cut Arm
make pain. May, she very fine good"
'Waki, Ill buy you a car; you know
who did it, don't you? Tell me what
happened"
Il go for home. Car she come be-
hind me very much fast She see
me. Come to me. go on me, 60 away
very fast"
You wait there; I'll be right
down." she assured him, and turned
to Lon. eyes blazing Your good
friend, McSwain. just tried to kill the
Walks"
My good friend, McSwain," Lon
repeated after her and laughed, then
Sobered quickly. What do you mean
he tried to kill the Wakis?"
He set that Kanaka boy to watch
me. When Waki came back to the
, house from the depot without me
tonight. the boy must have investi-
gated and it dawned on him that
Waki was my medium for getting
news to and from the people with
whom I've been in communication.
He reported back to McSwain and
McSwain ordered him to wreck their
car"
How do you know it was Nc
SWANS Kanaka boy who did it?"
II don't know, Lon" She turned to
him as she donned coat and hat
But I'd be willing to bet everything
I own that if the police went to Nc
SWANS garage right now they'd find
light truck with smashed tenders" +"
That's a pretty serious charge
Ian," he insisted. reaching for his
coat and hat.
We're in a pretty serious mess,
both of us, Lon," she answered, land