Evening star., 1934-11-18

nH Even tnOugh She no longer
wv held the evidence, she could
4 4 see that a State inspection
took place before the building
was turned over to the city. She could
give details on how McSwain had pro-
posed to thwart the city's attempts to
build the safest schools possible. so
that the inspectors could go immedi-
ately to the weak points Of the struc-
ture.
Then, how could he control her? He
couldn't control her because she was
unafraid. He didn't dare do her physi-
cal injury for fear of the effect upon
himself. The only way he could
handle her was by getting control OF
Lon by holding some threat such as
penitentiary term, over his head.
He would not send Lon there because
that would cause her to go into action
with such bitterness she would force
him to spend more than he had stolen
on the building, but he would come
to her to make terms. He would tell
her he would be lenient II she kept
out of his business. And he
would force Lon to close his eyes to
the inferior material going into the
building. by holding the threat Of
prosecution over his head.
"Oh, he will, will hep" Marian asked
Of the mountains. Her shoulders
squared back, she felt her hair tingle
at the roots as red rage swept over
her. Z
She strode back to the house like a
young warrior, undreSsed, tumbled
into bed and slept like a top. The
morning alarm aroused her and she
found Lon was already awake and
dressed and out pacing up and down
in front of the house.
Lon, come in here" she said. Clad
in the gayest pajamas she owned, she
stood at the door. Are you trying to
wear the soles of your shoes, or the
grass off the path?"
I'm worried, Ian," he answered
"just sick, Ian," he tipped her chin
up so he could look down into her
eyes and her heart seemed to catch
as she saw the suffering in his, Ian
do you hate me?"
''Umhuh," she laughed, hate you
so much, I'm going in and fix you a
breakfast that will make DR.. Steele
rear up on his heels to p-2 est. Listen
big boy, forget the peIi!rgAtiary ano
disgrace and all that stdii. 1t won't
come to pass. I'm psychic
umhuh, I can tell you exactly what
Will happen this morning.
You'll go in to see McSwain. He I
be stern, then gradually he'll softer
until he becomes magnanimous. Hell
tell you he won't do anything about il
and, because he's a nice, fatherly
sort Of a guy and likes you excep-
tionally well, he'll keep you on at the
same salary. All, he may cut you q
couple of dollars. And then he'll re.
mind you that you have to travel the
straight and narrow, because if yoU
don't he has the check there and he'll
prosecute"
do you think so. LAMP" he asked
eagerly.
Il know So" she answered with
such assurance he was convinced.
And she did know it. She went into
Tic A4lCllCll anu oOOl4 1lOIll l11C Gay
little room came her voice in bolster
Gus tones, singing, who's afraid o!
the big, bad wolf, the big, bad wolf
Lon looked in once TO see her making
imaginary stabs at the air with 6
bread knife, and had to laugh.
I'm just practicing," she apollo
gized, flushing.
AS she left for town she went ou
to the car with him. Chin up, shoul
ders back, toes out" she advised him
and added, give him my love, hk'
this" and she lnted a dainty mule
the pom pom executing an arc.
Lon left laughing and the moment
he was out of sight she whirled about
ready to start her own battle. Nc.
Swain was going to watch the house
more closely than ever and at the frs
intimation of her getting in touch
with the authorities was liable to clost
in on Lon. She was afraid of the tele.
phone, he might be able to have thai
tapped. Waki was her only hope, h
was coming up the drive now L. try
ing to, at least. Marian found herself
hunched over trying to help the ole
car on its last lap. Then she turned
to the letter she was writing, addressed
to the district attorney.