Evening star., 1934-10-22

had hurried to her room Immediately
after Lon had assured her he would
drive her into Reno.
Forcing gayety into her voice, Ma
rian looked at Lon and said in ex-
cellent imitation of his voice a few
moments previous, Lon, you won't
mind, will you?"
Il think you ought to rest instead
Of running around" he retorted.
"Oh, she'll have time to rest"
Hamlin assured him. Wen be in
town in couple of hours and she
can sleep until 6, then we'll all meet
in the lobby of her hotel around 1870,
hOw'S that?"
Fine" declared Marian, and stood
up. Hamlin went for her wraps,
helped her into them. See you later,
Lon; I'm stopping at the Ell Cor
dova."
Hamlin had been ready to leave
Tor Reno, as his bags were already in
his car, parked before a nearby cabin
He tucked Marian under a robe. then
went into the place for a last-minute
survey. Hero took his place in the
seat beside Marian.
They wheeled past the lodge Just
as the sum- topping the Sierra Nevada,
slashed the lake with the blade OF its
reflection. The water along the rim
OF the road they skinned turned a
Maxf1eld Parrish blue, against which
the pines stood like ebony statues.
Hamlin asked questions; clever
questions Marian recalled days later.
She wondered then how much she
had actually revealed to him, of her
self, her home life, Lon CaSad and
all she knew of him.
When he seemed satisfied to con-
centrate his attention on the road
she sat muSing, too tired to be actu-
ally diSheartened at the turn of
events, thinking of Silver, her inter-
est in Lon; thinking of Silver and
how every frock she wore told def
mite story, created a definite picture.
Anne had suggested new clothes
shed buy some, she'd been careful
with her generous salary, now she
would would Splurge. She wished
she had something other than the
lilac angora for tonight.
Mr.. Hamlin, would you think I
was too feminine If I asked where I
might buy dress to wear tonight?"
she asked.
Hamlin gave her a quick, wise
smile. I'D think you were very femi-
nine and very wise" he returned.
1.-The stores won't be open when we
reach Reno. II you'll make list of
what you want, I'll have a profess
slonal shopper choose some things and
send them up to you on approval"
| You are kind" murmured Marian,
and slept. She had dim memory
of stumbling blindly into the lobby of
the El Cordova, Of hearing Hamlin
say he would look after the dog, of
being carried aloft to warm, lovely
room Of slipping between sheets
then came oblivion.
Then there was a bell. She awaken
ed, reached for the instrument.
ut is $50, Miss Gordon" explained
the operator. you asked to be called
at that time"
''I did, didn't I, and will you con-
meet me with the beauty salon?"
Certainly. Do you want the boxes
sent to your room at once?"
"Boxes?" questioned Marian, then
remembered she had discussed
shopping with Hamlin and had for
gotten to leave a list. He had re-
membered. please do" she told the
operator.
The boxes came, big boxes and lit
tie boxes, medium sized boxes and
long fiat ones. Marian watched the
porter wheel them in and gasped.
Surely the porter needed a SUBJ
stantial tip. She usually carried
small change in her coat pocket for
such emergencies. She thrust her
hand into one pocket and found 1t
stuffed with paper copy paper
she supposed; she never threw away
any notes until she had scanned them
for future reference she must
do that right away.
She tipped the porter, then stared
in surprise. What she had thought
was copy paper was the letter Cliff
Hondon had written to Silver-but
how had it gotten into her pocket?
Then she leaned forward in sur
prise. The blurred purple stamp at
the top of the page read, 1.-THE Mad
dern Construction Co." That was the
name of the firm from which William
Brown was supposed to have accepted
bribe.
Tomorrow, Marian realizes the i'm