Evening star., 1934-11-16
CHAPTER xXXVI.
McSWAIN CALLS.
" ON poisoned?" echoed Ma

II should have said
IL drugged," said Steele. "I've
an idea what was used. I'm
darned sorry didn't see him earlier
in the evening, so could prove it to
my own satisfaction. 1t was probably
given him in liquor and acted on him
like a strong drink. Where was he
and why?"
Marian repeated Murphy's story.
HE told me not to wait dinner on
him, as he was having little e.
he called it a get-together with the
boys. I imagined he meant some OF
the men with whom he was work.
ing"
Don't you know" questioned Anne
in surprise.
NO" answered Marian, and be-
cause they were the two closest friends
she and Lon possessed she spoke
frankly I'VE haven't been on very
good terms this last week I have
objected to his working for McSwain
because I know McSwain to be COM
pletely unscrupulous. McSwain, know
ing how I felt, talked Lon into be-
lieving I felt that way because he
and my father were political enemies.
And so Lon won't listen to me. And
:. and I'm afraid for him. McSwain
has reasons to hate me-"
Hmm" unused the doctor, then:
"Can you put us up for the night?"
I'll be so relieved If you'll stay"
confessed Marian, and hastened to
make her spare room ready for them.
The clock struck 2 as she slipped
into bed. shivering with fatigue. For
long time she lay there. listening
to the even, reStful breathing of
Lon, afraid to stir for fear of in
terrupting it. What lay behind this
illness?
Lon protested weakly at the break
fast allowed him by DR.. Steele. He
seemed completely hazy about what
had occurred the night before
I'VE had little conference at the
Office" he said to the others, as they
sat around the fire, "and then I drove
Wilson and Meredith out to the
Morocco brothers cafe We had din
ner. I wasn't hungry, thought I'd
have Ian f1X me a snack, so I just
took drink one drink with them,
to show I wasn't high-hatting them -
When did you cash your check,
Lon?"
Right after that, the boys needed
some money. Say, Ian. look in my
pockets and see if the moneys there" :"
Marian returned in a few moments
and handed a roll of greenbacks to
Lon, then stood by as he counted
them. HIM" he said, that's queer,
5000, must have been in a poker
game"
Lon" said Marian, you men
toned McSwain's intention to give
you raise; couldn't that account
for the money!"
But he wouldn't give me a hun
dred at one shot"
DO you mean to say you get a
hundred week as foreman there?
Ye gods. why did I ever waste nv
talents on medicine?" came from DR..
Steele.
Isn't that unusual?" asked Anne.
1T is these days" admitted Ma
rian. Lon, you cashed your check.
Don't you remember how much Muir
ply gave you?"
She looked at him stretched on the
divan. cheeks chalk white, dark cir
cles under his eyes He closed his
eyes as though striving to close out
the faces around him and bring back
the scene of the night before.
NO" he admitted at length, Fthe
whole things hazy. I only remember
let's see, Wilson told me I'd
better indorse it and then he used
my fountain pen to indorse his
no, don't remember. Well, no more
drinks for me. From now on. where
I go little Ian goes to see I come
home on all twos, instead of all
fours"
Marian and Anne left the two men
together. They went "delicatessing Z"
Anne called 1t, and when they returned
Marian could tell by the stubborn ex-
preston on Ions face that DR.. Steele
had been talking to him with the
familiarity of boyhood friend.
Because she felt she couldn't stand
the loneliness of Lonian Lodge, Ma
rian accompanied Lon into town the
following morning, leaving Waki and
his wife in charge of the house and
of Hero.
She loitered about the shops.
bought smart small hat with which
to charm Lon at lunch time and sue
ceeded SO well she almost forgot the
fear which still hung over her. She
called on John King, found him out
for the day, enjoyed picturized mu-
slcal comedy and returned to the car
Then together they returned home.
Walk and May met them with smiling
assurance that no one had called in
person or on the telephone. excepting
lone man he call He say I like
speak Missa Casad. I said he gona
ala same work. He say good-by."
After the Walks had departed and
dinner was over they sat before the
fireplace in the restored intimacy of
their honeymoon days, laughing over
nothing, listening to favorite radio
programs, discussing their future.
And now to bed," she quoted as
the clock chimed g. Hero, want to
60 for walk first?"
She looked down. Hero was stand
Ing, ears straight up. Marian listened.
Ihere was car coming into their
plac" 1t had stopped at the gate
whicl they now kept padlocked at
her insistence. And then a few mo-