Evening star., 1934-11-26
CHAPTER XLVI.
UNEXPECTED INTRUDER.

Wny SlOulu you willy
whether I've got the
house locked tight?"
"I don't know of any special dan
ger" he answered with a laugh. i
only want to pacify this young hus-
band of yours. Now listen, child
pack your bag and be ready for me.
I'm coming right out to bring you
back to town."
LION is hurt, isn't he? Don't Lie to
me, please, won't faint or do any
thing foolish"
mo, Lon isn't hurt. I'll tell you
what's wrong, because If don't some
of your newspaper friends will. Lon
is in Jail. Now don't get panicky.
it's the safest place he can be at q
moment like this"
"On the check charger" she asked.
mo, he was caught robbing Nc
SWANS safe, in the Clark Building" ;"
Lon robbing?" Marian ex-
claimed incredulously.
And don't worry about that either"
came the laughing reply. Run along
now. Don't bother about unlocking
the gate. I'll walk up to the house
Marian turned from the telephone
and hurried to the bed room. 1t
should take her friend about half an
hour to drive out from town. Lon in
Jail. Curious that she should feel re-
lieved. The idea Of her Ions rob-
bing a safe was preposterous. How
had McSwain managed to frame him
In a position like that?
At least the blow had fallen. Now
they could act There would be no
more Of this suspense, no more OF
that agonized waiting for something
to happen.
Hero watched her bring out her
bag and fold clothes into It. She
didn't know which clothes she packed.
He marched to the closet and returned
with his leash.
"All right, old man." she said, pat
ting him, you are going. too; going
for q ride in the automobile" sne
explained.
He pranced about joyously, fol-
lowing her, getting under her feet as
she went from room to room seeing
that everything was in order, turn
ing of the refrigerator, seeing that
she had turned the electricity OH
in the warming oven; returning 10
make sure she hadn't made a mistake.
The telephone again. She hurried
back. It was Bowen, her old man
aging editor.
"Say. Ian" he began, whats this
wild yarn they're phoning over from
headquarters. something about your
husband being locked up for rob-
berry? Is the fellow they have over
there really your husband?"
"I imagine he is, the D. A. Just
telephoned and broke the news TO
me-"
"You don't sound the least bit
downhearted," Bowen commented.
I'm not" she confessed, I've been
expecting so much worse to happen
that this sounds Like q reprieve."
You mean you you expected
him to do this? Marian, what's 1t all
about?"
1.-THE biggest story you've had In
long time" she prophesied. Its the
story we were working for the morn
ing we were sending messages from
Silver Hondon to her ex-husband.
Swell. Don't forget the Dispatch
even if you're not working Tor 1t
Never mind" said Marian. "rn
save the break on the yarn for you.
She felt confident that the district
attorney was Withholding something
pleasant from her, because OF his
manner. And the only pleasant news
she could consider was McSwatns
pending arrest.
But, Ian," Bowen was protesting,
"give me a lead, don't leave me-
Marian was looking at Hero. He
was at the front door growing. That
meant strange footsteps. The district
attorney had evidently made good
time.
I'll see you in town and explain,
she said hurriedly, "the D. AS at
the door now"
She hung up and raced to the
door, drew the chain bolt and swung
the door wide, then stepped back
into the room. Silver Hondon stood
there, followed her in and closed the
door behind her.
fIaD L1IdL UO& Sic OluClCo.
Marian made lunge to hook her
hand into Hero's harness. He was
pulling forward, teeth barred.
Get him out Of my way before I
kill him"
Marian looked at her in horror.
inside Of her palm lay . fat auto
matte.
Silver Hondon saw the look Of fear
on Marian's face and laughed. mot
as brave as you were in my cabin, are
you?" she chided. Don't worry I'm
not planning on going to the chair
for the pleasure of killing a person
like you. Only, don't like that dog
and I won't hesitate to shoot if he
comes for me-"
Marian knew she meant it. She
knew also that she had only to re-
lease her hold on Hero and he would
make for Silver. In the months she
had been his mistress, she had never
seen him show hatred for any other
person. It seemed he instinctively