Evening star., 1936-11-08

dctpiuB IOWdIu tne QOOT. ne man
moved also, one stride and then an
other. his arms folded, his hands hid
den beneath the cloak He and Amad
and the door formed an equilateral
triangle, steadily diminishing. The
cloak caught on a chair and at quick
pull its upper folds bulged out.
John caught the gleam of an eight
inch knife blade. Here was his chance
the sort of chance Amad would
have taken like shot. All he had to do
was to stand still and watch while
Amad paid the price for some long
forgotten peccadillo. But each had
been sworn in as guard to the other
no less than spy. Selling on the in
slant of delay granted him by the
caught cloak, Amad sprang for the
door. The knife came out for the
throw at his back. John snatched up
his chair and hurled it half across the
room. 1t struck pillar, ricochetted
and. sped by fate, bounced against its
mark. The knife clattered to the floor
amid shrieks.
Out went the lights. Darkness laid
its calming blanket on the room.
Gasps and means died into silence.
Promptly the lights came on again.
Amad was gone. so was the man in
the black cloak, so was Dahlgren. The
orchestra struck up. Four dancers
dashed into the measures of a sequi-
dina. The high ululation of the singer
announced plaintively:
MI c0razon soiondo
Sc fue d iu pechor'
Substituting only tnnal for corazon,
dagger for heart, a ribald voice para
phrased: my dagger on the wing
shot straight for your breastr' Every
body who understood. laughed.
When Amad had first risen Miss
Amy had been holding wine glass;
now it's stem was neatly snapped in
two, but her fingers. tapping salt into
the stained cloth, did not tremble.
Miss Kate had been smoking her
nightly cigarette; it was still alight.
She tamped it out firmly, and glanc-
ing down the length of the narrow
table, managed a whimsical smile.
What about home and bed, girls?"
Why" demanded Helen Seavier.
"For a little thing like that?'
Lucie backed her promptly. She's
right. Miss Kate" Her eyes few to
the door. There's Nary
Mary had caught sight of Lucie's
upthrown hand, and dodging swiftly
through the tables. took the chair so
rece 1tly abandoned by Theophile
Amad. Miss Amy questioned her.
81 was lonely" she explained
little breathlessly. II couldn't stand it
any longer so made Tito fetch taxi
and bring me here"
Miss Kate, displacing another girl,
moved to the chair on her other side.
I'm curious. Mary" she said pres
entity. "and I'm sure Amy is. too.
What did you find out?"
Nothing" said Mary, flush of
indignation staining her cheeks.
But. my dear. he must have given
you some hint, something by which
you could guess where he's been and
what he's been doing?'
Mary shook her head in denial.
Miss Kate frowned, puzzled by the
girls troubled expression. Don't
think I'm prying into your private
affairs, dear. 1t isn't that"
Then what is it," demanded Mary.
I'm tell you" said Miss Amy. lean
ing close. ''Kate's simply dying to
find out if Mr.. Dahlgren knows he
came into a million dollars some seven
months ago."
Il haven't the least idea." said
Mary. ''He had something ON his
mind. but I'm sure it wasn't money"
Her eyes widened. Il don't know the
John who talked to me tonight. don't
want to see him ever again.
Che half <,,runJ ,v~l mot ufIxy tho