The Coolidge examiner., 1936-02-14

and if you hit it up you're to be
sent home. See?'
"Yeppy. I'll be good, don't
worry" He went off to his room,
and Tony said. slowly, "Such a nice
chap. but headed wrong"
"Oh, he'll be all right; I've my
eye on him. And he's always care
full when Mrs. Maiden is around.
Now, when can you get US a real
meeting of the eXecutors?"
almost any time. Give me a bit
of advance notice, and I'll be on
deck. Is there much doing yet?"
Not much, until we get more sta
tistics from the banks. But I want
to be ready for this Farman per-
son. You know, I suppose, he means
war to the knife? And the circum-
stances are $3.50"
$50 definite and so incriminat-
ing"
Yes, though l didn't mean to pu.
it so strongly. Yet it's the truth
A really disinterested investigator
would ,pounce on Perilla as the OBJ
vious suspect"
Il know" Tony drew deep
sigh. That's the reason I stayed
home from the trip-to fight any
such investigator"
'You gave up a months pleasure
in the company of the woman you
love, to be here on the mere chance
of something turning up?'
"Of course" Gaskell looked his
surprise. wouldn't you?\ l have
loved Perilla for years, long before
she knew Corey. But I've no in
tention of bothering her. And it's
all too soon yet. If the time ever
comes for me to tell her, very well !;
if not. then, very we'll, again"
Gaskell's handsome face looked
moody and distressed, but in a mo-
ment it cleared, and he smiled.
Never mind all that" he said
| II did want to go motoring with
them, more than I ever wanted any
thing in all the world, but l had a
hunch I could do more for her here.
| SO call on me for anything you
want"
'I'll remember that. Now that
Bob's gone, have a nightcap."
This program was put over, and
the perpleXed detective was glad to
get to his room, where he could be
alone to think.
Bob and Tony were at Perilla's
early the next morning. Gaskell
drew her aside, and then into a
small reception room and closed the
door.
Don't be frightened" he said,
smiling at her startled gaze, II only
want to whisper a word of warning
You know 1 was Coreys best man,
now i want to be yours. And
mean only to warn you against one
or two things. Don't be too kind
to Garth. Oh, | know this sounds
like the babble of a jealous fool,
and l don't say I'm not that, but if
you want to or mean to smile on
Roger Garth, wait till you get home
again to do it. There'll be time
enough then. And don't be angry
with me for saying this"
'Tm not angry, but l fail to see
what right you have to dictate my
behavior. You were Corey's best
man, but that doesn't mean you are
mine!"
Il know. Forgive me, Perilla. l
truly meant only to speak for your
own good. Oh, darling, if you knew
what you mean to me :" and unable
to restrain himself, Tony clasped
her in his arms.
Just for a moment, though, and
then, letting her go, he said, Now
you know-and Pm not sorry. ]
promise never to lose command OF
myself again and you're going to
forgive me this once, aren't you?
Tell mel can't let you leave me
in an uncertainty"
"Well, then l forgive you this
once, on condition that never
again"
Come along, Pril," called NAL
colin, through the door. Buckle is
here, and you're needed. Hurry
We're bound for California"
Tony followed Perilla from the
room, and set himself to work in
| earnest, helping stow away small
bits of luggage and special belong
ings of Perilla. He could not wait
for the actual departure, nor could
Stone, who stopped in for a mo-
ment to say good-by.
The first car held the redOubtable
Buckle, driving, also Sarah, and
Mrs. Dunstan's maid. The second
contained Perilla, Hilda, Jack Dun
stan and Bob. This was driven by
Bailey, Perilla's own chauffeur
The other car brought up the rear,
with Alice Dunstan and Jane, Nal
colin and Roger Garth, driven by
Garth's man, Hopper.
| About the time the party was
emerging from the Holland tunnel
into the New Jersey sunshine Gas
kell received a telegram from Rich
ard Carleton, saying he would be
in New York by noon, and hoped to