Evening star., 1936-09-27
THIS WEEK
Teeth Of the Dragon
Continued from pooe Ten
THIS WEEK
Continued from pose fen

and Miss Downey were the only ones
who were ordered to leave"
Tracy said in a puzzled tone, you
speak as though there were quite a
few Others whom we know aboard"
There are" Browning said, his
smile taking the sting from his words.
you and Miss Downey left the island
because of command on the part of
the authorities. The rest of us tagged
along"
How many are there?"
Browning started checking them
off on his fingers. ITO begin with,
there's Miss Downey and yourself. of
course. and Alton Clegg Then there's
Wanda Hara. the native girl, and a
man I'm afraid you've all been over
looking, chap by the name of
Vincent Gary"
What has he to do with it?"
"I'm merely giving you list of the
passengers who found it convenient to
leave Tahiti. Since you and Miss
Downey were the only ones who had
official orders. we can assume that the
others came because of a natural in
terest either in you or Miss Downey
or in solution of the murder mystery"
Burke swung to face him. Look
here. Browning, you've made couple
of cracks about that murder and, so
far as I'm concerned. it's time to have
that Strengthened out. I'm calling for
a showdown, here and now"
Browning shook his head and smiled.
Before say what I'm going to say.
let me first apologize for my rudeness
of night before last. sensed that one
of you had a bit of paper. which l
thought might make trouble. can
assure you that l was merely trying
to save you annoyance and incon-
venience. That was the reason asked
the question in the manner that did.
Now then. as far as the rest of it is con-
cerned, forget it. You're young. hot
headed and impulsive, and, if you
don't mind my saying so. you haven't
the faintest idea of what this is all
about. Now, keep your shirt on! You
asked for showdown, and I'm put
ting my cards on the table. A murder
was committed. The probabilities are
that only one person committed that
murder. There are six of US aboard,
sufficiently interested to cut short our
stay in Tahiti.
Let's concede that neither you nor
Miss Downey knows anything what
ever about that murder. Then, for
some reason, the person who does
know about the murder wants to tag
along with you and Miss Downey."
Burke stared at him in uncordial ap-
praisal, That accounts for three. and
only three. What interests me is why
these others came along"
Il can't tell why the Others came
along. l can only tell you why sud-
denly decided to book passage"
Burke raised his eyebrows.
in case you want to know"
Browning said. with trace of bellig-
erence, tits because I'm personally
interested in Miss Downey."
"You," Burke exclaimed. why
you're -"
Il know" Browning said irritably.
you can omit the usual line that I'm
old enough to be her father, because
I'm not. I'm probably seventeen or
eighteen years older than she is, and
that's not such a whale of difference
as you may think. I'm interested in
her, and I'm telling you frankly that l
am. l think she's playing game
which may get her into trouble, and
I'm hoping to forestall some of that
trouble. Now. there's no call for you
to get belligerent, and. above all,
there no reason for you to get jealous.
It's fair field open to ALL"
Burke said with dignity, There's
certainly no reason for me to get jeal-
Gus. can assure you that have no
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