Evening star., 1936-10-12
INSTALLMENT XVIII.
ET'S go inside" Blackwood
said pleasantly to Dallas. He
handed his oIIter garments

NY ETS go inside" Blackwood
said pleasantly to Dallas. He
handed his outer garments
IL to an attendant and caught
the eye of the big man at the dining
room door. us Mr.. Chance here,
6huler? We want a table for seven
or eight"
1.-TWO tables, Mr.. Bla ackwood." an
wered the gorilla, smiling. I'll have
them put together for you at once. A
couple of other gentlemen were ask
ing for you a minute ago-Mr. Fen
tress and Mr.. Considine, think. They
said you'd find them at the bar"
"Mr. Constantine" said Blackwood.
"Thank you! You might tell them
that I'm here. You haven't seen any
thing Of MIR. Colbath?"
Ed Shuler had seen nothing of Mr..
Goliath all evening. He led the way
into the dining room.
The California orchestra was play
ing a lively dance medley. and the
lights in the dining room were
dimmed. The patrons of La Cucara-
cha were dancing with undiminished
energy and enthusiasm. AS far as
observation could determine, they had
been dancing there since Blackwood
last had seen them. They might have
been dancing there from the begin
ming Of time.
Fentress and Philip Constantine
came in at once, noting the great bulk
Of Dallas with startled eyes. Their
greetings were filled with jesting ref
erences to Riley Blackwood, who SIM
ply grinned.
"a formidable party, Riley" said
the novelist He smiled at Dallas.
II had hoped, captain. that my first
experience Of you might also be my
last. Don't tell me you are here in
the line of duty!"
Zelda Lansing was talking to the
lawyer. But at any minute he may
decide ought to 60 to Jail agar" she
laughed. Anyway. I'm here. That's
something"
IT hoped when saw you that 1t
vas I who had bluffed them into re-
leasing you." said Fentress dryly.
mo. as I told you, it was an old
uncle with pull"
The badinage continued for some
time.
Riley Blackwood was talking with a
waiter.
"I've ordered for everybody" he said,
''to make 1t easier. You'll all have
cocktails, won't you? We're just wait
ing for Goliath and Anne Gray. They
may possibly be coming together; if
they happen to have compared notes,
it's very likely. They are coming to-
gether," he added with a laugh.
"Once more. Miss Lansing and gentle
men, my infallible prescience!"
Goliath and Anne Gray were COM
ing through the door in the wake OF
the gorilla, Shuler. The Federal de-
tective's eyes were bright with interest
as he saw the group already seated at
the table. But to Anne Gray appar-
emily the summons had been just an
other opportunity to dine and dance.
"Mr. Blackwood!' she cried appeal
ingly, and gave him both her hands
to keep. How awfully nice OF you!
And Mr.. Constantine!"
The men were on their feet and
howing.
This is Zelda Lansing, Miss Gray
q friend of Percy's," said Blackwood,
smiling. Mr.. Fentress, Miss Gray,
and Mr.. Dallas, Miss Gray. Mr.. Col
bath, think, is known to everybody
except possibly Capt. Dallas"
He gestured Hospitality.
please be seated. The vacant chair
Is for Tommy Lester, in case he should
happen to turn up. But am informed
that he is in Minneapolis. This is an
extra-legal proceeding, ladies and
sentlemen-a little idea of my own
and possibly some of you may think
1t as mad as the ingenious fairy tale
Of the redhead. the Hindu and the
kitten. Dallas certainly does. Before
we get down to business, however, I
think we should drink-and fortunate
" the cocktails are approaching"
Riley Blackwood leaned forward
with the benign smile of vivisec-
zionist about to operate. He became
rhetorical.
THE toast I shall propose will seem
q gruesome one. 1t will be toast to
q man dead and buried in city
street-yet sought by the police in
every State of the Nation as the mur-
derer of Rita Wingfleld."
The California orchestra was now
playing Moonlight and Roses" The
robots on the dancing floor were sway
Ing languidly. apparently in the last
throes of dissolution. The waiter
stared, set down his glasses, and de-
parted.
There was no sound or movement
from the six stunned guests who lis
tened. Then Dallas lifted his glass
and gulped.
Get on with 1t, Blackwood," he
ordered harshly. Whats 1t all
about?"
The amateur slipped from his ora