Evening star., 1936-07-11
CHAPTER XII.

ylC1Oh look silver Case OUT ot
his pocket, f1icked it open and
" thrust a cigarette between his
lips. It didn't seem possible
that he could stand there like that,
lighting q cigarette with steady fin
gers, his expression calm and quiet
as if nothing had happened, as il
back in Annapolis Ki::y wasn't lying
In a coma-dying. When he spoke
some of the kindlineSs had gone out
of his voice. It was cold-bitter, he
said, ignoring her question:
There are only certain things
you're to know about this-that I
never went near that apartment house
last night; that you're to keep to
yourself everything you know; that
you've got to realize just what I'm up
against. Murder Is murder. Even If I
didn't try to kill Kitty-it would be
murder just the same. I can't see
spending the rest of my life in Jail
And I don't relish hanging or burn
ing In the chair, or whatever they do in
Maryland to erase criminals"
Patsy rose. Her face was white and
her legs were weak beneath her.
She thought: Hes hard. He's not
the Victor I knew at all. I'm not
sure he didn't try to kill Kitty"
She wondered then where this
mansion Of his was located. 1t was
doubtless somewhere near Balti-
more. Although it might not be, for
there was that black gap of uncon-
kciousness to be considered. That gap
might have been spent on the rear
beat Of the limousine; it might have
been spent on boat, or all day on
that sofa where she had come to.
That sofa might be in the suburbs of
Washington; 1t might be in New
York-even across the border In
Canada.
She wasn't even sure how mary
hours or even days had elapsed
When she had left the Hughes home
1t had been early morning and it
had been raining. Through the tall
French windows of this ornate room
with the cupids prancing over the
ceiling she could see only clusters
of trees and puffy white clouds and
the sun making red-and-gold beauty
Of a wooded country in the distance.
She glanced around the room then.
There must be some way of letting
grandfather or Lee know where she
was, she thought desperately, some
means of communication with Annap-
oils. But there was no telephone In
this room or in the hall, and all the
windows were tightly fastened.
Suddenly Victor came UP behind
her, laid hand on her shoulder. He
said: Believe me, Patsy-I do not
want to do this to you. Believe me
when say that If Kitty doesn't die
I'll free you. II she lives, she won't
talk-I know that-and you won't
either. 1t wouldn't help your reputa-
ton any to admit you had spent sew
eral days here with me. It would be
better just to forget all about this
10 say you'd been in New York look
ing for Courtney Valance, trying to
and a job-anything."
Patsy turned then and faced Vic
bor, The feel of his hand on her
shoulder had made shudder 60
through her, had sent her heart
beating intolerably with fear. But
when she saw his brown eyes, she
knew all at once-though she hardly
knew how-Victor was telling the
truth; that he hadn't meant to kill
kitty; that only because he was in
such desperate trouble had he resorted
10 kidnapping her, siencing her.
Naturally, she would have come to the
defense of Tippy-of Leland he
KNEW 1t. He was only observing the
hrst law of nature-self-protection.
No matter what else Victor Caldwell,
ras-he was not murderer.
She said: I'm sorry for you, Vic
or."
He didn't look at her. He didn't
rust himself to. 'rl be good to you,
Patsy" he replied and turned quickly
Ind left because he wac on the verge
bf breaking up, that iron control Of
his shattered at last. The Dead Pan"
caldwell, the ex-convict, the rick
kteer was just plain Vic Caldwell
gain, the Annapolis boy who had
rome on to New York to make an hon.
st fortune and whose life and ,des-
Tiny had become warped and distorted
Ind ugly beyond any control.
And Patsy, standing there watch
ing him leave, felt something Of tits.
rears sprang into her blue eyes. But
she was no longer afraid; Just miser-
Able because Lee was In trouble and
be5drd her; and Ted, Ill In the hos