The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-12-19
Copyright Ledger syndicate

time for a woman" He saw her
forefinger whitening on the trigger.
He wondered ironically II Al Steeger
had been right in believing that,
underneath It all, he loved Jean
Strebor. Yet even AL. who had
know him so long, had not been
sure. AL had not ben able TO de-
termine how much the blonde
Mundy had met in Shanghai meant
to him. He advanced steadily. I'm
coming closer, Jean. Shoot II you
have the nerve. One Of our wills is
going to break Or"
Don't shoot himp voice rang
out suddenly. Drop that gum"
The blue muzzle Of an automatic
was pokinG through what had once
been a window. Mundy took the
opportunity to lunge forward and
grasp the revolver from Jeans hand.
He held 1t In readiness, but the
automatic disappeared. Then foot
steps could be heard approaching
from the front of the building.
The Blonde Again
A young woman In tweeds APP
peared. An automatic was gripped
in one gloved hand. Seeing Mundy,
she smiled and dropped the weapon
into her handbag. She was chic
and cosmopolitan. She was blonde.
Deborah AllisonW
Jean Strebor regarded the other
woman curiouSly. Jeans knees felt
weak, yet she knew she was stand
ing steadily.
She felt, for the moment, like O.
person in a dream. Then she saw
that the fingers from which he had
wrenched the gun were trembling.
She showed her hands In her coat
pockets. 80 this was the blonde Rex
Mundy had known in Shanghai?
Eyes, Rex. Glad?"
How do you happen to be here2"
Mundy realized he did not feel
the way he had imagined he would
feel upon meeting her again.
Cant we talk about that later?"
she asked, somewhat nervously, 1t
seemed. Frankly, Rex, after I
learned that you had left Shanghai,
I came here on boat with one Of
Marshal Fang's aides. I heard you
had some property in this part Of
China"
THAT still doesn't explain what
you're doing in these deserted
ruins"
They've got some poor wretch
under pressure back there. He was
squealing plenty when I left" She
grimaced, not unbecomingly. Then
her voice frightened. We've got to
hurry, Rex. / don't want TO be
found here when the Marshaps ruff
fans come"
Jean Strebor found her finger
nails digging into her palms. She
had TO fight to keep her voice from
breaking.
Then they're coming?" Jean said.
"Of course, they're coming. You're
a grand prize, especially since the
rest Of you rfamily has been so sue
cesSful. The marshal plans TO use
you for bit Of bargaining"
Jean tried TO be calm. He hasn't
overthrown my father yet, you
mean?"
"Yet?" The blonde laughed.
There was something sharp about
the laughter. TT seems that your
charming father got long expected
re-inforcements. He's broken up the
main part of the marshals army.
He's coming this way along this
road. Our dear Mr.. Fang wouldn't
be this close now If 1t weren't for
this new hope of catching you, Miss
Strebor"
The blonde turned impulsively to
Rex.
We've got TO hurry out Of here,
I tell you'll"
How did you get here, Debo-
rah?'
THAT Chinese ex-chauffeur told
where he'd hidden an automobile
he'd stolen previously from the
marshal. got TO 1t first, that's all.
Now hurry. Bring the girl" Her
voice became silky again. There's
no reason why we shouldn't do bit
OF bargaining ourselves, Is there?"
Mundy stopped. 1t was becoming
all too clear, What do you nean?"
he asked, nevertheless.
Does He Love Her?
I'VE have to live, don't we? You
won't be able to work your mine
again until this country quiets
down enough so that you can bring
In new equipment, If 1t ever does.
The marshal will pay plenty for this
girl" She breathed. you do love
me, don't you, Rex?"
That's between us. Why bring