Evening star., 1936-10-02
INSTALLMENT Xxx.


- upon the night club known
as La Cucaracha, which translated
from the Spanish means the Cock
roach. The murder of Rita Wingfleld
was Just So hours old as they crossed
the car tracks and paused beneath
the cafe canopy.
valerie Wesst," read the board
ings. Exotic danseuse and song
sensation. With Felix Werkmeister's
California orchestra and a swellegant
floor show. Dancing from dusk to
dawn"
A grinning darky, in the quasi-uni-
form Of Mexican bandit, swung open
the door for them and they passed
inside. Music from the California
orchestra rushed to greet them, and
a thick fog Of tobacco smoke swirled
rs the door swung to. A cigarette
girl, with amorous eyes, drlfted past.
A suave gorilla in evening ralmen1
directed them to the check room.
AS they passed a woman's rest room
a young woman rushed out OF 1t ana
fell with a glad cry on BlackWoods
shirt bosom.
"Oh, Mr.. Blackwood" she ex-
claimed I'm SO happy to see you!'
1t was Anne Gray, worried and
beaming, her eyes alight with ex-
pectancy, her hair a shlmmerlng
glory.
MY word! If it isn't Miss Gray!"
said Blackwood in surprise. But he
was not displeased. He recovered his
poise and helped her to free herself
from his embrace. so we meet
again." he added fatuously. Il think
YOU are acquainted with Mr.. Con-
stantine?"
She seized Riley by the arm, ignor-
ing the introduction.
Something has happened to Mr..
Colbath!" she cried. II don't under
stand 1t. I've been waiting for an
hour!" Her voice was breathless with
anxiety.
Happened to him? But I thought
you were together"
I'VE were together. He went away
from me, He hasn't come back
The gorilla was listening. Black
wood caught his eye and gestured
him to one side.
"Just a minute, Miss Gray" he
apologized, and followed the gorilla.
"What seems to be the trouble?" ne
asked In a confidential whisper.
There's no trouble at all The
young lady Is simply excited" The
mans voice was conciliatory. He
smiled as one citizen of the world to
another. Her escort is indlsposed,
that's all. A little too much liquor
He passed out of the picture. He Will
soon be all right
It was the sort Of accident, his smile
suggested, that might happen to any
body.
"But. where is he?" insisted Black
wood. She says she has been wait
ing for an hour"
"She exaggerates the time. Hall an
hour perhaps-no more. He is lying
down. Mr.. Goliath is an Old Gus
foner of ours. We are taking good
ears Of him" He shrugged easily
s~We tried to send the young lazy
home in a taxi, but she insisted on
waiting"
IT zee" said Blackwood; but ne
Sas confident that he didn't. Inc
situation was puzzling. And he hao
no wish to start a riot. IN 'aHe
care Of her." he promised, ana re-
turned to his companions.
Anne Gray had been whispering
sanidly to Constantine, who turned
as Blackwood came up.
This is curious, Riley, SAID the
novelist. Miss Gray tells me tnat
Goliath"
Blackwood thrust shoulder against
,c,, ~ them setting himself in the
center.
walk into the dining ROOM ne
said in a low voice. pretend tha'
everything's all right"
At the entrance to the dining room
4 second gorilla seized them and con-
quoted them to q table. He looked
euriously at Anne Gray, beckoned
violently for a waiter, then hurried
sway for q conference with his fel-
low simian. Blackwoods eye followed
his movements with speculative in
terest. It occurred to him that Ihefe
was trouble brewing.
He ordered rye highballs. ana
bring the bottle to the table" ne
added. smiling. II like to see the
labels" His smile vanished and ne
spoke quickly to Anne Gray. "What
happened to Colbath?"
He got sleepy. Mr.. BlackWood
Then he told me that he was Ill. He
excused himself and went away.
ssw him talking to man, near that
big door over there-the manager,
think. Then he disappeared. waited
for a long time. After a while the
manager came over to me. He said
Goliath was slightly i'll and was going
TO lie down for few minutes. He
was very kind. He suggested take
. taxi and 60 home"
THAT Mr.. Goliath had sug-
gested it?"
IT think so. But refused. I asked
him to take me to Mr.. Goliath. He
said that was impossible. He was in
Q mems room, he told me. Some
thing he had eaten had not agreed
with him, but he would be all right
IN an hour or two"
And you still insisted on waiting?"
II said If there was some place I
could sit down, would wait for him.
The manager was annoyed, think,
but he took me to the rest room.
was there until you came"
THAT was an hour ago. you say!"
"At least an hour, Mr.. Blackwood."
Philip Constantine took hand in
Ihe conservation. "Of course" he
said, "that may be exactly what hap
pened, Riley! Except that he prob
ably drank too much. Shall have
4 look around for him? Look here,
Miss Gray-Tl dig up this manager
and have him take me to Goliath"
"Oh, please do, Mr.. Constantinep
Blackwood shook his head. Don't
rush thipgs-please!" he implored.,
There's time enough for that. Iwant