Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1936-09-11
CHAPTER 6

of the girls were alive and safe.
Then, as he was about to knock on the
door, he checked himself.
After all, what did he know of Ben
nington? Come to think of it, he
knew nothing except what the man
himself had told. Bennington might
be Naval Intelligence operative and
he might not. Hawley had only his
word for it. Perhaps" he reflected
"I'd better proceed with a little eau
ton. Certainly 1 haven't exhibited
much so far tonight"
He. dropped his hand for moment
and felt the gun which Bennington
had slipped to him under the table at
the Palais Royale. 1t was n flat,
small-caliber automatic; he knew that
its short immersion in the water had
done it no harm. Conscious of the
weight of the weapon in his pocket,
he felt more confident. He knocked
briskly on Bennington's door.
In the brief silence following the
latch. The door opened few inches.
knock he could hear his heart pound
ing furiously. Then the click of the
He heard startled exclamation from
Bennington as he pulled the door wide
"Phil! Good God, man! 1 thought
you were dead!"
Hawley walked into the room, en-
loving for a moment the melodrama
of his entrance.
Judith Whalen was standing in the
center of the room. She stared at him
wordlessly, her mouth open in amaze
ment. Then suddenly she was in his
arms. She was holding him tightly
and sobbing against his damp shoul-
der.
Perhaps it was cruel to put such a
question at such time, but Hawley
had to know. "Where is Georgette ?"
he asked.
"Georgette is perfectly safe," Ben
nington said.
AS the two men spoke, Judith SEEM
ed to get hold Of herself. She drew
away from Hawley little and looked
up at him with haggard eyes. She
smiled family, rather sadly. She
choked a little as she said:
"I'm glad you're back, Phil. I'm
so glad"
Hawley said to Bennington, "You
haven't told me where Georgette is. 4"
"Phil, if I answered all the ques-
tions you doubtless have on your
mind" Bennington said, "we'd be here
all night. have time for only a
few of 'em. AS for Georgette, she
is safe aboard the Wanderer."
"What kind of packet is the Wan
derer?"
'She's trading schooner. She u.s.
ually runs to the San Bias Islands. To
night she is taking us to Puerto
Chagres."
Gus? Who do you meant"
"Georgette, Judith and myself"
Bennington replied. "And YOU"
His manner was vaguely offensive.
-Hawley did not know whether he car
ed to take any more orders from him
sor not and he told him so.
"Wen discuss that in moment"
Bennington said calmly. 81 suppose
you're interested in knowing what
happened after we passed out"
Hawley was becoming more dubious
ing of heads, if you can match mine,
ute. "We?" he said. care you sure
you passed out too?"
Bennington chuckled eff you had
my head, Phil, you wouldn't ask that
question"
Hawley laughed little, too. "Speak
ing of heads, if you can mitch mine,
IN put in with you"
Anyway" Bennington went on,
judith will bear me witness that
was out as cold as you were."
Judith smiled wanly. "You were
both like corpses. 1 was frightened
to death until Ben came to. 1t was
only half an hour OF so, but it seemed
like days"
"When I came around, Judith had
driven to the sub base" Bennington
continued. 81 sent radio to the dis
trict headquarters in Balboa and then
had Judith drive me back to Pier Z.
Judith and I got out and left you
where you were. You were still in
the front seat, dead to the world We
had walked down the pier forty OF fiji
ty feet, to where the Wanderer is
tied up, when we heard the car start.
We looked back and saw that you had
slipped in behind the wheel and were
driving away"
81 don't remember thing about
that" Hawley said.