Henderson daily dispatch., 1936-05-11
CHAPTER A


finally. after I bad begun to think
that she was lost again, and phonins
to Van Every l told him Joyce was
with me. safe. ] could hear his sigh
of relief over the phone. keep hel
with you, Vaughan, and don't let
her come back to the house. Get her
a room in a hotel some place-better
still. take her up to your suite at the
Warrington. 1 won't feel safe about
her if she's in the house. Will you
do this?" l promised.
I'll have some of her clothes
brought here to the hotel this after
noon and get a companion for her.
/ have some applicants coming
one" With that he hung up and
was free to take Joyce to lunch. We
ate at small coffee shop near by,
as she only had an hour for lunch.
Your uncle wants you to go up
to my hotel and stay there a few
days. He'll send your clothes. at
least some Of them, and get you
another companion" wished she
would comply without argument. but
had little hope.
Hes a dear. but don't need a
companion" She attacked the salad
she had ordered.
Listen, child, your uncle has been
very good to you. Don't you realize
that?" I was getting angry. Van
Every was right about her contrary
moods. You can at least do some
thing for him. He's worried about
you. He has a right to be. Only
this morning. sticking in his front
door. we found a needle. exactly like
the ones that killed Margalo and
your Randall. If you'll do this for
me. keep quiet in my rooms for a
few days until this blows over. TIL
persuade your uncle to let you work
to your hearts content"
Before she could answer, I con-
tinued: There's Allan Foster. too.
What would he say if you exposed
yourself to danger?"
You're certain there is danger?"
Her tone for the first time was
doubtful. less cocksure.
Sure of it, Joyce. I know it,"
THAT needle was meant for me?"
you or your uncle I'm inclined
to believe you're the one. Already
this fiend has killed two women.
Another woman may be next. 1t
isn't any joke. Joyce. It's murder
Ously serious"
"Of course. TIL do as you say. You
should have told me-"
II tried to. my dear. but you
wouldn't let me-" reminded.
"Im only doing this for uncle and
Allan. AS soon as the danger is
over, Til go back to work. You
promised to persuade Uncle"
"I'll do my best"
She insisted on going back to the
store after we had finished lunch.
and was close to her side when she
told the head of her department She
was quitting. She gave some sort of
an excuse. I don't remember what
it was. The buyer was disappointed.
Evidently in the short time joyce
had been in the department, she had
made a good salesgirl. At any rate.
the buyer told Joyce that whenever
she wanted to come back, her Job
was open.
The girl was happy as we left the
store. Her face was radiant, and she
smiled continually. what do you
think Of that?"
Fine" I mumbied, wishing we
were in my rooms now. so nervous
was I getting. chose a cab care
fully. and made sure again that all
the windows were down. This time 7
also pulled down the shades. At the
Warrington, hurried Joyce upstairs,
where the phone was ringing. It
was Van Every. saying he was send
ing up a woman, a Mrs. Sumner,
who he thought would be all right.
He had picked her out hastily, but
she would do for the time being.
She was bringing some of Joyce's
clothes. He would be with her.
My rooms were on the fifth floor.
and faced Fifth avenue. Two rooms.
with a connecting door between.
and then two doors into the hall.
I locked them all except the con-
Meeting door. and waited patiently
for Van Every. When he came /
proposed to move out, and leave
Joyce in command. I could get
suite farther down the hall: perhaps
next door.
In half an hour Van Every came.
bringing Mrs, Sumner who was a
mature. refined woman. I liked her
from the first. and felt Joyce could be
trusted with her. She was soft
spoken. well dressed and pretty.
Thanks. Vaughan" Van Every