Evening star., 1937-09-30
CHAPTER X.

ball glasses, pulled his magnificent
mustachios regretfully and looked at
his artist friend. She's got" he said
In his melodious Italian American,
what you call lingo"
Charlie leaned against the bar.
~As q rule, I don't like blonds.
They're cold and jittery and that
fluffy gold hair gets looking like
chicken feathers, but she's so good
looking and such terribly good sport
that it's a shame to see her life
ruined by such creature as that
Margit."
Spike roared with laughter.
Charlie looked at him with indig-
nation. Whats funny?"
"You think you can try to tell me
you like this Irene? She's sweet. yes.
You saw her on the street and you
said by yourself. Here is something
amusing but then her sister came
in"
Charlie grinned. Her sister is
slave driver. an iceberg and an un-
mitigated stiff-neck."
Spike began to polish another glass.
He was still chuckling. Did you see
your eyes when your eyes saw the
sister? Spike saw them. I never saw
. man get so crazy so quick. :"
Charlie shook his head. you're all
wet"
Then why did you call up al
seady2"
Because rene's darn nice kid
being ruined by that female adding
machine! Because I've made up my
mind to show Irene little bit of
life as a counter -irritant. AS a mat
ter of fact, 1 should have married
o girl like Irene. The adoring type.
Shed think everything 1 did was
wonderful. That's the trouble with
Evelyn. She thinks everything I do
is half-witted It's deuced uncom-
Portable to be married to woman
who thinks you're half-wit. BY gol-
ly, maybe I will marry Irene!"
Spike went on polishing. What
about Mr.. Beaver"
Charlie frowned. "Waldo?" I'll
figure that out later. It's too early
In the morning to be practical. In
the end, I'll probably have to find
. substitute fiancee for him. Lucky
thing I know so many girls" Charlie
became enamoured of the Idea OF
finding q girl to take Irene's place
in Waldos affections, after he had
married Irene. He began to play
pensively with two teaspoons and
tumbler "Let me see. Waldo needs
somebody stimulating-but not too
stimulating. He's the Lie still on
your little beddy-weddy while Waldo
gets you some coffee-woffee' type. It's
too bad Dorothy Chalmer shot her
first husband. She would have been
ideal for Waldo, but that shooting
sort of balled her up" He hit the
bowl Of the teaspoon. and the sec
ong spoon Tipped neatly into the
tumbler. Il think I'll take Irene to
tea in Central Park this afternoon"
Spike pulled somewhat battered
bill from his wallet. Twenty says
you don't for buck
Solemnly Charlie laid dollar bill
on the table. Thoughtfully he walked
over to the telephone on the wall.
He gave the Agnew number again.
When Keough answered, he disguised
his voice. This is D. B. Sargent of
the United States Bureau of Internal
Revenue" he said. rs Miss Margit
Agnew there?"
"She can be reached at her office"
Charles disguised voice was busi-
nesslike, but good humored.
ANY one else in her household will
do. It's not matter of suspected
fraud in her tax returns-just the
necessity of asking one or two per-
sonal questions. Possibly one of Miss
Agnew's parents could step to the
phone"
Keough sounded relieved, but he
was also disappointed. His training
had taught him to be suspicious. On
one hand, he knew that Margit was
the most honest woman alive, but on
the other hand, it would not have
surprised Keough, the detective, a whit
to learn that she had chiseled the
Government on her taxes. He said.
"Her sister is at home. Probably she
could answer your questions"
Charlie said. Splendid"
Spike looked ruefully at his $40 bill.
Ireen answered She was in no
mood to talk to income tax people.
When she said, Hello" Charlie
WINGED
Then he went to work. His own
voice was ecstatic, throbbing, nat
ural. "Irene! Darling!"
In her house on Long Island, Irene
finched like a doe struck by an ar
row. She pulled her neglige close
around her as If Mr.. Jones could see
through telephone wires. She sud-
denly felt very fine. "It's you'll"
st want you to have tea with me
this afternoon"
Despair. IT couldn't. Margit has
forbidden me to see you again"
He was gay, assured. "Of course!
We expect that, don't we? But you've
got to take tea with me, neverthe-
less"
"rd adore to-" she answered, "but
IT'S utterly impossible"
Love" Charlie quoted pedantically,
"laughs at locksmiths." He winked
at Spike. Here's what to do. In
about an hour you begin to get a
terrible toothache. You call up your
dentist-presumably. But you keep
the hook down. He tells you to be at
his Office at o'clock. You leave. In
q taxicab, if possible. If not, have
Paul drive you to the building where
your dentists Office is. You 60 in the
front door and 60 out the back. At
4:15 you meet me in the Casino in
Central Park. See?"
Irenes voice was breathless.
"It's just like q NOVEL" Conster-
nation followed ecstasy. But I won't
get home until or so. What1l I say
to Margit?"
leave that" Charlie replied, ito
me. Four fifteen at the Casino. III
count the minutes, darling"