The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-03-31
TRAILER
ADVENTURE
BY Nsrd Jones
g 1897. hsA Series. lac

of car design. When | came back
here to shave ! spotted something
screwy, so l investigated"
at must be a luggage compart-
ment. But why didn't Darlington
or Sloss tell me about it?"
Gerry Neal smiled oddly. at
would be unusually thoughtful,
don't you think. to have ventila-
ton for the luggage? And l can't
qite understand, either, why your
employers didn't point out such
nice feature"
Martha dropped YEARLY to the
settee. rubbed q moist hand over
her forehead. I'll wish we'd
never taken this job. It's all"
She stopped. looked helplessly at
Neal. III can't understand any of
it,
He offered her cigaret. "The
best thing to do for the time be-
ing is calm down and don't try to
figure it," 49,,
"But | can't trust you. Why
were you hiding? Why didn't you
meet Speeddon rs you'd pronis-
ed? Then all this wouldn't have
happened.
Neal sat down beside her, looked
Squarcly into her eyes. See here.
Martha Britain. You've got to
trust me. You've got TO believe
that things might have been worse
IL | hadn't pulled my little stunt"
what do you mean?" -.
That's all / can tell you now"
Neal said. .'- o..
"But do you know why Betty
didn't come back?"
Neal shook his head. "I'm not
certain, if you don't accept
Sloan's theory"
81 DON'T" Martha said quickly.
Betty Haynes wouldn't do "a
thing like that" She stopped a
moment. "Do you-arc you really
a friend Of Speddon's?'
We've known each other for a
considerable time"
Martha's head was whirling
with questions, but she saw that
Neal would not give what an
swers he knew. How far should
she trust him, she wondered.
There was the possibility that he
was working with Speddon, was
even now attempting to throw her
off the track. But what did Sped
don want with Betty? The
Haynes family was not wealthy,
so she could not be held for any
apprcciable kidnap ransom. The
only other alternative filled Mar
tha's heart with cold fright.
"Will you go to San Francisco
with me to meet Betty" she ask
cd suddenly.
"0f course"
Martha's heart lcaped. If she
could keep him with her, pretend
to fall in with him. there nigh,
still be a chance to get him into
the hands Of the police. Perhaps
in the crowded Palace Hotel.
when she found Betty's wire had
been a hoax, she could have Gerry
Neal arrested. -
"l'm going to get some rest. :"
she said. Then we'll start carly
in the morning" 81. -.
"iou won't run away from
"No." .s.. ., =,
Neal smiled. 81 really wouldn't.
can help you. And you must
believe me when I tell you that
this whole thing may be bigger
than you imagine. a girl can't
buck it alone. And whether you
realize it or not. you're in il up to
YOUR neck" He started for the
door. an be at the del Monte,
IL you want to come by for me
there at 8 o'clock We can break.
fast together" n,
"The Del Monte? IL thought
-ou were broke. ~
Gerry Neal grinned. 81 wired
for funds" he said. "Scc you in
the morning" Then with a pleas
ant good night" he left the
trailer.
Tired and befogged. Martha
wondered duly il he'd really be
there. Peraps she'd Numbered
again. and he would rush on to
San Francisco to warn Speddon
that she was on the trail. Who
was Gerry Neal? How could he
STAY at the Del Monte, when he
had sneaked away from his land
lady in San Diego and gone hitch