The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-05-22
CHAPTER KY

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 Oddly Betty looked at Martha True, Mart had smiled as she ask.
 ed, "Isn't three a crowd?" But il had been peculiar, an almost bit ter smile, As if - but Martha couldn't be jealous.
 You must come, really" put ir Howison quickly. Tomorrow - the dinner dance at the Olympic"
 "A dinner dance," repeated Betty excitedly. Martha, doesn't it seem ages since you've danced?"
 Yes, Martha Britain thought, 1t did seem ages. Ages since she'd danced that night at Del Monte with Gerry Neal. And yet she remembered 1t so clearly, so poignantly. Would she, Martha wondered, ever forget it2 Must she go on, now and forever, re- membering? Must she think of Gerry Neal whenever someone mentioned certain magic words like dance" and moonlight" and and "love". Must she think of him at the sound of such words, and then be struck coldly, as she was now, with the thought that he was criminal of the lowest order? That against the soul If the only man she had ever loved was laid murder, and countless other crimes.
 Must she thus always be alter nately exalted and degraded by the memory of love, or would time erase Gerry Neal from her mind2
 The evening of the next day found Betty Haynes admiring her. self in the tall door mirror of their hotel room. She wore a white sheath of evening gown, and her maize-colored hair was perfect.
 "It ought to be-" she replied in answer to Martha's compliment to that effect. T told the hairdresser I'm going to stay in here two hours, so give be the works!'" !" She turned from the glass. You'd better start getting ready, Mart. The coast guard will be here any moment now"
 T really don't feel like going" Martha said, rising listlessly from the davenport.
 Nonsense! It'll do you good I've hung your dress in the closet .. wasn't 1t nice of that MT. Weeks to have our belongings ready at the hotel? These T-men seem to think of everything!"
 But where'd they find the trailer?"
 MT. Howison says they picked 1t up in front of the abandoned warehouse dock where Speddon left 1t when he took you to the waterfront. It was moved to the Federal Buildings garage, but MT. Weeks had our baggage taken out and sent to the hotel. And then"
 Betty stopped, observing Martha closely. Look here, Mart! What on earth. is wrong with you? Her0 we are out of a rotten mess. Hero we are all spick and span, and with the perfectly good Haynes money Dad wired. Here we are ready to live again - and you mope"
 "I'm not moping," Martha in- sisted. I'm just - sort of tired"
 "Well, you can rest at the Olym- pic as well as here. The music will do you lot of good"
 With Betty's hurried help, Mar tha was ready by the time they were notified that the young coast guard officer was in the lobby.
 'Well" he said admiringly. "I knew you girls were attractive - but I wasn't prepared for this!"
 'T1l have to admit" Betty laughed, "that we must present an improvement over our appear ance when your boat joined MT. Ciznik's!"
 Howison ushered them to the waiting cab. T saw Guy Weeks this morning. I hate to tell you this-but he says you girls can go home tomorrow, if you want. They'll take your statements for the files on the case, and then you won't have to wait."
 Tomorrow" Betty said, and tAACAC Wdo O 6CLu11C 1cAuCIdIlCG in her voice. She turned to Mar tha. "I'd like to say few days and look around Seattle, wouldn't you?"
 Betty,s desire for delay was so obvious that Martha had to smile ''Wed better not stay too long. Remember that those news stories got back home, and our families will be expecting anything to hap pen to us now"
 Even to marrying coast guard mani" said Howison. Though his tone was facetious, his glance at Betty Haynes gave his words bal ance of gravity. Suddenly realiz- ing his implied favoritism, he turned to Martha. By the way, Weeks said he might be able to join us later at the Olympic. I'm sure you'd both like him. He's an interesting fellow"
 Martha failed to reflect his en- thuSiasm. Indeed, she was more than r1eaSed when they reached