The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-01
CHAPTER XXIII

CHAPTER XXIH
 She shook his shoulders roughly, trying to bring back some sem blance of life. And as she did so, she glanced behind him. The hilt of knife protruded from between his shoulders: the back of the chair was stained dull, deep red.
 Philip stood at the window of his hotel room in San Francisco and looked out on the city below him The rain was pouring down with a depressing steadiness, and out across the bay fog was beginning to rise.
 What night, he thought, to land in a strange town where one didn't have even nodding ac- quaintance with another soul!
 He was getting fed up with this wild goose-chase for Sybil. Fifty dollars a week, to track down a 15-year- school girl! Sybil might have thought of something more clever.
 What more would he discover in San Francisco than he had in Seattle?
 Thanks to the susceptible Miss Baldwin, he had in his pocket the name of the school which Joan Barrett has attended prior to her transfer to Eastman high school in Seattle, when she was 15 years old! He could go there tomor- TOW and meet another Miss Gree ley and be informed as to the girls marks in simple algebra, and her attendance record in the gym nasium, and the quality of hel accent in Spanish. Tommyrot!
 Probably when he got back te New York he would be able tc qualify for the interesting position of truant officer.
 He thought, little grimly, that it might have been better if he'c had 1t out with his uncle, and San Bowser, too. The fuss would have been over by this time, whereas thiO hide game might gc on forever. Curse Joan Barrett Yes, and Sybil, too. A girl like hel didn't have to resort to schemes like this to get her man.
 
 Well, one more day, and he'd sec the end of San Francisco. Tomor- row, no matter where the trail led he was going to make his own trai down the coast. To Hollywood, ther down to the border, perhaps. Tt Santa Anita. Or Agua Caliente Those sounded like hot spots.
 There would be money from Sy' bil tomorrow. Expense money. ane his own monthly allotment from their trust fund. When he spoke to her on the phone while ago she had promised to wire it to him the first thing in the morning. He hadn't said anything about quit ting; he could drop her line once he got the money, if he thought o1 it. He'd done enough already. Let Sybil choose her own will O the wisps from now on.
 Santa Anita! He smiled, anG turned his back on the gloomy outlook from the window. There were races down there anc easy money. Was it Santa Anita now? He tried to remember. Ol were the races at Tia Juana agair this year? Or had he better try Auga Caliente? There was pret- ty famous casino there, so hec been told. Would this be the right season for Auga CalienteP Or hac he better take in the races - Santa Anita or Tia Juana? Which one?
 Well! He'd better find out where he was going and what he was going after before he got started There'd be no sense in arriving al the race track out of season wher casino was going full blast ir another city.
 He walked over and picked up the phone. Send me up an evening newspaper, will you?" he asked smoothly. 'Oh, any one will do Wait 8 minute-make it the fina sports edition . Thanks, sister Maybe I'll be down to see you later.
 He grinned at his own reflection in the bureau mirror. If the even ing became too dull, one Coult seek date with a good-lookini telephone operator.
 Later - an hour or so later - having discovered all he wanted t. know on the sports page he turne' back to the front of the paper t scan the general news. Local gossip for the most part, but he read ii for want of something better to do. The senator from California wa making himself heard in Washing ton - page one. Details of the wa