Evening star., 1938-02-06

Blind date with DEATH
wi" Layton gets the truth about the missing judge and
new clue to the MURDER Continuing an exciting mystery
by ERIE STANLEY GARDNER

mind. She gave the signal for planted tele-
phone call. She handled it in such way her
mother would not answer the telephone, and
then told her mother the Judge had called to
say he was going out of town on business
trip. The whole thing was frame-up.'
How do you know" Bert asked.
Patricia called number and asked what
time it was. That was signal that the party
at the other end of the line was to wait GER
tain number of minutes and then call back.
That gave Patricia chance to be standing
by the telephone when the call came in.
know it was a plant because her watch was
five minutes off after she'd pretended to set
it,"
Where are you now?" Grinnel asked.
I'm at drugstore Ross Wilton offered
to bring me back and now he's suggesting we
run out to the Palm Garden for an hour.
think he's in on it and may be able to make
him talk Do play along with him, or cut
lOOSe?"
Bert said lust minute, Baby" She
could hear the rumble of voices as he talked
with the city editor, then he said into the tele-
phone, "Okay. Baby, you play along with
Wilton. Report every time you get chance
and keep your ears open"
Win kept excitement out of her voice.
Listen, Bert, Judge koomes had his police
dog, Queenie, with him. Now that he's running
away or hiding he wouldn't dare keep her
with him. He'll undoubtedly stop his car
somewhere and put her out"
Just minute" Grinnel said. 'l'll ask
Westwick
wait a minute, Bert" Win interrupted.
Here's the best chance to get line on Judge
koomes Let's make a fast play for the dog.
Let's call the police with an SOS for female
police dog about six years old, light brown in
color, answering the name of Queenie,' and
you can have our newspaper radio station
put an announcement on the air. If the dog
picked up near the railroad station, We'll know
Judge Koomes did take train. Or fits one of
the highways. he's ="
Sounds like good idea," Grinnel inter
rupted Just minute . Okay. Win.
Westwick says to keep line on Wilton. Well
try to locate the dog"
Win hung up, rejoined Wilton and said,
We'll, can make it for an hour in between
assignments, but that's as long as dare to
play hooky."
Wilton's eyes glowed with pleasure. That's
the old spirit"
"If we stay any longer than that" Win
said, I'VE d have to manufacture some news -
commit murder, hide murderer. or some
thing nice and sensational like that" She said
it lightly with little laugh, but studied Ross
Wilton from the corners of her eyes. At her
words, the smile abruptly left his face.
Win said, This is going to be kick. I'm
crazy about dancing with partner who really
knows how"
Slowly the smile returned to the young
lawyers lips He tossed back his head, and
pushed the car into speed Win, studying the
finely chiseled profile, the black eyes, the
corners of the shapely mouth strove to famil
iarize herself with his natural expression so
that when the time came for her to launch her
broadside she could tell just how her shots had
told.
"If you don't mind compliments, he told
her, I'm going to be frightfully interested in
YOU"
Win said, 1.-The dash light probably isn't
Illuminating my features, and anyway you
should keep your eyes on the road. So Ill tell
you that my eyebrows are slightly raised in
silent interrogation. That gives you chance
to go on l. that is about the compliments, l