The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-06-19
4 E[QEkE (QE Elql;@

: lives" Ellen told herself. Il may
want to know some time, and ne.
number isn't in the phone book
She saw Rick again before quit
ting time. when he brought MS
bundle Of blue prints to be locked
in the files.
Got to run over to the hangar
to give my plane once over or
I'd drive you home he said. sea
you later. anyway
Checks Prints
Ellen carefully checked the blue
prints. saw that every one charged
to Rick had been returned and
locked them in the files. Then she
followed her regular routine OF
turning her file key over to Ray
burn and watched as he put II IN
his office safe, spun the dial and
set the time lock.
dig up anything yet?' ne
asked. smiling pleasantly.
Not thing"
ooh, well, those things take
time" he consoled. Anyway, 1
doubt II you will find anything
wrong here. checked over every
thing with Barringer today, and
there's not one scrap of a blue
print dealing with our secret work
that's missing"
Then you don't think Rick -
Mr.. Leslie is a spy"
who am TO argue with Major
Barringer7 II he says secret
agents have intercepted copies OF
our plans. he must know what he's
talking about But I'm pretty sure
there's been no leak here, unless
Leslie or someone else is lot
slicker than I give them credit
for being"
ooh. well, we'll soon find OUT
she said, and picked up her purse
and hat and left. Shed have TO
hurry to have dinner and get
dressed by the time Rick called.
She was ready, however, by
seven thirty and was glancing over
the evening paper when the tele-
phone rang.
A feminine voice responded TO
her hello" and asked if Mr.. Les
lie were there. When Ellen said
that he wasn't but was expected
soon. the voice asked If she would
give him a message to phone San
Ia Monica the moment he arrived.
Very Important
ut is very important, the voice
insisted. and Ellen promised.
AS she set down the phone, she
puzzled over the voice. There was
something familiar about it -
voice she recognized but couldn't
place Immediately. Then she ran
and got her purse and fished out
the little note book in which she
kept addresses and numbers.
Santa Monica 437 - Gwen
Caithness," she read. That was
it. Hers was the voice she had
heard on the telephone.
She hadn't much time to wonder
about the mysterious call. how
ever, and why Gwen hadn't given
her name before Rick arrived.
Right on the dot he grinned,
glancing at his wrist watch.
"Punctual, that's me-"
The grin faded from his face
when she gave him the phone
message, and he Immediately
dialed the number. Under cover Of
getting her wraps, Ellen tried her
best to listen to his end of the
conversation but his voice was so
low pitched she could understand
nothing.
He turned away from the phone
with a worried expression on his
face.
ut seems like I'm always rum
ming out on you, Ellen" he said
apologetically. ITS an important
call that I can't ignore. A BUSH
ness deal I'm mixed up in that I
may tell you about some day"
Then our date is off ?"
I'm afraid Soft you'll forgive
me. I'll make it up to you, soon,
though. And now, if you'll excuse
me, I'll run along"
Ellen Answers
TITS quite all right Ellen an.
swered. Some other time"
She watched from the doorway
as Rick ran to his car, leaped in
and pressed the starter. In a mo-
ment he had rounded the corner
with his tires squealing a protest
al the spsed.
Well, that's that" she re-
marked and started for the phone
to report to Barringer. But before
she reached 1t, the bell rang and
when she finally did call the army
officer. she had some additional
information.
Yes, sir" she told him, lust a
minute after Rick Leslie dashed
away, Karl Vorhis phoned for him.
He seemed to be very much upset
when I couldn't tell where he had
gone in such a hurry
"Okay, phone me again in the
morning Bsrringer told her. I
may have some news for you"
But instead, she had something
/ for him.
"A box Of roses just arrived At
the door-from Mr.. Leslie she
told him. In IL was q note asking