The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-06-26
\ Blonde
For Bait
BY ROB EDEN

II BY ROB EDEN
MAJOR LEO BARRINGER. OF the
ArrI,y AR Service announces spy IN
the Hendon Aircraft Corp. Is steaHng
me most guarded alrplane secrets ana
setting them into the hands OF
foreign power The major reveals ne
suspects RICHARD RICK LESLlE,
a handsome college graduate because
Of mis- association with KARL NOh-
HIS and his mysterious plane trips
alone. TOM RAYBURN. head OF the
Hendon blueprint department. SAYS
he's certain there is no leak IN ms
department. BarTinger suggests that
with Rick in Rayburn's department,
be assigned TO secretly report KICKS
actions Ellen accepts the assign
ment and the major warns her not
to fall in love with Rick, who Is
very attractive. Young man. Eiien
goes TO work" on Rick and he IN
vites her 10 Kari Vorhis party.
Shortly after Ellen sees Rick talking
with GWEN CAITHNESS. dark,
foreign looking girl Rick apologies
TO Ellen that he has headache and
suggests they leave before the party
is over. Barringer reports that after
Rick saw Ellen home. Rick and Gwen
went for midnight plane ride. Fol-
lowing Ovens telephone call to Rick.
he breaks a date with Ellen, sends
box OF roses with a note inviting her
to go on an all day plane trip with
him the next Sunday. After a 90
minute flight. Rick reveals he has a
gold mine and his partner is expect
ing him. The couple lands in
narrow canyon and climbs out of the
partner. HENRY CAITHNESS. father
Of Gwen. When the two men go down
the mine shaft, Ellen explores the
temporary cabin and finds a photo
graphic darkroom with rolls of blue
prints She suspects Rick for the
stormy weather returning home.
make q bad landing. Ellen performs
a somersault and loses consciousness.
She regains consciousness and feels
Kicks lips on her own. He gives her
bruised arm first aid trea tment and
after dinner Rick takes Ellen home.
The next morning she reports 10 the
major and in the Intelligence Bureau
| they examine pictures of suspected
spies. Ellen thinks one picture Is
| likeness OF Caithness. but the nota-
| ton on the back reveals the man
pictured is dead.
CHAPTER NINE
Ellen arrived back at the Hem
don plant barely in time to take
charge of the blneprints, lock them
away in the files and turn the key
over to Rayburn before the factory
closed.
When she left her office, she
found Rick waiting for her, and
accepted his offer to drive her
home. She begged off, however,
when he suggested a date for later
in the evening.
Il have a job to do for mother
she told him, and hoped that she
would be forgiven for her fib AS
a matter of fact, Barringer was
coming over after dinner to go
over the information they had
gathered and map out a further
plan of action.
Il missed you today" Leslie re-
marked. as the car spun along.
Had some work to do down
town for Rayburn" she answered.
'How's the head -
You can see for yourself, it's
nothing but a scratch. Your arm
all right ?"
Good Medicine
I've been so busy today, I for
got all about it. Guess your brand
of medicine worked wonders"
II was worried when I didn't
see you today. Then l asked Ray
burn, and he said you had been in
and were out on special job, so
I knew everything must be all
right"
'How's the plane ?"
eth be in flying order by to-
morrow, since you've turned me
down tonight. They patched up
the wing at the field for me today,
and I'm going to set the new prop
myself tonight, since I have moth
ing else to do"
He waved gsily as she left the
car at her door, and as usual spun
around the corner on two wheels.
She felt a pang of regret as she
turned into the house. 1t seemed
such a shame that a young man
like Rick-a likeable young man
with every prospect of a brilliant
future, should be mixed up with a
bunch of spies.
He must have some motive
she told herself, "if I could only
find out what 1t is
She was certain it wasn't money.
He kept up nice apartment,
owned his plane, and Ellen knew
that he made a comfortable sal
airy at the plant
She was still bordering the
question when Barringer arrived
after dinner and settled down in
the Anvers' living room for a long
talk
Ellen had explained to her
mother it was some business con-
nected with the plant, and so, after
introductions, the elder woman ex-
cused herself and departed for a
neighborhood movie with her
younger daughter, Joan.
The army officer seemed well
satisfied with the progress that
Ellen had made so far.
We're getting ahead. all right
he said. But there still is some-
thing missing connecting link
between Leslie and the theft Of
plans from the files. He may sus-
peet that he's being watched and
is not making any untoward moves
for the time being"
What DO you make of this
Csithness business ," Ellen asked.
That might open up something"
7 went back over the old