The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-23

seat in the corner by the door.
 Thank you," the inspector parked, suppose you tell me just when and where you have known this young lady"
 Some one-Christine thought it was Bill-cried out, Watch him!"
 Then all the lights went out, and a chair fell with crash. After that there was in the room noth- ing but the sound of scuffling feet and heavy breathing until the door opened-and slammed shut. Later, sounds of shouts and run ming came from the darkened cor ridor outside.
 When the lights flashed on again, there were left in the room only the inspector, who stood with his hand on the light switch, MT. Wilmet, covering behind chair, and Christine. Almost at once Bill Yardley opened the door and came in.
 well, Inspector" said Bill, "Puss-in-Boots pulled fast one, didn't he? I think your men have lost him in the dark. I've been wondering just how long it would take you to notice that the switch was right beside his chair"
 And I'm wondering'-the il- spector's eyes were far from friend ly-"just how much you helped him. Yardley."
 The telephone rang. Inspector Parsons picked up the instrument and listened. Then, as if the call had been 8 signal he was waiting for, he suggested almost pleasantly, You might as well all go and get some sleep"
 Hardly daring to believe that they were free, Christine found herself, with Bill and MT. Wilmet, going downstairs and intd the street. As she and Bill were turn ing away toward Christine's lodg- ing, MT. Wilmet coughed apolo- getically.
 Miss Thorenson," he said, "of course you wouldn't care to go on sketching in that booth now-but suppose I find a quieter place? Could you meet me tomorrow morning-say at that drugstore in the Crestview-and talk things over? Working with you has been such a-a pleasure"
 Why" Christine heSitated- frankly I shall have to earn some money somehow, MT. Wilmet."
 Until 10:30 tomorrow then?" the little man beamed. Good night"
 Listen, Christine" Bill said as MT. Wilmet battered off into the darkness, "I wish you wouldn't. Didn't you see those flashlights go- ing off all around you down on the Broadwalk? After tonight you're a marked woman"
 Christine stopped short.
 "Was that what those men were doing?" she demanded. Tt hadn't occurred to me that they were sniping at me-"
 well, it had to be. Tomorrow your pictures will be all over the front page. If you're really hard up, why not let me help in- instead of compete outsider? Any how, I don't trust your funny little boss"
 Not trust him? That help less old babe -the-wood?"
 old? He's probably not got much on me. Lots of men are bald at 30. And he may be helpless, but he doesn't handle the truth any too carefully"
 What do you mean?"
 "He didn't go to any moving picture tonight-or if he did it was nearer 10 than nine as he said"
 How do you knoW?"
 after 9:30. You see, after Labor Day, I'm permitted to take my horses to the beach, The hitching posts are right beyond that studio. Tonight I went down to see what condition they were in-and there was you little babe-in the-wood, poking around behind that booth"
 "Poking around?"
 "He seemed to be examining the foundations of his booth. Just before I came along, he went off up to the Broadwalk. don't think he even saw me"
 They were strolling along the promenade toward Christine's street.
 Bill" Christine said suddenly. "You don't suppose any one could hear us, do you?"
 Not unless the inhpector man. aged to wire us for sound while the lights were out" Bill said with