Evening star., 1939-06-25

-oR moment after the butler had spoken,
Nicholas Garside stared into the mans
: . expressionless face.
Miss Everton?" he repeated; and before
he could halt the word, "Alone?"
Yes sir"
Garside got slowly to his feet. Slowly, lest
he leap. With the thought that the long wait
ing, the long pursuit. was perhaps about to
end heavy pulse began pounding in his
veins If she had come to him here, alone, it
must mean -
Show her in Wait! III 60 myself"
Traversing the library and the immense liv-
ing room beyond, he turned into gallery
leading to the reception hall. He was thinking
Careful! mustn't rush it -.
He came into the hall eagerly, his hand
extended: Eve! What a grand surprise! This
is quite the incest thing that has ever hap
pened to me-
She smiled family - tall, fair girl of splen-
did figure. with something of the Madonna
look in her wide-set gray eyes.
rs it? I'm not 50 sure. But anyway, here
am, at last In the eagles eyrie.
"'At last is right enough" he said. How
many parties have given for chattering FOOLS
hoping to get you here? As for the eyrle part
you must look through all the rooms. now, so
you'll know it isn't So"
What isn't so?"
That there are secret chambers stacked
with the picked bones of my victims, he ex-
planned, smiling That's what your friends
would have you believe of me, isn't it,"
I'm afraid there won't be time for it
today" she said, evasively. Too many cham
bers. You have the whole tower"
"Yes. wanted lot of room and view.
50 when heard MacMurtrie was planning
for sixty stories, offered him long lease to
remodel the tower for me.
They had come into the living room. The
girl halted, with little cry OF wonder before
square, six foot structure OF plate glass.
Within, on a carven pedestal of red porphyTy,
was large potted plant From the luxurlant
riot of its leaves. single tall stem scared IN
curve like the flight of rocket. The flower at
its tip - nearly foot long - was made up OF
cascading sprays of exquisite bel-shaped BIOS.
SONS, gold-tipped at their edges and shading
to paest ivory at their centers.
Nick! What magnificent thing! What is
it,"
do you like it," he asked. "One of my oil
scouts dug up the bulb for me IN the jungle.
Colombia Natives call it lily. They're very
rare even there. he says Craven - my
gardener - finally coaxed it into bloom The
old FOOLS gone clean batty over it. do believe
- he stands and beams like fond father. It's
delicate infant. of course - has to be kept
under glass at eighty-six degrees, with its own
heating coil and humidifier.'
He opened small door in the side OF the
e. cabinet, reached in. broke the stem. and
offered her the giant bloom. The girl recoiled.
OH she gasped. why did you do that 1t
- it was terrible thing to do!'
Not at ALL Flowers are meant to be
picked"
Are they? Always"
why not?"
She made gesture of despair. A rare.
perfect thing like that! Why couldn't you just
let it be? Now it's spoiled for everyone For
poor Craven, and =
. And for me- since you don't want 1t.
He dropped the flower on the floor. smiling
at her dismay Let me take you up to my
private sanctum Id like you to see the view.
Leading her to the wall, he pressed but
ton. The paneling slid back disclosing the
L...,o r,-;lla of IN automatic elevator