Glacier County chief., 1939-04-14

He Ill clgaret from hat diamond
studded platinum case and the frag-
rance Of rare fine tobacco filled the
raftered kitchen.
I'm sick of it," she admitted def
initely, Il hate it-and I hate him"
Meyer raised his eyebrows and his
tight smile was one of contemptuous
amusement. There was no hurry. Ev-
erything was perfectly safe. He was
successful at his work because he was
immune to the charms of women, but
he found the folly of the human female
endleSsly entertaining. You'd prefer
no doubt a handsome gigolo to your
earnest gas manufacturer, even willing
perhaps, for kiss from an interest
ing stranger"
The lids fell over Gwynne's youthful
clear. darkly blue eyes. She said-"Im
not such silly little fool as you think
I know you are laughing at me-"
The smile died on his face. only his
cold eyes cleaned with mockery. He
stood in front of her, raised her chin
and placed a light passionless kiss on
her lips. She kissed him back with
warm fervor.
"Goodby." he said at the doorway
The sooner you leave him the better
for him I mean"
DIR Meyer" cried Gwynne desper-
ately, please don't go away and leave
me tied My baby will wake soon and
cry all night-perhapS all day tomor-
row-for food. can't do you any harm.
have no car and no telephone You'd
be miles away before I reached the
. village if I went I wouldn't anyhow,
if I could
He hesitated. shrugged his shoulders.
picked up a knife from the pile on the
dresser and slit her bonds. Gwynne
stood up and stretched her cramped
limbs. You're a curious girl" he said
morosely. You must admit it's little
unnatural to kiss man who would
MAIN your baby"
Gwynne laughed softly. That didn't
take me in. I wanted you 10 have the
things in the safe l could read you
like book I knew you wouldn't do
it."
SOP" said the stranger softly. II
live and learn" He picked up his bag.
Gwynne followed him in silence to the
front door. Give me another kiss
she whispered huskily, something to
remember
Vile creatures said the
man cynically, but certainly if it will
give you any satisfaction-'
She stood on tiptoe and put her arms
around his neck in the darkness. She
was young and round and warm, and
suddenly his arms closed on her. For
long minute he kissed her savagely-
hungrily-bruiSing her mouth. Then
he thrust her roughly away and was
gone without word.
Gwynne shut the door and leaned
there tired and spent. After a while
she went back to the kitchen and took
up her baby.
ing him tightly. my tiny little precious
A dreadful WEAKNESS crept over her
like dark tide. She put him back in
his cradle. made up the fire. packed
a soft cushion under her husbands
limp head, curled herself upon the
other settee and went to sleep.
When John Brunius woke her, the
kitchen was filled with a gray light
from a channel fog. His eyes looked
like those of a stranger and he was
unsteady on his feet He stood swaying
over her. one hand to his head. Whats
all this Gwynne?" he asked testify
What are you doing down here like
+ this? Haven't any of us been to bed?"
Gwynne sat up blinking, then in
/ stantly became wide awake. mo. darl-
ing. you passed out on drugged tobacco
just like a plot in movie. and they
came to rob you Of your secrets while
your wife was defenseless and you
man came instead. He tied me up
there's the stuff he used still lying on
the floor He made me tell him how to
open the safe by threatening Billyboy
with something awful"
John BruniuS let out an unaccus
| toned oath MY poor little Gwynne-
the last person in the world to cope
with such situation! So I suppose
he took everything in it"
Eyes. darling. Is it really so disas-
trous?"
Brunius dropped his head in his
hands There was nothing in 1t that
mattered-except the formula for my
new gas. But that's colossal. The dis
covery of a lifetime. I know how to
make it. but the fact that it's in the
hands of an enemy power is simply
, unbearable." He groaned in his agony.
Gwynne interrupted him. wait
John. You mumbled about the notes
you were working with before you COM
pletely passed out. was in the lab
about to put them away when the door,
bell rang. I was so anxious to let the
doctor in. slipped them in my blouse
and rushed to the door. But almost at
once knew something awful had hap
pened-that some imposter had got in.
I didn't have time to think. I had his
overcoat in my arms. knew in a min
ute he'd be all over the place search
ing us and the house. I put the notes
| in one of the pockets"
Johns eyes looked as If he were go