The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-07-05
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

III Al L TT 81
II was new experience 10 FL
len. who always had been friendly
with everyone. TO have the hate
of another girl centered on her.
She felt III as she made her way
home from Ovens apartment, ana
tumbled into bed, worn out by the
nervous strain she had been under
However, she took Ovens
threats of revenge lightly, setting
them down as the hysterical Ut
terances of an overweight young
woman whose temper had snapped
under the strain of VIII a she
thought was rank injustice.
A phone call while she was at
breakfast the following morning.
made her wonder whether she
should dismiss Gwen so easily. The
bell seemed To ring with an omi-
nous sound which startled her.
and she was nervous when she
answered.
Breathing
Hello ," she said into the phone.
She could hear someone breathing
at the other end of the line, but
there was no answer.
Hello" she repeated. little
more sharply. still there was no
answer.
Hello. Hello" she all but
shouted, and then jiggled the hook,
thinking that perhaps the connec-
/ ton was bad.
Wild Laugh
A wild laugh with half MAMA
cal tone burst in her ear and 80
/ frightened her for a moment that
she dropped the phone. When she
picked il up again, the line was
dead.
She was so upset, she couldn't
finish her breakfast and the laugh
kept ringing in ner cars all the
way to the plant.
She said nothing to Major Bar
ringer about her call on Gwen nor
the mysterious phone call, al
though she was tempted to when
twice. during the day, the calls
were repeated and the same weird
laughter floated over the wire.
When Ellen arrived home that
night, it was to find typewriter
note addressed to her, making
yelled threats of violence unless
she dropped her activities on be-
half of Major Barringer.
Certain b at it was merely
Gwen, carrying out some pervert-
ed idea of terrorizing her in re-
venge for her part in causing
Kicks arrest, she shrugged off
the threat and destroyed the note.
She might never have mention
ed it to anyone. if call hadn't
been transferred to her in Bar
ringers office the following day,
and she heard the eerie lagh which
came over the wire.
When he questioned her, Ellen
finally told him of the calls she
had been receiving, and also the
note. He refused, however. to take
her view of it-that it merely was
Ovens idea of annoying her
II don't like it. at ALL" he said,
positively, after he had made her
tell of visiting Gwen under close
questioning. 1T may be the girl,
and it may be someone else.
AT any rate. l don't want to
take any chances on anything
happening to you. After all, in
VOWED you in this case and 1t
would be my responsibility in case
anything should happen"
I'm not in the least afraid"
Ellen answered.
should BE
you should be-" was his answer
and later he conferred with Ray
burn about the matter.
I'D feel a lot safer Tom" he
said, IF you'd keep an eye on
Miss Anvers. We can't afford TO
have her in danger"
"Sure-glad To do it," Ray
burn answered. Fortunately, I'm
not married. so there can't be any
complications. AS matter of fact,
1t will be pleasure to drive FL
len to and from work"
The girl was not enthusiastic
over the plan. but the combined
arguments of Barringer and Ray
burn finally broke her down.
You're not very flattering to
me-" Rsyburn said, with a WY
grin.
u