The Coolidge examiner., 1939-05-11
CHAPTER X-Continued

That need not constitute an OBJ
stacle." Mr.. Gormine was trying
his best to be persuasive and sue
ceeding only in being insinuating.
II am representing his interests IN
this matter without his knowledge.
The fact is, / am endeavoring to
extricate him from situation Wnlcn
may prove damaging. 1t Is desir-
able that l should have some source
of information at headquarters"
''In plain words, spy" inter
preted Kelsey unpleasantly.
''Now. Mr.. Sayles; Mr.. Sayles!
This is a legitimate procedure.
There is no occasion to employ
harsh terms"
'All right. Proceed with your le-
Ultimate procedure"
II may rely upon your discre-
aon?"
Kelsey nodded.
Good AS you are doubtless
aware. Mr. Snydacker has become
unfortunately involved with one OF
the young women connected with
this latest production of his"
81 don't know anything about it
and don't want to-"
Hear me out, please, Mr.. Sayles.
This is a most distasteful task and
/ beg that you will not make it
more so. Insofar as is possible
have kept aloof from the screen
phase of Mr.. Snydacker's activi-
ties, barring the formal details OF
contracts. / am family lawyer,
Mr.. Sayles, and the personnel of
the silver screen is wholly alien to
my tastes and interests. Conse-
quently / find myself embarrassed
by the necessity of such intimate
personal negotiations"
What negotiations" bluntly
asked Kelsey.
In this case, with Miss Marion
Norman Van Stratten. so-called. the
star of Maiden Effort"
THAT ought to be simple enough.
She has her contract. I suppose"
Il do not refer to her contractual
relations with my client, but to 9TH
ers. more compromising"
Kelsey scowled. That's no af-
fair of mine"
1T was bad enough" pursued the
lawyer. with pursed lips, ito have
him squander upon her emeralds
worth a kings ransom. You have
doubtless seen her Haunting them.
/ perceive that you have. / should
be glad to hear from you-for a
suitable consideration. of course
other information relevant to my
inquiry"
Kelsey leaned forward. His gaze.
somber and contemplative.
do you know what I'm think
ing?" said he.
81 do not"
THAT i should very much like to
push in your elderly and unattrac-
tive face"
AN ill-advised threat" returned
the lawyer imperturbably. IF l
have inadvertently trodden upon
your toes, l regret it. Perhaps you,
yourself, have a sentimental inter-
est in the young lady. In that
event"
Don't be a fool" said Kelsey vi
olently. ''I have no more interest in
her than / have in you"
VERY good Then l may tell you
that Miss Van Stratten is in process
of blackmailing my client"
81 think you're crazy" returned
the young man contemptuously.
Whatever else may be going on,
you can't make me believe that
she's that kind"
The lawyer wagged his head. "A
dangerous type, Mr.. Sayles. A for
midable type She has enticed Mr..
Snydacker, who is specially suscepti-
ole TO feminine charms, INTO a liai-
son, and now proposes to make him
pay through the nose. Wait a mo-
ment; 20 interruption. if you please.
speak by the book. She has, her
self, admitted the relationship with
Mr.. Snydacker and even indicated,
perhaps to re-enforce her extortion-
ate demands, that there might be
consequences of a sort which l can
only describe as disastrous. Disas-
trous. Mr.. Sayles."
do you know what you're talking
about? Because if you don't"
II beg that you will control your
self, Mr.. Sayles," said the lawyer
rising hastily and placing himself
placatingly beside Kelsey. Miss
Vap Stratten made the admission to
me personally, within three days, at
Maiden Effort Headquarters. Are
you prepared to doubt my word?"
Il suppose not" muttered the
young man DULY.
''Then we may proceed to the
matter of terms"
Kelsey suddenly felt strangely list
less. Terms? Terms for what?"
The minor services which / in
dicated."
"Oh, yes. ! see. That's the way
/ look to you, is it? Well, If I ever
look that way to myself, I'll cut my
throat. You'll have to excuse me,
II you don't mind"
Observing inwardly that this
queer young man looked as II he
might carry out his self-destruc-