Evening star., 1940-11-10

ica's plane factories. And Beck
this was the first time he'd been seen
since Kay had turned him in as a
spy. a member Of the system.
Young Stover, walking rapidly,
neared the edge of Central Park,
headed for a taxi stand.
Kay turned from Beck Creighton's
swiftly retreating figure in time to
see Stover cross the sidewalk and
She shot a look back toward Beck,
but he was gone. The deepening
dusk and the shrubbery had swal-
lowed him.
Vince grabbed Kay by the
shoulder.
Come on!" he snapped. IF we
try to find Beck, well lose EN- both.
Let's goi"
A moment later they were climb
ing into the remaining cab at the
stand Stovers taxi was already
half block down Fifth avenue.
Follow that cab!" Vince bawled
at the startled driver. And don't
lose him."
As their cab shot away from the
curb. Kay turned to Vince.
Thanks, Vince" she said quietly.
"I-I was so stunned, I'd have let
Slower get away from us, too"
An Excellent Plan.
II know. 1t hit you hard, runnin'
onto Beck that way" he said gently.
But you can't let it get you, Kay 4"
ut won't get me- she said with
difficulty. ""Well follow Stover until
he stops. One of us will watch him,
the other will call Stanley at the
F. B. l. That's all that counts now"
Kay's plan was excellent-but it
didn't work. Phillip Stover made no
stops. Three times in the space of
half an hour, the fugitive spy craftily
changed from one taxi to another.
And he made the changes so rapidly
neither Kay nor Vince dared risk
trying to reach a phone.
He sure don't want anybody to
follow him, wherever he's goin'."
Vince growled as Stover's third cab
shot westward across Manhattan.
Wait, Vince" Kay said suddenly.
"Stover's cab is stopping"
Pull up. bud" the ex-marine said
to their own driver. Kay thrust a
bill in the drivers hand as they got
out.
His cab nearly at the end of the
block, Stover alighted. looked cau-
tiously up and down the dark side
street, then headed west toward the
Hudson River.
That section of the city, border
ing the water front, was dark and
deserted, and there was no chance
for either Kay or Vince to get to a
phone. Nor did they dare try to
find one. Stover was moving too
rapidly and the chance of losing him
was too great.
The wharves and warehouses lin
ing the river front loomed up in the
muggy darkness and suddenly Stover
disappeared in the shadows between
two massive warehouses.
Two Voices in the Dark.
Kay and Vince stopped short when
they reached the spot. For a mo-
ment there was nothing ahead but
inky darkness. Then, tied to a mar
row pier at the end of the ware
house, Kay saw the bulky outline of
a cargo-laden barge Beyond, she
made out the shadowy figure of a
large tugboat, evidently made fast
to the barge. Then Kay saw some
thing move in the darkness along
the narrow dock. She recognized
the light splotch that was Stover's
panama hat.
Kay nudged Vince and they
moved forward cautiously.
Look, Kay" Vince whispered un-
easily. This may not be so good
Maybe you'd better go back and
call Stanley"
NO" she said. Not till we're
sure Stover is going to stay put.
Come on"
As they reached the side of the
barge the sound of two voices
reached them softly through the
darkness.
Careful" Kay cautioned. They
may be guards"
Kay and Vince crouched in the
darkness, waiting. The two unseen
men slowly moved farther aft. Cau-
tiousiy, Kay and big Vince crept
from the dock out onto the barge
and inched forward through the
piled cargo. Suddenly, dark, mar
row companionway yawned before
them. They started to skirt this
when a voice Kay recognized cut
through the silence. The sound was
muffled as 1t came from beyond a
door at the foot of the dark COM
panionway.
"Listen!" Kay commanded in q
whisper.
Slower in Trouble.
The voice sounded again. Kay
smiled triumphantly in the dark
ness. The voice was that of the
spy captain she had heard giving
final instructions to member Of
the system in the secret passage
way beneath the Old World Restau-
rant!
This is clever, captain" some
one said. 1t was Philip Slower. IT
thought I knew all the cells the
system has in this district, but I
didn't know about this barge until
tonight when I got your message to
report here"
There are several things you do
not know" the spy captain replied
coldly. do you know why sent
for you?"
Slower apparently did not.
Then I shall tell you," came the
curt reply. Because you failed,
Stover. You allowed yourself to be
captured by those blundering fools
of the Federal Bureau of Investiga-
ton"
Stover began protest, but the
cold voice cut him off.
Certainly" 1t went on, you
were freed before they could ques-
ton you. But four of our men had
to risk capture to free you"
But, captain" Stovers voice cut
", aoiva ma q chance T,va haay, IN