The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-11

AkCdu 1lllS Y
l, Bill Strickland, am suspected
in the murder of my friend, AL
fred Markham, rich young jewel
er, at a party in the Rio Vista
club. I am kidnapped by a man who
attacks me in the dark garden
of the clubhouse an hour later
but 1 escap from him the mex
morning in a rowboat and an
picked up by a newspaper report
er and a beautiful girl.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The reporter had his motorboa'
going again, headed back up
stream, before I recovered. my
power of speech.
Haven't 1 got anything to say
about this?" I asked him IN d
hoarse whisper that sounded ike
the voice of someone else.
The girl was pushing a sweater
under my head to pillow 1t. .Wnat
would you like us to do?" she IN
quired. ,,
1--WE got to report to the police
I told her they think l am a
murderer. They think ran away.
& didn't. I was kidnapped" :,
1.-The way you were tied up
said the reporter with a grin
.'anyone who would suspect you
of running away would be-
We'll tell them how we 1ouno
you," the girl assured me hastily:
.sYou don't have to worry about
that, We have to take you to a
doctor" She had wet a handker-
chief with water from the bottle
and was trying gently to wash
soma of the blood from my face:
She wasn't much more than ~
years old, l judged; a slim girl
with golden brown hair that flufted
down to her shoulders. She wore
a bright blue sweater with short
sleeves. She moved with assur-
ance. Her arms were strong. She
eased me to a more comfortable
position. You're in no condition
to be worrying. That's an ugly
cut you have in your scalp. It's
a wonder if you haven't a concus-
sion"
The reporter had lashed the
wheel of the boat and was bending
over my legs. Here, what's this?
A bullet hole."
The girl swiftly joined him as
he slashed a hole in the trouser
leg with his knife. My clothes were
ruined anyway.
"Just nipped him." observed the
newspaper man. He grabbed the
leg and turned it to see better.
'hurt?"
What do you think? I asked
gritting my teeth.
The girl pushed him away. LAS
a nurse, Mr.. Belzer, you would
make a good cowhand." She wash
ed the wound with the rest Of
the water. It stung like fury. ]
could have drunk that water with
pleasure, too.
The bullet only grazed y r
leg" she said. mo damage done.
Who was shooting at you?'
81 wish l knew"
There's a lot of things a lo1
of people would like to know" the
reporter assured me, land I'm
just the guy what's goin' to tel
'em." He rubbed his hands. Bel
ger of The Morning Eagle gets an
exclusive! You may not relize it
but you RI about to win me a
raise in salary"
The girl raised her eyebrows
slim eyebrows, but unplucked. She
had a very unusual and attractive
face. you've got no right to keeE
this story to yourself until tomor'
row morning."
Listen Gorgeous, I promise tc
help you if you'd help me. Here's
you chance. We take this guy te
your house. 1 get his story. He
gets a chance to have you apply
linament and bandages-not hare
to take if 1 say so myself-ane
tomorrow morning the police learr
all about it, in The Morning Eagle
and we deliver him straight to the
police station"
Il still think you ought to ash
me something about it," I tolo
him. I've gotto prove I was kie
mapped. They still think 1 ran away
And you've no right to delay jus
tice."
Delay justice I like that! You
spill your story to Belzer of the
Eagle and you'll get to the bottom
Of this mystery faster than the po
lice will take you"
Modest young man." observed
RET,A COTIRT r