Evening star., 1940-11-04

Beck" Kay evaded. I'm waiting
now for call from Vince. He's out
keeping an eye on certain party"
For an instant a peculiar light
fiickered in Beck's eyes.
Kay Is Puzzled.
This Slower case?" he queried.
Kay nodded. 1t was safe to tell
that much. For Beck, of course,
knew Mrs. Stover had hired Kay to
investigate her son.
Beck grinned. But the peculiar
look remained in his eyes.
"Oh, come on, Kay" ne chuckled
persuasively. Here I have an eve
ming free from the bookstore and
you spend it racing around the city
after some petty chiseler who isn't
worth the polish you'd wear off
your nails writing his name. Come
on, be a sport" he urged, forget
the dopey thing"
Kay was slightly puzzled. Beck
had never before intruded himself
upon a case of hers. Now he was
practically asking her to drop this
one.
ut isn't Phillip Slower I'm think
ing about" she said. It's" she
hesitated. Its something a hun
dred times more important"
Beck's eyes sharpened. "What?"
he asked quietly.
Kay foundered momentarily.
'Why-Phillip Stover's mother"
she said. Anything I can do that
will help her :"
The telephone on Kay's desk
whirred. She picked it up, said,
Good afternoon, Midtown Detective
Agency"
Look, Kay. I've spotted him" 1t
was Vince Reeves. The big ex-
marine was excited. IT just trailed
young Stover into the Old World.
I'm calling from across the street.
Better get here pronto. He came
here fast, like he was sent for.
think somethin's up"
"Wait," Beck Pleads.
Kay's heart picked up beat. "AN
right, Vince" she said. Go back
and keep an eye on him. But don't
let him out of your sight. I'll be
there as fast as a cab can make it,"
She hung up, reached for her
| gloves and purse. Beck rose, his
face distinctly annoyed.
Now wait, Kay" he demanded.
BE reasonable"
Kay shook her head firmly.
"I've got to go, Beck" she said.
'Tn phone you, if I've finished in
time to have dinner with you"
But that dinner with Beck was to
be long postponed.
Within a few minutes Kay was
block from the Old World restau-
rant and bar. Following the plan
of attack Stanley had given her,
Kay entered the place as if half
tipsy. The Old World was less
crowded than it had been the night
she had first trailed Phillip Stover
to it. But the same buzz Of animated
conversation, carried on in foreign
tongue, greeted her as she entered.
Midway of the long bar Kay saw
Vince hunched over a tall drink.
Kay pounced upon him, hailing him
happily and somewhat boisterously.
Vince, playing the part assigned to
him. responded in kind.
well" exclaimed he, "where've
you been hidin'? Haven't seen you
since away back last night some
time"
"Tha's right" Kay said. "Order
me something to drink"
A disapproving foreign bartender,
whose sharp, chiseled face showed
ill-concealed scorn, set out the drink
Vince ordered for Kay.
Into the Phone Booth.
Kay grinned and raised her glass
When the barman turned away she
asked under her breath, where's
Stover, Vince?"
Vince, raising his own glass, spoke
without moving his lips.
He just went into one Of the
phone booths back there"
Kay nodded. Evidently Slower had
used the secret sliding door in the
phone booth to enter the hidden
passageway at the rear of the res
taurant So far, so good.
Kay dropped her eyes in acknowl-
edgment and launched into the
next part of the act Special Agent
Stanley had arranged.
Look" she exclaimed This
places o. K. but it's dull. Let's call
Marge and Steve and have 'em come
over. They're a lot O. fun. Let's
call 'em." She faced the hard
faced barman. where's the phone,
mister?"
The barman jerked his head to-
ward the phone booths in the al
cove at the rear of the restaurant,
and turned away.
Kay and Vince made their way
noisily to the alcove where the
phone booths were situated. without
hesitating, Kay opened the door of
the first booth, the one into which
she knew Phillip Stover had gone
down into the passageway, through
the secret door.
Kay fumbIed for a nickel, found
one, and with the booth door half
wide open, tried to call the imag-
mary Steve and Marge. But, to her
loud dismay, she succeeded only in
dialing wrong numbers. Big Vince
his leathery face red, chuckled with
amusement at her lack of success.
Here" he laughed after her
fourth consecutive failure. Let me
do it"
Vince stepped into the phone
booth with Kay, letting the door
with its heavily curtained glass
close behind him.
The instant the curtained booth
door closed, Kay went into action.
Snecial AGENT StanleV's nlan of at