The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-01-24
BY RUTH AYERS
CHAPTER XIV

A shriveled little old man was
waiting.
Mary found something familiar
about him although she could not
place him at first. But when he
spoke, she remembered the tobac-
conist from the shop near Vim
cents lodgings.
I've a note for you, Mrs.
Lenox." He handed her a folded
paper. She recognized Vincent's
writing.
Darling" she read, II must
see you at once. It's terribly inn
portant. Will you please come
with the bearer" 1t was signed
with the letter ~"
Mary dashed cold water on her
face. With quick makeup she
was ready.
I'm to 60 with YOU" she told
the old man. He nodded.
When they reached the shop the
shutters were still drawn. The
proprietor drew a key from his
pocket and let her in the front
door.
Hes in the back ROOM" he di-
rected Mary. She walked through
the shop, rich with the odor of a
hundred mellow blends. In the
dim light of the room behind the
counters, Mary saw Vincents
blanched face.
I'm in one of my customary
jams" He was debonair, but his
face was ashen. Scotland Yard
seems to want me. I was lucky
enough to see two of their men
before they saw me. ducked in
here to be out of the way. That's
why I asked you to come here.
had to see you"
Il know about your jam, Vim
cent" she spoke softly. II had to
be the one to inform on you. Carla
Marchetta kidnapped me yesterday
While 1 was at her house I heard
plans for the sinking of the air.
plane carrier, Regency"
you? You told them ?" Vim.
cent Strengthened. "Why, Mary
couldn't you see what it would
mean? What might happen tc
me ?"
II wasn't thinking of you" she
said with fire. IT was thinking OF
saving the Regency and the lives
of thousand men,"
He stroked the scar on his tenn
pie with indecision.
Mary softened. But because OF
what did you will get break
You won't face firing squad. But
you will be interned for the dura-
ton of war"
Il suppose this means you're
through with me-" His manner
changed.
No" she answered. I'm going
to stick by you. feel it's the least
I can do since I had to involve
you"
He reached for her hand.
This may be our last time to.
gether. Let's make the best of it
If l had only an hour with you ]
could make everything clear.
want to tell you about Carla-
about what fool she made of me
Come" he was commanding i've
car at the side. Let's ride"
His plight was so desperate and
he asked such little thing
Mary had not the heart to refuse
him. She allowed herself to be lee
out a side door and into a tiny
two-seater Vincent had borrowed
you asked about Carla and
told you the truth" he deity di
rected the little car through tn,
throngs of London's work bound
But not all of it. was ashamed
to tell it all, / guess. The night
of the air raid, I did receive 6
message from Carla, as yol
guessed. inadvertently, told hel
we were sailing on the Moravia al
3 o'clock. ! had no idea this piece
of information was vital to her.
know we'd been warned to secrecy
but / regarded Carla as a friend
But what friend she turned out
to be-"
you've never told me the true
story of how you missed the Mo-
ravia's sailing. Was Carla in that.
too?
Yes, of course" His voice was
full Of disillusion. 1T was a stall.
Something about a sick uncle in
Bristol. / flew her there. I was
tricked into it, believing I'd have
plenty of time to get back and sail
with you. But something went
wrong with the plane and I pam
caked in a filed. miles from no
where. / know now she had ii all
planned. She thought I'd be use
full to her and she didn't want me
to sail on the Moravia."
You knew she sent an enam-
ored Continental boy on the
boat ?" Msry's words rang bitterly.
Yes. / learned it later. She
tricked him into sailing to watch
you"
Newly me"
"She was afraid YOU knew
something or suspected something
through me. When she found YOU
didn't die after all, she was fran
tic"
The car was well out OF London.
An industrial suburb gave way to
open fields. In the flat country.
When Ioinf-E,eo