The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-09-24
CHAPTER THIRTY

the identical words Hamilton Bur
ton said to Marie.
Spying Marie had overheard Just
enough OF the things happening
around the big house to make hei
very anxious. Her co-schemer met
her reluctantly in the accustomed
rendezvous. He reproached her
almost instantly. IF I'd dared tc
telephone you again l wouldn't
have come. Soon or late some
body's going to notice your getting
into this car and put two and two
together"
You're a fool" Marie retorted
The slyer you are about things
the more likely folks are to catch
on. You know that. Be bold
about II. That's the only way
We've been seeing each other as
often as we've wanted to all OF
these months and no one has sus.
pected once. That's because we
came and went in the ordinary
way without a lot Of suspicion:
gumshoeing to make folks pay
attention"
Just the same. it's the last time
I'm coming at your beck and call,
Hamilton told her. I've got more
important things than to pay at
tention to your suspicious.
What important things?" anx.
iously. Ham, tell me. Do they
suspect anything"
You must think they do-thai
crazy telephone conversation OF
yours said so, didn't =" Hamilton
was mimicking her anxious voice
over the telephone. Tive got Il
meet you.
Tive just GOT to meet you-
something has happened. II
don't meet you they may find out
about everything Hell, isn't Il
hard enough to be obliged to dc
the thinking for both of US without
having to cover up for both Of US p
Ham, please don't be cross
We've got to talk seriously. jim
Radzell suspects. I know that h,
does. overheard him talking tc
the old lady and the girl thi,
morning. I didn't hear very much
but enough to know that both Of
them hate you like sin. YOU
thought she was falling for you
so hard. Well, she wasn't. She
despises you, and so does jim
Radzell."
Huh! Him" Ham gruntet
ungrammatically. He doesn'i
know enough to make any
trouble"
But the old woman knows
too" Marie urged. They've hac
several conferences today - al
three of them-and two or three
suspicious telephone calls"
You think she does know" II
was easy to see that Hamilton wa.
frightened at the idea Of Kath
crime Radzell's knowing.
Rather Be Poor
Take it from me, Ham, wee
better get out of this. Why do we
ever even go back to the house !
Haven't you got enough saltec
away for US to make our get
away? What If we don't hav,
very much? I'd rather be pool
and free than rich as Croesus anc
in Jail for the rest of my life
wouldn't you Ham,"
Poor and free, huhi That ISM
the question. There's only one wa,
that can be free If what you say
is true"
What do you mean, Ham ?"
Il mean that il the old lady
actually knows then she'll put the
clamps on me so fast it would
make my head swim.
There's only one wav to es.
cape II that smart old birc
J knows"
What's that ?"
IF she knows then there's only
one way out of this mess now
Ham reiterated, white-lpped.
What's that way? Are YOU
beginning to come to your senses ?
Are you willing now to get away
even If we don't take anything
with us?"
Ham had smoked one cigare,
after another in his anxiety. He
lighted another one now. What
chance would We have of getting
away permanently? They'd FIND
us before we went 500 miles. No
there's another way, If we're bold
enough to take it,"
You mean-the girl ?"
Crazy Fool
Maybe YOU'RE coming "a
YOUR senses now" Hamilton
said. She's a crazy young fool
II l could get her to run away
with me-"
And marry you ?"
Burton flicked the ashes from
his cigaret. Exactly. They're
not apt to take any open action
against their son-in-lsw, are they