The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-01-23
, SERIAL STORY
BLACKOUT
BY RUTH AYERS
CAST OF CHARACTERS

CAST OF CHARACTERS
MARY CARROII,-America FASH
lon expert, In London during war
time.
VINCENT GREGG-soldIer of for
tune. I'm love with Mary.
CARLA MARCHETTA-a mysteri-
Gus London socialite.
DIR. GILBERT LENNOX-surgeon
serving with the British army.
YESTERDAY: Mary meets CarIa
Marchetta. Carla warns her Vincent
Is In danger. lures Mary TO her home.
Mary's tea Is drugsed, but she spills
had planned. Mary Is locked in a
room. She oyerhears Carla and her
chauffeur hurrying to escape. A mys-
terious message has been sent. Mary
listens. hears more that confirms her
belief that Csrla heads spy ring. She
thought-she flicks on the light
switch.
CHAPTER XXIII
As Mary had hoped, the lights
brought help. Almost out Of no.
where wardens and chin-strapped
London boobies came running.
She could hear them in the
street below and then on the front
steps and pounding at the door.
Lights showing. Turn them
Off" dozen voices called at once.
1t did not take them long to dis
cover that something was wrong.
She heard the door crash open and
thick-soled boots came pounding
up the steps to the second floor.
I'm locked in she called when
she heard them in the hall out
side.
She had barely turned off the
switch when they crashed into the
room. A Swallowed light cut the
blackness.
Quick! Take me to Scotland
Yard" she commanded before they
had time to challenge her for vio-
lating blackout rules. Il must see
Inspector Babcock at once"
Outside, taxi was comman-
deered and Mary found herself ac-
companied by a warden and a
bobby en- route to Scotland Yard.
The cab crawled through the
darkened streets.
It seemed interminable before
she was face to face with the in
spector. She introduced herself.
Baboock had no difficulty in plac-
ing her.
The airplane carrier, Regency,
is to be tsrpedoed." she told him.
Enemy spies already know when
she leaves Scapa Flow"
Inspector Babcock was electri-
fled.
DO you know what you're say
ing ?" he demanded.
Mary became suddenly calm.
She managed to marshal her
thoughts and her words.
Il was kidnapped today by Carla
Marchetta and her chauffeur" she
was saying. They took me to ner
house in Mayfair. They drugged
me but came to before they ex-
pected. I distinctly heard Carla
order Felix. the chauffeur. to in
form the enemy of the sailing time
OF the Regency from Scapa Flow.
Something about static on a time
signal That snip will be tor
pedoed."
Go on" the inspector motioned.
They gloated about it. They in
tend leaving England. They're on
their way to Bristol now in Carla's
limousine"
Vaguely. Mary knew a call was
being put through 10 the Admir-
atty. Orders were dispatched TO
dozen different officers.
At last Inspector Baboock turn
ed to her.
Tell me all you know about
this" he spoke quietly.
His request made Mary realize
the enormity Of what she had done.
She knew she had gone too far to
keep Vincent out Of it. She saw his
name must come in-in connection
with the Moravia. at least. Al
though she loved Gilbert Lennox. If
she betrayed Vincent she would
have to stand by him. She leaned
toward the inspector.
Vincent Gregg. an American
aviator, is innocently involved In
this. II I've done anything to help,
will you help him
Inspector Babcock studied her.
I can't make any promises. But
III help IL I can"
Asry's long narrative COM
menced with the air raid and the
dinner in the restaurant when
CARA and Vincent had first been
linked. She told briefly Of the Mo-
ravia and her suspicion that Vim