Evening star., 1940-04-20

IdE EN ENlNt
beauty shop says It vii take months
for 1t to grow out"
Was Impatient.
Gail scarcely knew what she an
swered. She was impatient for the
store to close 50 she could 90 home
to dress. Not because she had much
hope Of Hazel's tip proving to be q
real clue.
But because 1t was the first time
Christopher had been allowsd to 90
out. 1t was such fun to be an en-
gagged girl dressing for a date with
her darling.
And Chris was the kind of person
to make the most of 1t. Even II it
doesn't lead to anything. we'll make
1t a swell evening"" he promised.
Gee, Gail, think Of the excitement
we can have using the blond in
black as our excuse for visiting all
the gambling places"
He was being more reasonable
about their delayed marriage per-
haps because his father agreed that
Gail was right. There was plenty
OF time and 1t was better to be en-
gagged for awhile John Reid had
insisted.
II 1t didn't last too long an en-
eagement could be one of the hap.
piest periods Of a couples life.
Reason f0r Gnfn~
Unwilling to worry her mother
unnecessarily Gail said nothing to
her about their reason for going,
so lar as Anna knew this was
merely a celebration of Christo-
piers recovery.
Anna had been more cheerful since
she knew Belle was going to Cali
1ornia. She had been helping her
sister with her sewing but she ad-
mitted to Gail that it would be a
relief to get Belle of.
YOU'D think she was going around
the world the preparations she's
making" Anna said.
IN spite Of her disapproval she
watched her daughter dress with
aamlrlng eyes. Although 1t was
Feoruary 1t was still cold so Gail
wore her wine colored velvet with
long clinging sleeves.
Ihe orchids Chris sent she pinned
upon the collar Of her coat. His
ring sparkled like blue fire from
one slender finger.
Look Lovely,
You look lovely" Anna cried
wish your father could see YOU"
one did not say so but she realized
tnat Calls prettiness had flared into
beauty since her engagement, The
girls mouth was merry again. Her
brown eyes glowed with the radiance
that only love can give.
Whatever else Chris might lack
anna knew that he was a satisfac-
tory sweetheart. He had made her
daughter feel protected and adored
II only Robert Trenton could be-
publicly exonerated from the
charges which had caused his death,
Yet even If it were Anna told her.
self she would never be able to for.
them.
But now for a few brief hours
Gail was thinking of nothing hut
Chris. They took their time at din
ner as Hazel had told them no one
went to the gambling resort until
late.
1t was almost midnight as they
drove up a steep hill to the bril-
iiantly lighted house which looked
from the outside like a pretentious
residence.
Hard Eyes.
The manager dressed in evening
clothes a shade too faultless was
standing in the door of his private
office. His cold hard eyes did not
match the smile with which he
greeted them.
He knows we haven't been here
before" Gail whispered. Run on in
darling, while powder my nose.
You needn't wait"
she was so happy that the rea-
son for their coming had faded into
the background of her mind. It
would be almost to fantastic that
the woman who had shot Chris with
his own revolver, that same woman
VINO had stolen an emerald ring and
cropped 1t in a black suede glove
inside her fathers pocket, should
De the same one Hazel had seen at
the roulette table. But as she left
the dressing room she met Chris.
shes here!" he cried. I'm going
to phone the police.
AT that instant Gail caught sight
OF small woman with a black veil
covering her hat hurrying toward
the entrance.
Shes seen me-" Chris said
come on, Gail. We've got to stop
her" 'p
Fleeing Woman.
Ihey followed the fleeing woman
into the small entrance hall where
the door to the managers ofilce was
now closed. There was no one else
there as Chris laid a hand upon her
shoulder. But as he did so she
whtrled about fumbling in the old
fashioned reticule she carried,
Hands up!" she shouted.
The beady eyes beneath the blond
wig were glittering and insane with
fear.
If you touch me I'll shoot" she
threatened. brandishing a pistol.
TAKE your hands of me Christo-
pher Reid. And you, Gail. stay
right where you are I've shot him
once and I'll do it again."
Aunt Belief" gasped Gail.