Evening star., 1940-05-22

corner and found his destination.
A police station. He entered and
presented his credentials to the ofii-
Ger in charge.
The policeman studied his papers,
scrutinized him. "Mr. Lawrence
Of the American Embassy"
Phil Lawrence nodded. "The En-
bassy was notified that the police
have arrested two American citizens.
I was sent to investigate"
"Ah, yes" The policeman at the
desk opened a register. First: Miss
Barbara Martin, charged with as
sault and disturbing the peace.
Second, Edward Shane, charged
with petty larceny 3. . pocking
pockets"
MAY I see the prisoners?"
Certainly. In fact, we wish it,
sir" The policeman had a pink,
round face; he grinned suddenly
and his face looked almost cherubic.
"We have all kinds of trouble with
the lady. She is "a tigress!"
Feminine Voice Warns.
He rose, took up a huge bunch
of keys, walked to q blank faced
door across the room. He unlocked
1t, bowed Phil Lawrence through,
followed him. They walked along
a gloomy corridor to another blank
faced door. The officer unlocked,
opened the door a scanr inches.
cautiously peered in "A feminine
voice greeted him stridently.
"Stay where you are, copper-if
you want to stay healthy!"
Phil stepped past the policeman
and pushed the door wide. A girl
sat atop table, her arm appraised
"a policeman's truncheon in her
hand. She was small girl with a
turned-up nose, angry eyes, pert
lips. She had blond hair badly
dressed in tiny, fluffy rings. Her
mouth was bright red with too much
lipstick. She wore a red-and- gray
plaid jacket over a red blouse, q
gray skirt, black patent-leather
shoes. Beside her on the table lay
a shiny handbag and a gray hat
shaped like a bellboy's cap. She
looked gaudy.
She said, "Oh, thought it was
another cop. Do come in"
Phil came in. He took of his
hat. Miss Barbara Martini"
She smiled again. IF you're
American, just call me Babs. All
my friends do" ..
Phil squirmed mentally. II un-
derstand you're in trouble, Miss
Martin. The police"
'The police! Say, let me tell you
something" She slipped of the
table and pointed an accusing finger
at the policeman standing timidly
in the doorway. "They wanted to
keep me in cell that-crawls! And
they wanted to search me. I
grabbed one of their clubs and dared
them to!"
Phil Offers Help.
Miss Martin" Phil said, making
his voice stern. "The police sent
for me. I am from the American
Embassy y Philip Lawrence, Vice
Consul. Now"
They sent for you?" The girls
eyes threw sparks What for? To
throw me in a cell? To search
me?"
mo, no. You don't understand.
I'm here to help you. I want to get
you out of jail Now just be calm
and tell me what happened"
"Oh," said the girl petulantly.
That's different" She returned to
the table, sat on its edge, crossed
slim, silken legs. She opened her
bag and brought out a crumpled
pack of cigarettes. Smoke, Hand
some?"
Phil WINGED mentally. 'No. No,
thank you" -
"Okay," airily. She lighted a Gig
arctic for herself. "It was this way,
Handsome. I came over here to
| Europe with q show troupe. The
war started and our engagement was
Cancelled. Well, just before we were
to sail for home I got pain-here.
=" =" She placed hand at her
side. MAX Varbaum-the heel!-
called doctor. I was rushed to a
hospital. They froze my appendix.
| While they were freezing it, the
company sailed. I was deserted,
abandoned-without a nickel. That
mug Max, didn't even leave me my
salary"
! Phil cut in impatiently. Miss
Martin, please tell me why you were
arrested. I'm not interested in your
-er, life story"
Arrested by Proprietor.
"Okay. I'm getting to it. After
came out of the hospital, I got
a job as a waitress in a cafe.
wanted to get boat fare home. The
cafe proprietor promised me so much
week, but when payday came I
didn't get so much. He docked me
for broken dishes, for being late,
for insulting customers. You have
no idea how fresh these Europeans
are, Mr.. Lawrence. I forgot myself
and slapped the cafes best customer.
The old pat who runs the joint
| fired me-and he wouldn't give me
my salary. I guess I lost my temper.
I smashed q few dishes-and one
happened to hit the proprietor on
the head"
Phil nearly laughed. "And so the
| proprietor had you arrested?"
That's It," said Babs Martin.
'"Let me see If your passport is In
order" he said.
Sure"
She opened the patent-leather
handbag, fumbled inside, finally
handed him her passport. Phil
glanced at it, nodded. He brought
out notebook and pencil.
Where are you staying?"
"At the Regis Hotel"
Phil made q note. He said, "The
Embassy Is urging all Americans to
sail for home. Because Of the war.
Now II I arranged to get you out