Evening star., 1941-02-21

South, to our Miami place. She left
last night, before l got chance to
talk to her. There was note when
I got home from the country club. "
Michael stared in astonishment.
Macklin leaned forward eagerly.
Bring her back, u. M" Michael
said.
I'm bringing her back. I've sent
MacReady, our test pilot. after her" !"
Michael Tells All.
Michaels face had grown darkly
intent. All right" he said. I'll
shoot the works. DANES run off
and hasn't done what she bargained
| to do. She's been shielding her
brother. Dick is somehow involved
with ring of saboteurs. They got
a hold on him through some gam
bling debts He had to pay off
somehow. Diane has been scared
to death that if this thing is cleared
up Dick will go to prison"
Go on the older man said.
Dick was here at the time of the
explosion. He phoned Diane to
meet him in town, at Lori'S. She
went, but Dick wasn't there. Some
one had gotten to him ahead of her
and that some one forced him to
leave town. l was driving on the
road to the flying club. and a min
ute or two after the explosion a car
ran me off the road And nearly
killed me. Dick March was in that
car-along with the man we want"
Macklin said, You're sure of all
this. Ryan,"
No" Michael snapped. I'm just
talking. But you can check with
the flying club attendant. He was
paid $50 to play dumb"
Did this man go away with Dick
March?"
No. He's still here in town. He's
the fellow who has been trying to
scare me into leaving town. I've
two suspects. Senor Cardova, who
was with Diane when Dick phoned.
And Bert Donovan. who could have
gotten to Dick at Loris if Cordova
tipped him off by phone after Diane
left the house. Donovan could have
rushed Dick to his apartment. where
CordoVa could have come later TO
take him to the airport"
JudSon March said. in a labored
tone, That's ridiculous. Donovan
has no reason to be a saboteur. And
Cordova has perfect credentials"
Michael looked at the F. B. I.
man. What do you think?"
L think" Macklin said. rising,
that III check Senator Cordovas
credentials"
Michael drove Macklin out to the
flying club. and they found OHara
fueling Bert Donovan's monoplane.
The mechanic looked at them un-
easily
Michael said, "OHara. this is the
Oman I told you about"
O'Hara Repeats Story.
OHara began to talk in a thick
voice. He told the same story: that
Dick Marsh had landed his plane
about 10 o'clock. paid him S. to
drive him, Dick March, into town.
Dick had returned in another car
close to midnight and the driver
of the car had paid OHara $40 to
keep quiet. When the mechanic
stopped talking he wiped perspira-
ton from his forehead with a wad
of cotton waste
That's all know, honest"
And you didn't know the man
in the carp Macklin said.
mo, sir"
And you can't describe him?"
OHara said he couldn't. 1t was
dark He hadn't gotten look at the
man.
Was he foreigner? Did he talk
with an accent?"
"Well-" OHaras voice was
harassed. Il don't know. So help
me. don't know"
Macklin shrugged and looked
ouestioningly at Michael Ryan. And
Michael said, I'VE better arrange
for OHara to see Cordova. 1t might
help"
1T won't hurt, anyway. O'Hara,
you come into town with U.S. You
can take off those overalls if you
wish"
O'Hara nodded jerkily and
climbed into the gasoline truck
from which he had been fueling
Donovans plane. He drove off to-
ward the hangar. While they waited
for him to reappear, Michael saw
Bert Donovan come down from the
clubhouse.
Donovan came out onto the field
He walked with slight swagger. His
blond hair was bright in the sun. He
was a handsome man. Michael could
understand why Joan had fallen in
love with him.
Donovan said. Hello! Is the Ges-
tapo still on the trail?"
We're closing in, Donovan"