Evening star., 1941-01-15

ana go away. But ne dldnC. he
seemed bent on expounding his
. opinion of her, regardless of whether
she were dead or alive.
"You fool" he went on relent-
lessly. You cheap, little double
crosser."
Finally, Honey could stand the
cramped position she was lying in
no longer, or the irritation of the
words that flowed on and on, upset.
ting her nerves. She moved her
body slightly and discovered that
she was on the hard ground. She
opened her eyes to the darkness
that enveloped the earth and moved
her head to look around, expecting
to see Joe lowering over her, ready
to kill her at the first sign of life.
To her amazement, Joe's long form
was stretched on the ground near
ner. He was not moving. Only a
voice issued from his still body. She
shivered in the cold as she remem-
bered the crash of the two cars.
But before she could give it much
thought she heard footsteps and
saw Art coming forward to kneel by
her side. He touched her gently
on the arm.
Joe Badly Hurt.
"Are you hurt, Honey?" he asked
solicitously, seeing that she was
conscious.
II think I'm all right" she whis-
pered, moving each limb separately
! to see if any bones were broken.
There was no pain and everything
seemed intact. Nothing wrong. And
you?"
"Just a scratch on the head" he
told her, dismissing it as nothing.
What about Joe?" she lifted her
hand to point to Danburne. rs he
hurt? He lies so still
VERY badly" he told her in low
tones and his voice implied more
than his words. L think it's in
ternal He wants to talk with you,
I believe. At least, he's been talking
at you for some time. Something
is really on his mind" He started
TO rise. I'll go watch for some one
to come along and pick us up We've
got to get him to a hospital and
both cars are ruined"
He left them alone.
Honey sat up, feeling a bit dizzy
at first from her recent shake-up.
In moment. however. her head
cleared and she felt all right.
"Joe?" she called softly and
crawled little closer to the still
form. "Joe-how do you feel?"
Honey - you fool" His voice
reached out to slap her. Were you
trying to double-crosS me? You
took the diamond from Mrs. Syl-
vester. What did you do with it?
Where is it now?"
Out of circulation" she answered
truthfully, and was glad she did not
have to tell lie to a man who was
about to die. "It will never tempt
any one else again"
''In the ocean?" His voice was
an angry croak and Honey realized
that, had he been able to reach
her, he probably would have choked
the life from her body. Even know
ing that he could not move to harm
her. she still had a wild desire to
push back from him.
That's as good an answer as
any," she told him.
Honey Remembers.
He gace rasping laugh that was
ugly to hear and she covered her
ears for second to shut it out.
Then he spoke again.
TOO bad your friend Brewster
couldn't know that you stole the
stone from Mrs Sylvester. I am
sorry now I didn't tell him that
night before I hit him over the
head"
oh" Honey sucked in her breath
painfully as she understood what
had happened to Dan in the apart
ment. Then she said: 'He knows.
I told him. I went there to give
him. the diamond" There was
pleasure in being able to admit that
knowledge to Joe even in his critical
condition.
There was gasp from him, both
of surprise and pain. He waited to
draw a deep breath and she heard
him struggle hard to get it. She
closed her eyes as bitter tears
spilled over her lashes. Joe had a
few good points that she remem-
bered now as she sat there watch
ing him-sending her beautiful
flowers, spending his money freely,
taking her to all the nice places of
entertainment. And with pangs of
remorSe she recalled that she had
given him nothing in return, except
few smiles, her company, and be-
ing engaged to him after a fashion.
She started to touch him, to add
comfort to his last minutes If she
could; then she jerked her hand
back quickly, remembering that Joe
was dangerous man.
Are you in great pain, Joe?" she
asked gently. II am sorry, you
know" And she was.
Pain, hi" he hissed from
between closed teeth, gritting back
the agony from within. Honey re-
coiled as if he had struck her, so
filled with hatred were the words.
I'm done for and you know it.
But you're a fool if you think you
can get away with double crossing
Joe Danburne."
How did you find out I took the
diamond, Joe?"
by the only clue the police had"
What was it?" Her heart stood
still with fright. If Joe had
guessed, the law might do the same
thing.
For long time he did not say
anything and Honey was beginning
to wonder If he were dead, when he
spoke again with new strength in
his voice.
"A black button with chip out
OF its side. I told you the last time
you wore that black suit to lunch
con that one of the buttons had a
piece out of it. And you laughed
because I noticed such a small de-
tail. You lost that button when
you stole the purse from Mrs. Syl-
vester, Honey. 1t pays to remem-
Der small things when you are deal