Evening star., 1941-01-18

buddy" the taxi driver said. There
was sharp, curt edge to his voice.
yeah. You'll get paid" Kelly's
voice was respondingly rough-edged
IT didn't mean it that way The
tone had changed abruptly He had
not missed Kelly's hard, blocked-out
body
"Okav. Forget it."
Newcomer Joins Up.
Kelly thought, She might not
come out. This can be stall. II 1t
is. I'll be right up those steps"
He waited impatiently. Twice he
stirred and looked at the house. Up
on the second floor there was a blaze
of lights. He settled back.
Five minutes passed E. 10. Kelly
sat. wondering, uneasy. This was a
crazy venture. but somehow that dlo
not bother him. He wanted to go
through with it.
And then the door opened. Sherr
walked lightly down the steps: A
girl was following, tall girl OF about
Sherr's height and build. Kelly
pressed down upon the door handle.
"Were you worried?" Sherr asked
lightly.
sure" Kelly answered. He eyed
her and Immediately liked the neat
prav suit. the smart brown felt nat
Her hair was rolled out and under
at the shoulders.
Sherr turned toward her COM
nanion. This is Kelly Madlgan'
Edna Mannon." she said. The Woros
asked a question. Kelly leaned Tor
ward. Edna Mannon was watching
him intently.
She said. do you know what
you're walking into?" ,
I'm slowly getting an idea OF IT,
He liked her question. He listened
70 her voice, light and perfectly
pitched. blended with her appear,
ance. Her long blond hair framed
an oval, intent face. Her eyes were
direct and smiling; her mouth a
small curved crest OF red. She eH-
tended her hand and Kelly clasped
her warm fingers. The pressure OF
them was light but firm.
1T wish YOU two luck" she SAID.
"Do I pass muster?"
"Yolll do. For a reason that
you'll probably never know ABOUT;
Sherr climbed into the taxlcao
and Kelly slammed the door.
"II see you when we get BACK,
hut I still wish you would come "
Sherr called through the open VIM
dow. o+,,or
81 wouldn't be seen at the other
wedding, but this one makes me
vearn. Get going before forget
that I'm a working girl.
The taxi pulled away. "Gooo
i,,ck!" Edna Mannon called.
Sherr Has Funds.
Yerlv said, "She makes her de-
cisions quickly"
That's how she lives"
"You've known her for a long
time?"
"since we we're children. Her
family lost their money. She's my
best friend. I thought she was
wrong, but I learned differently.
Kellv knew what she meant-her
interrupted wedding.
Sherr leaned forward. How much
Is the bill, driver?"
"Five-twenty, miss"
"Here is $50 Do you know the
way to Sherbyville?"
Sure. Route IT."
"Take us there. please"
Kelly asked, How long will we
ride?"
About three hours fast driving.
"Are you tired?"
"A little Do you mind If sleep?
"Go ahead. could use a little
myself"
Sherr reached up and brushed of
her hat. Kelly suppressed a gasp at
the glimpse he had of her coal-black
hair. The curved swirl of it away
from her forehead, the shining lights
it seemed to contain were enthrall-
ing. He thought, "She is the most
beautiful girl I have ever seen"
He wasn't tired. But his thoughts
were confused. He laughed silently
Here he was on his way to be mar
ried, and the bride-to-be was sleep
ing.
Kelly refused to think about thai
any more. The taxi was roaring
through the night, threading the
long ribbon of fiat cement that wa:
the road to Sherbyville. Sherr!
head had moved toward Kelly!
shoulder. He did not move.
The taxicab stopped with q jerk