Evening star., 1941-06-22

0OOl III
Locke liked that. She would stick
by her father. Locke remembered
that there had been a clear, level
forthrightness in Janielle's eyes and
in her face.
Eric Farrell's voice rasped again.
I'm just telling you, Miss Merrill.
I'm not asking you to believe me"
II don't believe you"
Farrell ignored that. He said,
Il was sure, of course, that he could
pay. That is why I let him run up
the debt. Now 1 don't know whether
I was right or not"
Locke knew suddenly that Farrell
was lying. He had deliberately al
lowed Xavier Merrill to become obli-
gated financially. There was some
obscure reason behind all this that
Locke couldn't guess.
Another thought brought him up
abruptly. He was standing just out
side the door eavesdropping. He had
better get away before he was dis
covered. He swung around quickly.
He could hear Farrell's voice as he
hurried away. You will tell him,
Miss Merrill? I should dislike very
much for this to become embar-
RAISING"
Locke and Jan Leave.
Locke went out into the main
room. He joined the crowd around
the roulette table. He stood there
4 for a while watching the play. His
height enabled him TO peer over
the heads of the people about HIM
self. He watched for Janielle A
few minutes later he saw her walk
| ing swiftly toward the table, a
worried frown on her face. She
glanced up then. as though she was
aware that Locke was looking at
her from a distance. Their eyes
met. Locke threaded his way to-
ward her.
Where have you been?' Janielle
/ looked annoyed. She turned the
| full splendor of her gray eyes upon
him, and Locke saw that there was
pattern of fear in their depths.
Wandering" he answered. And
very interesting, too" he added,
negligently.
Il want to leave" Janielle said,
fatty.
She started away from Locke.
Lance Whitney was deeply absorbed
/ in the wheel. Anne Rutherford
/ was leaning close to him. Janielle
/ glanced at them and Locke saw her
shrug.
They slipped away without any
one noticing their departure. Out
in the roadster, Janielle was silent.
They purred smoothly through the
dark, silent night.
Locke said quietly, Something
wrong?' He didn't expect that she
would tell him.
Janielle laughed. 1t was a shaky,
/ indefinite sound "A little" she
said. She offered no further ex-
planation Locke did not question
her further.
Locke Hired Further.
The roadster rolled along silent
ly, sweeping up the miles and de-
posting them on the speedometer
They were coming to the outskirts
of the city.
Janielle turned slightly toward
him. Are you hired for the rest
of the week?" Her tone was busi-
nesslike, cold.
No" Locke answered, keeping his
voice on steady level.
We'll, I want to hire you"
That's nice"
do you need the money or not?'
Il do, very much"
Then please spare the humor."
Il can't see any reason why you
need me any longer"
You forget something" Janielle
said, quietly.
Locke squinted across at her. He
realized what she meant. You
mean that you are going to live up
to that engagement
II have to-"
But that meant nothing. 1t was
only a momentary lapse on your
part. You said that blindly You
didn't realize what you were letting
yourself in for"
"Yes, I did"
Locke turned in the seat. What
are you getting at?"
III need you for the rest of the
week, maybe longer"
You could invent some excuse
for my disappearance
81 see you don't know that
crowd"
II guess I don't"
Wants to Meet Xavier.
"We have to appear around for
a while. At least until I can think
of some way to break our supposed
engagement"
That won't be hard. Those things
are always being broken"
Janielle glanced at him. Locke
had turned away. He was suddenly
glad. He would be with this girl for
while longer. 1t was what he
wanted, even though the arrange
ment was strictly business. He real
lied that Janielle was proud, with
a strict, ungovernable pride that al
lowed for no bending. If their little
plot was discovered she could not
face her friends again.
"You are too much afraid of 9TH
ers," Locke said.
He had that trait, Janielle
thought. He can see things that are
beneath the surface. She looked at
him curiously. She felt as though
she could confide in him, and she
didn't know why she felt that way
Where do you live?" Janielle
asked.
'I have a room"
"It would be better if you came
to my house. You are supposed to
be visiting me-"
will I be safe?"
Janielle said scornfully. "You will
Unless you get out of hand. I be-
lieve my father can take care OF
you"
Locke grinned. He wanted to meet
Xavier Merrill.
"I1l have to get some clothes,
he said.
You can do that in the morning
Copyright. 1941, Chicago Daily News. Inc