Evening star., 1941-02-11

LlAILIIlII,
Michael Sa1U something dr.,
wide full mouth. Her chin was a
soft curve and her throat a long
white sweep.
1T didn't occur to me-" he finally
said, and loitered over his drink
and cigarette until Joan Halliday
had finished her coffee and dough-
nuts.
Then: There's a good movie at
the Bijou. If you'd like TO go"
Sorry. I've seen. it"
There's another good one at the
Palace"
Sorry. I've seen that one. too"
She picked up her check, opened
her handbag for change while she
looked at him with a half smile.
Michael saw, from the corner of
his eye. something drop from the
bag and flutter to the floor. Joan
didn't notice it. She said, Both
pictures are good. I'm sure you'd
enjoy either. Alone"
Thanks. Maybe III see one,
alone"
He watched her get down from
the stool and walk to the cashier.
He liked the way she carried her
self, with head high and shoulders
we'll back. He watched her on out
of the store, then he picked up his
check and got from his stool. The
thing she had dropped on the floor
turned out to be a paWnshop ticket
1t was for the diamond solitaire she
had stopped wearing. He'd had a
hunch about that ring
Michael went out and went to the
Bijou.
A Visitor for Ryan.
The feature picture was just COM
ing on, and it was love story, and
not the sort for a man to enjoy
alone. Now, with a girl like Joan
Halliday Michael sat in the
darkened theater and kept thinking
about her and before the film was
run he got up and went out.
1t was dark now Main street
was bright with lights and busy
Michael recognized people; men
mostly who worked at March Air
craft. Day workers. The night shift
would be on now He had an i'm
pulse to go out to the plant, but
instantly decided against that.
There was a guard at every gate.
He wouldn't be admitted. He was
done at March Aircraft. He'd bet
ter get used to the idea.
It was $50 when he got back to
the hotel AS he crossed to the desk
he saw Joan Halliday sitting on the
far side of the lobby. She was talk
ing with a blond fellow in gray
tweeds. Michael saw that it was
Bert Donovan, whom he'd seen
about, mostly at the Hangar Flying
Club. Donovan was one of the men
he was interested in. whom he had
been investigating. He hadn't got
a real line on the fellow. All any
one seemed to know about Donovan
was that he sold sport planes. And
flyer. He'd flown freight in South
America, he had flown fighting
planes in China and Spain. Or so
Donovan boasted.
Gordon. at the desk. said: There's
a man to see you, Mr.. Ryan" He
nodded toward a man who sat read
ing a newspaper. Hes been wait
ing quite some time"
Michael said Thanks" and
walked toward the man. He was
small, neat, middle-aged. He had
sharp features, thin mouth. He
looked ordinary.
Michael said, Excuse me. The
name is Ryan. I think you were
looking for me"
That's right, Mr.. Ryan" The
man folded his paper and rose. His
eyes were a pale blue, metallic
blue. They seemed penetrating as
they swept over Michael Ryan, and
they limited that, ordinary looking or
not, the man had extraordinary
depths.
An F. c. C. Caller.
He said. My name is Gray. Fed
eral Communications Commission.
Several days ago we received a COM
munication from you. 1t interested
us a great deal"
"I thought it might" Michael said.
Lets go into the lounge. We can
talk there. And I'll let the Govern
ment buy me a drink"
The lounge was crowded, but they
found a table in far corner.
Over their drinks, Mr. Gray said,
Your letter said you had discovered
some one pirating an amateur wave
band"
THAT is being done, isn't it?"
There have been cases. In fact,
the F. C. C. Is fighting this piracy
right along. In peacetime we have
trouble with petty crooks-swindlers
Quack doctors, and so on. Now. in
wartime, it's something else Some
thing lot more troublesome and
dangerous"
Such as spieS?"
The F. c. c. man nodded and said
"You mentioned saboteurs in your
letter"
'I may have nothing at all, you
understand" Michael said. Its
partly a hunch. 1t will be up to you
to decide if it means anything"
Try me-"
Michael frowned and his eyes
clouded as with dark memory