Evening star., 1941-02-19

Joan said, THE key. It's on the
dresser, think"
He returned and got the key. He
inserted it into the lock, withdrew
and handed it to her. Joan smiled
at him and walked down the hall
to the elevator. Michael went into
his room. He waited there until
he was sure the elevator had car
ried her down, then he crossed the
hall again to her door, which he
had not locked.
Michael made a minute search Of
Joan Halliday's room. He found
nothing at first; no letters, no pa
pers Of any sort except q receipted
hotel bill. But finally, among the
lingerie in the dresser drawer, he
came upon a solitary letter.
The envelope had been addressed
in pencil, in scrawling script, Miss
Joan Halliday, Santa Bonita, Tex. -
The postdate was Of a month ago
and-Michael felt a sudden excite
ment-the postmark was of this
same Eastern town.
He took out the letter. 1t was a
brief note.
Dear Joan: I'm going to test that
new pursuit Job ! wrote about last
week. I'm going up in an hour. It's
a good plane, and it was designed by
my friend, Mike Ryan, who knows
his stuff. But I've got hunch that
something is wrong-plenty wrong.
A fellow gets these feelings some
times and can't shake them off. /
had the same sort of feeling that
night in Spain when I few into that
trap-which another friend had set
for me. Maybe I'm screwy, kid, but
I thought Id write just in case. So
you'd know how I keep thinking Of
you. Love"
1t was signed: TEX Martin"
Many Things Are Clear.
A frown grew on Michael Ryan's
face, and he read the note a second
time. 1t cleared up lot. 1t ex-
planned the ring Joan wore, which
she had said was not exactly an
engagement ring. OF course, it was
no engagement ring any longer, for
Tex who had given it to her was
dead. The note explained. too,
Joans sadness. 1t explained her
hatred for Michael Ryan.
The note was misleading. 1t
didn't say what Tex had meant. He
couldn't have meant that his friend
Michael Ryan, had set a trap for
him. There was a play on words.
But Joan had thought Tex meant
just that-that Michael Ryan was
guilty of sabotage. So she hated
Michael Ryan.
Michael gave a shudder He re-
turned the letter to its envelope,
returned it to its place among the
lingerie. He looked about the room,
checking to see il he had left every
thing as he had found 1t. Then he
went out and closed the door.
His telephone was ringing. 1t was
Diane. She said. Michael" softly,
in a way that once would have made
his pulse race. I'm out at the coun-
try club, and I'd like to see you.
Will you Gomez"
Certainly, Diane"
Thanks, darling. I'll be waiting. }"
He was hopeful on the way, think
ing that at last Diane was going to
talk. When he drove up to the club
house he saw a sleek company of
parked cars. Music came from the
ballroom. There was q dance to-
night.
Michael Raises Question.
He wasn't dressed so he went in
by a side door and entered the bar.
His eyes surveyed the crowded room
and he saw Joan Halliday and Bert
Donovan leaving for the ballroom.
Joan's eyes met his, Knocked him,
returned to Donovan. She smiled
right into Donovan's eyes. Michael
looked away from her
Diane was at table with Judson
March and the Spanish refugee
Senor Cordova. Michael shouldereo
LIS way IllI OuSIl llie CIONu.
He said, Hello!" easily, and
caught DANES smile. Cordova rose
and bowed in his stif1 way. Judson
March said, sit down, Michael"
He sat down opposite Diane. He
could look at her squarely. Her
dark eyes were misty pools of worry
Her smile was all pretense.
Judson March signaled a steward
What will you have, Mike9"
Michael said indifferently, "A
martini" He kept watching the
girl.
March was halfway friendly. He
said, you were right, Mike The
sabotage came The F. r. I. man
found an uneploded thermite pencil
In the wreckage of the paint shop"
did he find out who planted the
explosives?"
mo, but he's working on it. 1t
was a workman, of course"
Michael said, looking at Diane, SIS
it possible that an outsider could
have gotten in past the guards? Not