Evening star., 1941-06-18


The girl shot the automobile int
Locke grabbed for the door hant
second-into the middle of the
automobiles. Then they were in
third with scarcely break in
momentum. Locke whistled under
his breath.
Look" he objected mildly. Il
could have met you earlier to avoid
the rush"
The girl did not answer him, and
the cars pace did not slacken. Locke
shrugged resignedly. THE only OBJ
lection I have is that I'll go popping
into the street and at least you can
snub yourself against the wheel"
Still no answer.
"You should have sign stuck to
the dashboard: Please do not talk
to the driver while the car is in
notion" No answer.
That's one way of shutting me up,
Locke thought. The girl was ex-
pertly trundling the roadster through
thick, hurrying, night traffic, and
even though she was driving fast,
Locke had to admit that he felt
safe. She wasted no motion: she
allowed nothing to block her way.
They finally drew up before
huge apartment building. The girl
snapped on the emergency brake,
f1icked the ignition switch, pulled
out the key and turned toward
Locke, all in one smooth motion.
Her eyes narrowed a trif1e as she
surveyed him intently. Locke sat
unperturbed.
The Ice Is Broken.
Here we are" the girl said
quietly.
Yes" Locke answered. "I guessed
as much"
He looked at the girl. He couldn't
have a more beautiful companion
for whatever the evening brought.
She was Strikinglv lovely. Every
moment with her brought that fact
more clearly to him, Her hair, her
body, her face, her hands; all of her
was exactly in proportion. Locke
wondered about her mind.
We'll" he said abruptly, don't
you think that you had better let
me in on the secret? I can't per-
form very we'll unless I know my
lines" He shifted his gaze to the
girls eyes. They we're a deep gray.
And If we are to be formal" he
continued mildly, why don't we
start out right and learn each
others name? We can't go around
all night saying, hey you' you
know"
Il am Janielle Merrill, Jan Is long
enough"
We'll, I'm Loke uh Jim
Locke" he amended hastily.
That would be better than Locke
Allen. Some one might recognize
him. People did now, unexpectedly
catching him unawares. He wanted
to remain unknown for the night.
How much will you need for ex-
penses?". Janielle asked, suddenly.
Locke was casual. That depends
upon where we will 60"
This is just a party. I don't
know where else We might go. That
depends upon how every one feels
AS they were speaking, Locke &
mind was apart. He had heard the
, name Merrill before. Something to
do with automobiles. Merrill
Merrill. Locke couldn't place it at
first. Then the answer came.
Xavier Merrill, the truck manufac-
turer and shipper. The combine
czar. This girl was his daughter.
Locke had seen her name in the pa
pers often. Janielle Merrille, the
smart sets pet. Xavier Merrill and
his beautiful daughter. Just the
two of them in the family.
Jan Reveals Situation.
Locke Allen settled back in the
seat. Janiel1e Merrill was speaking
again. This is new to me, you
know"
Locke said, IT guessed that"
She raised her eyebrows, hesi-
tating a moment before she spoke
Il don't know how to continue, but
I really do need your cooperation. Z"
"I'll try"
You know, of course, that if what
I'm doing became known to my
friends it would cause lot of en-
barrassment. I had your service in
vestigated and I was assured that 1t
was conducted upon a strictly busi-
ness basis"
1--WE couldn't afford to be other
wise. Miss Merrill" Locks grinned
silently.
Eyes, I suppose that is true
Janielle was silent for a moment,
staring down at the wheel before
her. The sounds Of the night sur
rounded them, but both were OBJ
ivious to noise You see," Janielle
continued a little hurriedly, I'm in
sort of spot. will have. to tell
you all this so that you will under
stand. I have just returned from a
!. cruise and made an entirely silly
boast that I had met a man on
board ship who had been quite per-
sistent. I did that without really
thinking, but I was taken up on the
remark, and now I have to produce
In fact, this party tonight. Is for
that very reason. I was to bring
the man."
And am it?"
"Yes."
Locke wanted to say more; that
Janielle Merrill wouldn't need to
hire an escort; that surely she must
know some one else; that hers was
a beauty that did not need to
pursue.
Janielle glanced at him. "I know
what you are thinking. But I did
need some one strange, some one
who was entirely unknown to my
friends"
Jan Pleads for Help.
you didn't meet any one on the
cruise?"
Il took that cruise for a rest,
Janielle jerked out almost savagely
I'm sorry" he said.
You should be. We didn't con-
tract for any remarks" Janielle said
CERTAIN DEATH TO