Evening star., 1941-02-11

ready knew from observation thal
she was left-handed. That was how
he had first noticed the diamond
solitaire she wore on her thlro
finger. But he didn't see the ring
now. For 7l9 wasn't wearing it,
The girl looked up and Michael
said, "Hello!" with an easy smile.
Brown eyes met his. They were
fecked with gold. The girl said
Hello" fatty and the gold-t1ecked
ewes looked beyond him. Some
thing like revulsion had come into
them.
Michael stopped at his own door,
r2O, across the hall and turned 10
look after her. She was stepping
into the elevator. He liked the way
she carried herself; she had polse.
The door slid closed on her and
Michael entered his room Wonder-
ing why 7l9 hated him.
He looked in the dresser mirror
and what he saw wasn't so PAD.
Not bad enough to make a girl hate
him on first sight, which the girl
in 7l9 had He was big and brown;
there was heft to his shoulders. He
had clear gray eyes, a decently
straight nose, an easy smile on
wide mouth.
He threw his hat on the bed,
lighted a cigarette, and went 10 the
radio. He tuned in on short wave,
glancing at his watch. 1t was one
minute to 7, Thursday night. With
luck he'd pick up the broadcast OF
those alleged amateurs.
Puzzling Messages.
Amateur Station W9RTX, Bal
timore. Calling Amature Station
W8FCD, Washington. &. Do you
hear me, Dave? Or are you going
to stand me up again? Come in
Dave"
"W8FCD, Washington. Answer
ing W9RTX, Baltimore. Yeah,
heard you Jake, old man. What
makes you think I'd stand you up?
How're things with you?'
Fine, pal. I got that book you
wanted. The one on aeronautlcS.
III send it to you tonight. Don't
forget to send me a check
I'll mail the check tonight, Dave.
Do you think I'd let you doWn?'
The two stations cut off. Michael
RYAN cut off his set. He sat and
smoked and stared at the receiving
set. And tried TO think things out.
He might be right, and he might
-
had to take Those two broadcast
ers might be on the level. They
might be genuine amateurs, for.
after all, there were thousands of
licensed amateur stations, but again,
they might be what he thought.
members of a sabotage ring.
1t wasn't exactly new, Michael
knew. Spies and saboteurs did pl-
rate wave lengths, taking call num-
bers, to cover their trackS-to leave
an invisible trail.
The message he had overheard
seemed a harmless conversation be-
tween hams" but two of the words
nagged at Michael's thoughts. Aero
nautics" and tonight could be
coded for aircraft factory and a
date.
On the thought Michael turned to
the telephone, But he paused with
the receiver in his hand. A pay
phone that couldn't be traced would
be better. Safer.
He took up his hat and left the
room. He glanced at the door of
719. froWned and went on. The girl
in 719 kept bothering him: he Won
dered if he couldn't fit her into his
plans. He rode down to the lobby,
turned in his key at the desk and
said to the clerk:
Tell me, Gordon, what's 7l9's
name?"
Gordon grinned. He was pale
young man with slicked hair and
an eye for a pretty girl. Joan Hal
liday. An exclusive number
so I've noticed. Thanks"
Warn of Sabotage.
It was a nice evening. II was
dusk, and the neons along Main
street we're coming on, giving the
street a bejeWeled look. The mid
summer evening was not too warm.
Overhead a plane roared, heading
for the field at March aircraft. A
pursuit job on test flight.
Michael walked east on Main,
crossed Fourth and went into the
corner drugstore. He closed himself
in the phone booth, drew deep
breath for resolution and gave
number. A moment later he said:
LET me speak to Mr.. March, please"
There was a moments wait, and
during it Michael Ryans forehead
and palms became moist. He
grinned unamusedly to himself,
calling himself a fool for being
nervous. Judson March was bel
lowing bull, and they had quar-
relied, but why should he be scared?
Judson March's voice said, March
speaking"
Mr.. March, this is a tip. There's
to be a sabotage job pulled at the
plant tonight
'What?"
"sabatoge. Do you want me to
spell it for you?"
wait a minute. now. Who are
you? What do you know"
Michael didn't answer. He heard
March shout, Hello, hello! Who's
speaking?" And still he didn't
answer, He hung up as he heard
March say. "Operator-operator!"
Michael felt relieved and lighting
cigarette, he thought; IF March
wasn't a stubborn fool he'd do
something" Then he saw 719 sit
ting at the soda fountain. 1t gave
him little jolt. He kept humping
into the girl wherever he went.
Michael Persists.
He crossed and took the stool
beside her. She was being served
coffee and doughnuts. The soda
Jerk looked at him, and Michael
said, "a coke" He saw that the
girl gave his reflection in the foun-
tain mirror a fugitive glance. He
caught the gold-f1ecked eyes, and
saw the dislike in them. 1t hit him
hard because he didn't understand
it. He looked from the mirror to