Evening star., 1941-03-28

olu llllSClS CIuScu Oll d Oil
cigarette case.
II will, Dick will"
Pine! I got smashed up getting
1t out, you know" he paused .'or {
labored breath. BE careful-tht
enemy will be after it, too-bu
you'll fool 'em, won't you?"
The ambulance officer was becom.
ing impatient. Hurry, miss. You're
killing him with kindness!"
But Dicks voice still detained
her. II wonder if-perhaps-you-
wouldn't-kiss me-"
She bent over swiftly.
Thanks" he said. Thanks 6
lot"
He was smiling as they lifted the
stretcher into the ambulance.
Brinda turned away dazedly. Her
hand still tightly clutched the fiat
metal object. What could it be?
Something most important, or Dick
would not have risked his life to
save it from the wrecked laboratory
Realizing that it was only half-con-
cealed. she lifted her hand to her
throat ana let the object slide into
the top of her dress. She chilled a
little at its cold touch upon her
skin. But she knew it was safely
hidden now.
Mountwyn Arrives.
An instant later she had reason
to be glad of her precaution.
Beyond the broad shoulders OF
the constable, she saw the rubicund
yisage of Lord Mountwyn.
Miss Duncan!" he exclaimed, as
though seeing her at the same mo-
ment. MY dear young LADY,
Striding forward, he seized her
hands in greeting. Not one hand
but both.
Even as Lord Mountwyn pumped
her hands, Brinda searched his face
for any sign of guile. But there was
none. -,
This is terrible, my dear!" he
said. "I was toiling late at the
Admiralty when we received word.
So I hurried here at once. You are
with Sir John, of course?"
1t had not occurred to Brlnda be-
fore that her guardian might be
present.
"Sir John? Why no. You see,
there was an air raid, and we were
stopped" She went on to explain
the circumstances of her meeting
with Dick.
II see. l see" MountWynS blue,
round eyes, bright as robins, gave
no hint as to whether he believed
her or not. We'll, it's most un-
fortunate. You-er-didn't have a
chance to speak to Maiden before
they took him to the hospitals"
"Only a word or two" she said.
"The ambulance men were in such
q hurry"
poor devil! This will break
Gladys up no end"
Mountwyn glanced at his watch.
"Have to look into this affair now.
If YOU don't mind waiting, I'll give
you a lift home. A little late for
you to be hunting cab. We can
stop at the hospital and find out
about Richard
Mountwyn Seems Relieved.
Lord Mountwyn spoke to the con-
stable, who seemed to know him,
and hustled off.
Brinda strove to be calm, but her
thoughts were in turmoil. The metal
case no longer felt cool against her
body; it burned, Lucky she had
hidden it before Lord MountWyn
seized her hands so eagerly! Chance
only? Or had he seen Dick give it
to her? Yet why should she be so
dubious of MountWyn? For he must
be completely in Dicks confidence.
Perhaps she should give him the
metal case, together with whatever
mystery it contained. No -. Keep
1t for mel" Dick had said.
But What of Dick? For all she
knew he might be dying now. She
waited impatiently for Mountwyn
to return. And, although it was
actually a matter of minutes, it
seemed hours before she again saw
the pink cheeks and round blue eyes
of Gladys father as he threaded
his way back toward her through
the gathering crowd.
His car was parked up the street.
When they were safely in 1t, he
offered her a cigarette and said:
"Worse than I thought. An internal
machine :. a time bomb, probably.
Place completely wrecked. All NAL
den's work gone for nothing! You
know about it, don't you?" Over a
lighted match he glanced at her
shrewdly.
"Only that he's been making some
sort of experiments.
Mountwyn looked relieved.
Right. Experiments. You
couldn't call them more. I've been
backing him up though they
might come to something. It's bad
blow for him, though-enough to
drive him crazy. can't imagine any
sane man going back into those
ruins"
Good News of Dick.
A constable, recognizing the Ad-
n1iralty license on the car, saluted,
Mountwyn waved back.
Brinda asked the only question
that, to her, demanded asking. DO
they seem to think-he was badly
hurt?"
Mountwyn gripped his cigar
tighter. Cant say. A wall fell on
him, you know. May have only