The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-08-25
PRIVATE AND PERSONAL
CHAPTER VI

Jim Mallory snapped alert. He
eupped his cigaret in his hands to
hide the glow. then turned in his
chair 10 look across the patio. II
was too dark TO make out faces.
but one of the two men was Eric
Forbes. The other was an unknown
quantity.
The two men walked through
the patio toward the rear Of the
house. Their voices died away. but
Jim had caught this much: Eric
Forbes was afraid Mary Larsen
would tell MIN. Mallory. some
thing. so she was to be sent back
to the New York offices OF the
Hammond Steamship Lines.
Jim stepped on his cigsret and
took after the two. moving silently
across the dark patio. He wanted
a look at Forbes companion. At
the rear corner of the big house
he paused. He saw Forbes going
on around the house while the
other man walked toward the
drive where a car was parked with
out lights. He drove off without
switching on the lights
Jim frowned and turned back
toward the patio. His movement
was so abrupt he collided with
someone. He heard startled
OH as he grasped a soft arm.
He saw then that it was Mary
Larsen. She was trembling and her
face was a startling white oval in
the darkness.
so il was you" she said. as
if she were breathless. Il heard
from the rumpus room. You and
that man
What did you hear. beautiful ,"
Il heard you mutter that the
Sonora was worth q cool million"
You what" He stared. bewil-
dered and startled. You didn't
hear me say that. That was Eric
Forbes and a stranger"
He drew her by the arm into the
dark rumpus room, afraid Forbes
might take a notion to come back.
He found the lght-switch. Mary
was pale in the sudden light
He asked. What were you doing
in here in the dark ?"
ust-just thinking"
whats that in your hand >"
She looked down. II was a Gig
aret case. good one of silver. L
found it outside Just now. knock
ed it, saw it CLINT. and picked IT
up. II was quite warm. as if it
had been on someone's person. Did
you drop it Just now ?"
No" Jim said. He remembered
that Forbes companion had light
ed a cigaret behind the house,
ducking his head down as he did
1t. Let's see the thing"
Mary didn't obey. She was star
ing at the case, with wide and
frightened eyes. He could see
initials engraved on it. He stepped
close, reaching for the case. but
Mary held it behind her.
She said. No" shrilly. and
trembled. He reached for her.
meaning to take the thing. She
struggled and broke away. He
took another step toward her. then
the suave voice of Eric Forbes
halted him.
Don't you understand when a
lady says no. Mallory"
Jim faced the man. Forbes owe.
weren't pleasant. and steel was in
his voice as he said Perhaps
you'd like to apologize"
1t wasn't what Jim Mallory
would have liked, but he turned
back to the girl.
Sorry" he said. II made .
mistake" Mary just stood ther.
holding the cigaret case behind her
without speaking. Jim swung
about and left. He went to his
room and turned in. 1t took MIN
a long while to get to sleep.
mere was water all about. but
Inc Hammonds had a pool. Jim
went down for an early-morninS
plunge, and found Mary there
before him. She was sitting on IN.
edge at the far end. and no dove
in and swan to her.
He grasped her ankles and ssvs
her a little pull. Come on in tho
waters fine" ne said .I'U race
you down and back"
Her eyes examined him in a re-
mote impersonal way. and she put
her feet against his chest and gave
MN stout push. He went under
and when he came up she was get
ting up TO go to the house. n.
climbed out and said Wait a
minute. I want 10 talk
She hesitsted He sank down
onto the edge n the pool. and said.
come on. Mary. l promise not
70 lay 4 hand within q mil. Of
You.
she came and sat down near
him' nut not too near. He looked
Al ner for long moment. hiking
her smooth brown color. her cop
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