Evening star., 1941-06-30

were drawn, DuC ne COulQ Tell CndIt
it was night. He snapped on the
bed-lamp and looked down at his
watch. Eight o'clock. That must
mean the next night, he reasoned.
He flung back the covers and swung
his feet from the bed. He shambled
toward the bathroom and stood be-
fore the mirror, searching his face
for the marks of battle.
There was only one lump show
ing on his jaw. Otherwise he
seemed to be all right. He had
slight aching pain in his chest
where Chuck had clubbed him with
an iron fist.
Then for the first time he noticed
his hands. He had put his right
hand up to touch his face and he
saw bandages. They covered his
whole hand down to the second
knuckle. He held up his left hand.
It was the same. The strips were
thick and soft He wondered
whether he would ever be able to
paint again. He tried to bend his
fingers and he succeeded, but only
a little bit.
Locke took a long time to climb
into his clothes. He had to; his fin
gers wouldn't obey him. Finally
he went out and headed toward the
stairs. He wondered what had hap
pened to Eric Farrell and Chuck.
Xavier Merrill must have taken
care of them. Locke couldn't re-
To
Locke is Shocked.
He was half way down the stairs
when he heard the excited rattle
of voices. He looked across and
down, into the crowd that was gath
cred around Xavier Merrill in the
drawing room. He glimpsed Anne
Rutherford. She was standing to
one side and there was a bright,
bitter smile on her face. Locke
couldn't find Lance Whitney.
Locke stepped down two more
stairs and then he heard another
voice he knew so well. In a small
Hlcove just below in full view
of his questioning eyes there were
two people who were unaware of
all else. Lance Whitney's voice
covered Janielles bright tones.
What do you mean, you're free?"
Whitney said. Those words brought
Locke to a complete stop.
Janielle said liltingly, I'm free.
I've been living under delusion
for the last two days. But now
that is all over. You can under
stand that, can't you?"
Locke's heart chilled. Janielle
continued, Il owe $50 to someone
and then I'm free"
Locke turned away. He couldn't
listen to any more. The world he
had built up crashed in fragments
about him. All that Janielle had
said back in the shack had been
delusion. He plodded up the stairs
toward the second floor He wanted
to get away from this false world,
back to his canvas where the figures
he painted would not mock him. He
picked up his suit of tails and then
went down the back stairs and out
the servants entrance. He trudged
out and around the house. pausing
only ct the end of the driveway to
look back.
Locke Seeks Relief.
Fifteen minutes later, Locke
hailed a taxi and was taken swiftly
toward his rooms Coming across
the square where the Hotel Rock
land stood, he suddenly leaned
forward and instructed the driver
to stop He wanted to see Jim
Foley, the bartender. and talk to
him. He walked swiftly into the
bar-and- grille.
Jim Foley was polishing glasses.
The room was deserted. Hi there,
Locke. A little late tonight, huh?"
Gust a little"
1t was the old familiar formula,
but Locke liked it.
"Whatu it be, the usual?" Jim
inquired.
mo. What have you to kill a
pain?"
Everything. Name it and it's
yours"
iii take a lot of everything"
Learn something?" Jim asked
discerningly. He started to pour a
drink, not being very careful with
his measurements.
"a lot" Locke said.
you've been places since I last
saw you. I read the papers. How
are your hands?"
"I don't know"
Tim n11shed the fUll glass toward