Evening star., 1941-07-23

His metdlllc eyes lOSt tneU VACANT
look.
"Veretti and Van Arden are up to
something, of course" he said. IT'S
quite clear that both are hunting
trouble. Veretti, on enlisting, re-
uuested to be sent to this post. Van
Alden comes here. with the f1lmsy
excuse that he's fishing. An ordi-
nary soldier would pick any one OF
100 other posts before Marfleld. A
sportsman like Van Arden would
ordinarily have picked other fishing
grounds. That means this location
has something TO do with their
feud"
II agree with that, sir" said Phil
! Howard.
And Maj. Hammond gave him a
new, more interested look oh, you
do. captain" he said sarCastically.
That's generous OF you. Quite gen.
erous'
Phil said nothing. He dared say
nothing since Hammond was his
superior. But he wanted 10 have a
showdown with Hammond, not as
an officer, but as a man. He wanted
badly to know what Hammond had
against him. This hate he took no
pains to conceal was no ordinary
thing. Phil nearly spoke out; only
thread of reason restrained him.
Phil Visits Jim.
! He saw how Hammond waited. al
most eagerly. 1t was quite clear that
Hammond would welcome trouble
with him. That eagerness steadied
Phil. helped check his rising anger
! He turned cautious. and showed it,
and the eagerness went out of Ham,
mond's manner. That's all, cap
tain"
Phil Howard swung on his heel
and left the Office. He felt as
though he had been baited; there
was no satisfaction in knowing he
had refused the bait. Hammond S
manner demanded that there be a
showdown between them. 1t would
come. 1t was merely postponed. Un-
easiness ate like acid at Phil's peace
of mind.
He went to the hospital that aft
ernoon. Walking into 1t, Masons S
room he wondered if his friend
couldn't see guilt on his face. 1t was
there, he thought. Jim Mason must
see what had happened behind his
back-between Stephanie and him.
But Jim Mason grinned and held
l.;- 1, Ia ir, urk1 l.
chair, and he looked much better.
He said, II want to get out Of here,
but Doc Brennan says not until to-
morrow. You know, Phil think
that he'd like to find something
really wrong with me-just to keep
his surgeons hand in practice"
He asked for cigarette; and Phil
gave him one, then took the one
chair in the room. He lighted one
for himself and sat silently smok-
ing, trying to say something to Jim
Mason. 1t was hard; it was even
hard to meet Jim Masons eyes.
He wanted to say, Look, Jim
Stephanie and :" But that
was no good. Jim, too, was in love
with Stephanie. He was asking
about her now, saying that she
hadn't been to see him since yes
terday afternoon.
Jim Senses Worry.
Phil said. She manages to pass
the time, jim. We went to Sea-
berth last night, for little party
aboard Stacey Van Arden's yacht"
How was 1t, a good party?"
"All right. suppose. Van Arden
gave it because he's got an eve on
Joan Hammond He's been making
| love to her I ran into trouble
though. A man hid in my car, and
brought him into the post"
Il heard about that. What does
it mean?" =
Il wish I knew"
Bugs Porter" said Jim Mason
has something a spy might like
Yes" Phil replied But the Old
Man asked Bugs to put his papers
In headquarters safe. If Bugs does
1t should make a spys effort use
less"
| They talked like that for quite q
while, and all the time Phil Howard
knew they should be discussing
themselves-in relation to Steph-
anie. When he arose to leave, jim
Mason said.
You're worried about something
old man. What gives?"
It's this Veretti-Van Arden feud
and the prowler business, I sup
pose" Phil said. And he called
himself coward.
Coming out of the hospital, he
walked toward the Ofiicers' Club. He
met Joan Hammond coming from
headquarters.
He said, Hello! You're back early
from your date"
And Joan said, Not too early"
They walked on together, saying
nothing more until they reachec
the Officers' Club. Then Joan asked
him to come sit on her porch. HI