Evening star., 1941-04-29


and gaiety of the Casa Castillo
Jared against turmoil inside her. A
saxophone seemed to throw blatant
laughter at her, mocking her.
When finally she looked up, Marx
Derringer had seated himself al
their table. He was lighting q
cigarette, and his smile made
hateful smirk on his lips. Nan
forced herself to look at David.
She loved this man. He was the
only man she had ever loved, or
ever wanted to love. She could see
how the corners of his lips turned
down. She could see hard pulse
beating in his temple. Then he
smiled, and laughed softly. HIS
laughter was a knife in her heart.
II was making love to the lady,
Derringer," he said. But I didn't
know she happened to be your
wife"
But if you had known" Mark
Derringer said easily, 1T wouldn't t
have made any difference. Nothing
matters to you intelligence men ex-
eept results"
That's right =" David's voice
was full of laughter. If you hadn't
happened along, old man, I'd have
had your wife telling me what I
want to know before midnight.
And you want to know, of course,
where LYDIA is to meet Eric Fabier." b"
What else?" David said.
Fight Over LYDIA"
Mark Derringer reached for Mans
hand, held it in a caressing way as
a husband might, and she was too
stunned and hurt to withdraw it.
He said, You see, LYDIA, the wolves
are after you. They're swapping at
your heels. All you can do is to
decide which will be the worst of
two evils-Capt. Larsen or I. The
captain will send Eric Fabier to
prison. Ill merely relieve him of
some papers. Which evil will you
choose, Lyda?"
Nan said nothing. She couldn't.
She couldn't even say, as she wished,
Let me get away from here!"
Mark Derringer's smooth voice
ran on, PLAY ball with me, LYDIA,
and I'll help Eric get away from the
police. And from the love-making
captain here. 1 can arrange for a
boat to smuggle Eric away from
Puerto Rico-to Cuba, where he'll
be safe"
And if you play the game that
way, LYDIA" David said, you'll get
yourself into trouble"
mo you won't, LYDIA. The same
boat will take you away-along with
the man you want to marry"
She pulled her hand away from
Derringer and said, II know Moth
ing about Eric Fabier. I'm not go
ing to meet him. You may as well
stop bounding me-"
Mark Derringer said. Lydia"
and leaned toward her. And she
looked at him with hatred. He
knew she was not LYDIA Mora. What
was he planning to do? What pur-
pose lay behind his pretense?
He said, LYDIA, don't trust our
friend, David. He'll have you taken
~ Eric Fahier's accomplice"
And David said, mo, LYDIA. I
want only Eric Fabier."
Nan Is Angry.
Nan turned her eyes to him.
Dark eyes in stricken, pale face.
And she hated him now as much as
, she had loved him minutes ago.
She got to her feet; tall and slim
and beautiful, unwittingly as much
a tragedienne as LYDIA Mora herself
would have been. Go on with your
man hunt, but let me out of it,"
She whirled with a swish of her
skirt and walked with head high
through the wide crowded room.
David followed and when they
reached the foyer his hand closed
on hers.
"sorry, LYDIA" he said. And
Mans cold lips said, Sorry! I can
imagine" She drew a sharp, pain
full breath. please call a taxi to
take me back to the hotel" That,
she told herself, will be the last
thing I ever say to him -.
San Juan was flooded with sun
hight when Nan walked from the
hotel the next morning. 1t was
warm sunlight, but it had no power
10 thaw away the glacial mass
pressing her heart.
She meant to walk about the
eity's narrow streets, alone, and
when she saw David's tall, white
clad figure she was angry. He
might have let her alone. He could
have stopped bounding her. But
she was glad he was there, even to
hound her, and she felt her heart
beat quicken.
Good morning, senorita," he
greeted her, making mock bow.
"You wish to see some OF San Juan?
I offer my services as a guide"
I've seen enough of San Juan,
really"
But not the part guide could
show you"
"A guide or a spy?"
Nan Calls Him Back.
A shadow lay across his face,
making it darkly intent. LYDIA
let's be friends. There's no need
for us to fight. You can't spend all
your time alone and you don't want
to spend it with Mark Derringer."
Nor with you
"All right, LYDIA" He turned
away. Nan Bentley had a moment
OF panic. She said, David" And
he came back to her.
She said, 81 want to talk to you
anyway. Show me about"
He smiled, but it wasn't the same
sort of smile that had charmed her
He was changed, remote, beyond
her reach. He would be! He