Evening star., 1941-02-20

left untouched. She drank It
quickly. Michael didn't sit down.
Offers Ryan Job Back.
JudSon March looked up and
smiled. Michael, in view Of cir
cumStanceS, I want you to come
back to the plant. Your Job is wait
ing. I never reverse a decision, but
this time I was wrong"
Thanks, J. M. I'll think it over
Senor Cordova looked up, a thin
smile on his sharp, swarthy face
You are fortunate, Senor Ryan
One is seldom reinstated in a posi-
ton"
"Oh, ones luck changes, Cordova.
Especially in this country, as you
will find out when you've been here
awhile. BY the way, what did you
say your business here WASP"
Il didn't say, my friend. But
shall. Senor March and I plan to
open a factory to manufacture avia-
ton instruments"
"Airplane radios, perhaps?"
4NOU 1lCICSodl l1Ns WHY uO HOu
suggest that?"
Il thought you might be inter-
eSted in shortWave transmitters.
Michael meant that as a shot to
lead the Spaniard into some admis-
sion. but it was crude and missed
the mark by a wide margin. Cor
/ doVa was too ShreWd diplomat to
stumble into a trap laid by blum
rerer. The man smiled.
mo. am not interested in short
wave tranSmitters."
Michael looked at DANES pale
face, then at JudSon March. He
said, y. NJ, you're a capable exec
utive bat darned poor father. You
should gain the confidence of your
daughter. And of your son."
March's broad face flushed rud-
dily OF all the blamed impu-
dence!" he growled Mike Ryan,
you" But Michael cut him
! short
Think it over" he said, and
turned away.
| Joan is Fired.
Michael walked to the ballroom
and looked over the crowd for Joan.
She was dancing with Bert Dono-
| van, of course. Michael stepped
onto the dance floor and tapped
Donovan on the shoulder.
May I cut in, old man?" he said,
and Bert Donovan nodded reluc-
| family and gave Joan over to him.
Michael smiled at her. He saw
that she looked startled, He said,
Joan, you're fired. I don't want
you to see Donovan again"
Her brown eyes widened. There
was lot of gold in them tonight.
Fired? Just like that?"
"You don't mind, do you?"
ut was well-paying job"
The orchestra stopped playing
They stopped dancing, and Michael
| slipped Joans arm through his and
led her to the veranda. There were
people there, so he took her down
onto the terrace where minutes ago
Diane had cried against his shoul-
der. He had forgotten Diane now.
Joan said, and her voice was
troubled, You must have a reason. ."
Yes. A good reason. I'm in
love with you"
She stared. not seeming to hear
or to understand.
Maybe he said. you don't want
/ to hear that. But it's true, and
I've got to say it. I don't want you
to see Donovan again"
He reached for her hands, but she
/ shrank away from him. She moved
her head from side to side in silent
disagreement.
mo. No, you can't be. It's i'm
possible. Look, Michael, our asso-
citation has been unusual and it's
upset everything. Even our emo
tions. I don't trust mine. I fear
every emotion feel"
You mean Donovan?" he asked,
knowing sudden fear. You've fallen
/ in love with Donovan?"
Joan didn't move. She didn't look
up. Michael" she said, heavily, II
was to marry Tex Martin"
No Secret to Ryan.
That he had known, for he had
spied upon her. He said, I'm sorry,
Joan. I know what Tex was. He
was the sort girl like you would
love"
"And I haven't forgotten him,
Michael. I never shall :" Her
voice wavered and broke. Then:
Does that explain to you why I'm
here?"
Perhaps. Did you have some
idea of finding out what caused
Texs death?"
who caused his DEATH" Joan
corrected. I'm going to be honest
with you. When I came here
thought I knew who the person
was" She drew a sharp breath,
like a person about to plunge into
cold, dark water. And said fatty,
''You, Michael"
Michael Ryan said nothing.
| TEX wrote me letter just before
he took that plane up. He sus-
pected something was going to hap
pen. He mentioned your name. Oh,
he didn't accuse you, Michael, but
his letter seemed to point to you"
He said, And you still suspect
me?"
I'm not sure. You puzzle me-"
There's Donovan" he reminded
her. 1--WE suspected him. That's
why I wanted you to find out about
him"
Joan regarded him doubtfully.
Then she said, TEX once told me
about Bert Donovan, when he re-
turned from Spain. You see, Tex
had gone over there to make
money. We wanted to get married.
But when he saw what war really
was, he was disguised. He wanted
to quit, but they forced him to fly.
Bert was stationed at the same air
base"
Not Sure About Donovan.
She let her voice fade away and
| her eVes uere distressed Then