Evening star., 1941-03-26

twinkling. "Ill tell you the truth.
I ran out of my favorite blend, and
1 was just replenishing it with a
very inferior one at nearby shop
when the siren went off. I didn't
want to quarrel with the A. r. p,
so I dashed in here to frustrate
Adolf's bombers. Now, It's your
turn, and I hope. you can be as
frank
His tone, his words, and, most OF
all, the old jersey and torn coat took
Brinda back to the old days at Miss
Cartwright's. He seemed all school,
boy again, instead of the young
naval officer and serious inventor.
She could scarcely believe that any
thing had changed; it was more as
if they had slipped out from their
respective schools for one of their
/ rare rendezvous. They had a corner
to themselves in the small but secure
shelter.
Haven't I always been frank?"
she answered. II was at Prince
Vaslav's, and he was good enough
to send me home in his car. Then
the air warden stopped me. And
so I landed here
"Vaslav's!" Dicks voice under
went subtle change. And he sent
you home in his carp"
"Yes. Why not?"
"Why-why-I don't suppose
OF course, I noticed he was attentive
to YOU. Nice enough chap,to Still
-confound it!-he's not nice enough
for you!"
Brinda experienced a moment OF
sheer rapture. There was no mis-
taking it, Dick was jealous!
He is nice" she said demurely
Then. a little contrite at his down.
cast look; but I had special rea-
son for being at his house. 1t was
a rehearsal of the ballet in which he
wants me to dance"
And are you going to?"
Perhaps it would keep Sandy
from sending me away. But Dick,
suppose Prince Vaslav and I should
hit it off-you wouldn't wind. would
you?"
Yes" he said gloomily, Il would.
I'd mind whole lot"
But how strange! You don't
seem to object to his fussing over
Gladys"
Dick looked miserable. ITO tell
you the truth, I don't. Especially
since I found you again"
And yet you're going to marry
Gladys. Why?"
mo use asking, Brinda. I don't
even know how we happened to be-
come engaged. First, it was Lord
Mountwyn-he was interested in
my invention. and I had to have
some one to finance it. Naturally I
saw lot of Gladys. and then some
how it was understood we were 60
| ing to get married. I don't know
you remember, I really was rather
gone on her once, and I thought
she liked me. But I get the impress
sion lately that she wouldn't mind
breaking it off"
IN that event, Lord Mountwyn
would withdraw his support.
wouldn't he?"
Let him!" said Dick. 'I'll man.
age some way.
Offers to Escort Brinda.
Outside there was the vail of an
/ ambulance racing through the street.
And just then the air warden poked
his head inside the shelter. Looks
like it's quiet again." he announced
| cheerily.
Dick and Brinda emerged. She
saw that Vaslav's car was still there.
but the chauffeur was not at the
wheel
Your man was here a couple of
minutes ago." said the warden.
Then some fellow stopped and
spoke to him. Likely they've gone
| for drink"
Good enough" exclaimed Dick.
Let him go. Well stop at my lab
a moment, and I'll take you home
in a cab myself. Vaslav can keep
his cursed car"
But I just can't leave the man
waiting" protested Brinda.
I'll attend to that" volunteered
the air warden.
Brinda matched her step to Dicks,
obscurely and unaccountably gay.
Here we are!" said Maiden, as
| they approach squarish, un-
adorned building with iron bars
across the street windows. You
can look things over while"
There was sudden, terrific, rend-
| ing blast. Brinda saw a great sheet
OF yellow flame rise in the air. There
was a grating, heavy roar, a clatter
of breaking glass and falling slate.
The air trembled.
The Street Comes Alive.
my laboratory" Dick exclaimed.
He started running in the direction
of the blast. Go back to the carl"
Brief, deep silence followed the
explosion For moment Brinda
stood gazing after 1t. Malden's van
ishing figure. Poor Dick! She re-
membered it was fear of precisely
this that had brought him to Sir
Johns Office the day after Kenley's
murder.
Should she follow? Or would she
only be in the way? AS she hesi-
| JdU6O SIZE saw NdSidN > Clldu1-
feur standing beside the car, his
hand on the open door. He looked
toward her expectantly and his pose
expressed a kind of dogged impa-
tience. On impulse. she shook her
head and said: Thanks, but I
shan't want the car any more" He
touched the brim of his cap, swung
behind the wheel, and sent the big
car whirling out of sight.
Pulling her evening wrap closer,
and regretting her fragile slippers,
Brinda turned toward the scene Of
the blast.
Doors were opening along the
street; people, in various stages of
dress and undress, were popping out
Of them. She noticed one man in
evening clothes, carrying what
looked like an African war club;
another man had q businesslike
rifle slung over his shoulder. They
all looked grimly eager to annihi-