Evening star., 1941-02-16


ing 70. Speed and the rush of wind
in their faces didn't make for con-
versation. and Michael realized sud
denly that Diane didn't want to talk
He didn't say anything until they
had gotten back to town and Diane
was pulling in to the curb close to
the Claremont to let him out.
Then: Had you an idea that I
could find Dick?'
Something like that" she said
"But it isn't necessary. Dick will get
in touch with me"
And he held her glance and re-
piled. 'Di, you're not kidding me.
mentioned the possibility of Cor
dova S having something to do with
Dicks queer behavior, and it gives
you an idea. 1t SCareS you, and you
freeze up on me-
Forget, it Michael. Please
"Why?"
because it's nothing"
He shook his head. No. I'm not
going to forget it. Dick phoned you
and said he had arrived by plane.
He wanted to talk to you. But he
didn't keep the date. His plane
wasn't at the airport You don't
forget queer behavior like that"
Diane didn't say anything. She
didn't look at him. She was watch
ing, perhaps unseeingly. the stream
of traffic flowing down Main street.
Michael said, you've connected
Cordova with Dicks disappear
ance."
That's ridiculous
"Why is it? Cordova was the
only person who knew you were
going to meet Dick
To Look for Dick.
"Dick could have met a friend"
Diane said weakly, and gone off
with him. He's like that"
Michael reached out and lay his
hand on her wrist. He gripped hard
without knowing it. and he said,
Come on, Diane. What idea did
you have about Cordova?'
No idea at all" she said. And
smiling family: You're hurting my
wrist. You're getting to be an
awful brute. Mike"
He released her. said, Sorry"
cigarettes. He was a little sore.
He said, I'm going to look around
for Dick March"
Diane regarded him in a worried
way and began moving her head
slowly in disagreement No" she
said. You're going to forget l
told you about him. You're going
away. Mike
Am I? That's news
you've got to-" she said. as if
she were breathless. L know what
you're up to. and it's dangerous.
You want to find out who sabotaged
Tex Martins plane
you didn't figure that out your
self Who told you?'
I'm not that stupid. Or that
blind. And I know you're like that.
You'd want to do something about
his death"
Michael's face turned darkly in
tent, and his hands closed hard
Il would" he said. And I'm
going to do something about it"
That brought them to an impasse.
1t shocked Michael to find they no
longer had mutual understanding
He wouldn't have believed two
people could fall out of love so
quickly.
Diane Is Scared
Diane looked shocked, too. Her
face was pale Michael she said,
I'm scared. I want you to be safe.
And Dick. too"
Why are you afraid for Dick?
Who was he to fear?"
Dicks in trouble"
"What sort of trouble?"
'He could be sent to prison"
The words seemed dragged from
her. Each one seemed painful
Michael felt his sense of shock in
crease. He said TO prison? For
vhat?" But Diane merely shook her
head Not even a third degree, he
knew. would make her tell more. A
sudden thought came.
Diane, do you know Bert Dono-
van?"
Yes. slightly. Why?"
you've been going about with
him?"
We'll. there's nothing wrong or
odd about that" she said, trying
hard to be flippant. And Diane
was never f1ippant, successfully. "Or
is there?"
No. Except that he isn't your
sort"
"Oh. you want to pick my
friends?"
Michael grinned without much
hUmor I'm not jealous" he said.
We'll, not much anyway. It's some
thing else. I'm adding something
up"
To what, Michael?" She wasn't
f1ippant now.
To this. That some one put you
up to influencing me and I've a
hunch that that some one is Bert
Donovan"