Evening star., 1942-01-07

amount of business. enough to keep
him and Steve busy most OF the
time. but even activity couldn't push
aside the thoughts that ran through
Johnny'S mind, thoughts OF Shella
and of how the summer still might
turn out all right. Perhaps getting
back home again and seeing the old
places and the people shed always
known, and being out of that atmos-
phere of superabundant culture
she'd known at Claybourne School
for Women-perhapS now she would
become again the kid he'd grown up
with, the girl he'd dated, the woman
he had grown to love.
Friday night Mike was depressed
and even the drink Johnny fixed for
him didn't seem to help.
It's hard to even find a place
to start, son." he said. Owen Nor
gan did very efficient job OF con-
vincing people that I was the prime
mover in the Mulvaney Machines
stock deal. I must have called 10
men today, all chaps I regarded
as good friends a few months ago
They scarcely had time to give me
a word and those that did talk Tor
a minute of two gave me the clear
impression that they were being
very generous in not calling me a
swindler to my face. Jeffries was
the friendliest and he openly said
that Owen Morgan's attitude pre-
vented his doing anything for me. y
Johnny Is Puzzled.
"It's tough to see people like that
pulling away" Johnny said. But
Mike. tell me this: How do you
figure Owen Morgan could have
done the manipulating without get
ting his own name on at least some
Of these stock certificates? And Il
his name did appear if he was
dealing in Mulvaney stock under
his own name-how could every one
think it was you that manipulated
the thing?"
II don't know any more than I've
already told you. Johnny" Mike
said soberlv. The only answer I
can think of to that is that he did
the buying and selling under an
assumed name, or else he had some
one in with him, maybe even a
syndicate"
Johnny was silent for while,
thinking of what Patty had told him
on Sunday night He hadn't men
toned the incident to Mike. know
ing his dad would be annoyed at
the thought of Patty getting in
yolved in their family affairs.
Il have reason to believe. dad
he said cautiously. that Owen has
fairly complete records of the trans
actions in his house. I've done a
little nosing around and I'm pretty
sure where the records are. but OF
course I haven't the falntest IDEA
how to get hold Of them"
eff they're in Morgan's house y
Mike said. with humorless grin,
Il dare say we cannot possibly get
hold of them-unless we bribed his
butler, or something equally absurd. y
well. the gas station IS going
along very we'll" Johnny said, try
ing to inject a CHEEKY note into his
voice. I'VE can get by indefinitely
on the income form there and
sooner or later there's bound to
be a break of some kind. Morgan
might make a slip in some other
deal and get an investigation
started. The income tax men them
selves ought to make it pretty un-
comfortable for him, and the Secu-
rity Exchange Commission doesn't
miss many bets on phony stock
transactions"
That's true" Mike said quickly,
"but the important thing is to get
started soon. I'm not going to let
YOU pass up that opportunity with
the Grayson Labratorles. that's
certainty. And the two months that
the offer will remain open will be
gone before you know it."
Johnny started to protest but
changed his mind. 1t wouldn't do
anv good to start an argument now.
and perhaps by the time the offer
was nearing its expiration things
would be different. At any rate,
then would be time enough to risk
a heated discussion.
Morgan Is Insulting.
It was little after 9 Saturday
night when Johnny called at
Sheilas house to pick up Patty.
The butler opened the door and led
him into the living room to wait
while he was announced. He saw
the butler speak to one of the maids
outside the library door and saw
the girl turn then and go up
stairs. He also heard a familiar
"Mrrumph!" from within the library
and a moment later Owen Morgan
appeared He was adjusting his
glasses on his finely arched nose
and his eyebrows were drawn to-
gether in an ominouS froWn.
We'll, Mulvaney, I hardly eX-
pected to see you here" he said vim
dictively, striding into the living
room.
Johnny got up and eyed the older
man coolly. rs that right, sir?"
Mr.. Morgan glared at him. L
should think you would be sensitive
of your position and-and not en-
barrass respectable, law abiding
people with your attentions. didn't
think I should have to tell you-1
never suspected that you would
come here-but you are not well
come in my house. young man"
Johnny was stunned, but only for
a moment. Then he laughed
harshly. you put on good act, -
he said. And you might as well
keep it up at that because you
don't have much time left"
"What?" Owen Morgan thun-
dered, his face turning dull red.
Have you the effrontery to insult
me in my own house?"
II meant 10 insult" Johnny re-
turned quietly. Il was simply stat
ing fact. You made sucker out
Of Mike. You took advantage Of an
old man, an invalid, and your own
client at that. and you ruined him
and you're going to pay for 1t. Mike
will get back every penny you stole
from him and you'll wind up behind
bars"
1--WE heard enough Of this!" Owen