The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-10-26
FRIGHTENED EAyEspRorprp


CHAPTER XII
II was strictly 100 per cent non.
Of Blythe's business. Her own
conscience told her that Her
sense Of guilt Jsbbed at her like
an angry Jimmy Cricket. She
was more than butting in. she was
downright shopping. And vet
Girls and women have a ne
euiiar sixth sense which the scien-
lists don't explain. and which men
when they experience III call
masculine brains Pop had often
wisecracked about IL. BLYTHE re-
memoered; leased her about H.
when she complimented his as
tuteness at doping out football
games. Right now. she didn't try
to snalyze it. She Just stood stin
and listened to the conversation
up there at the head Of the stairs
What in the world are YOU
talking about" Nancy Hale was
obviously sstounded.
The overcoated man kept oil in
his voice. Now, now. sister.
Take 1t easy, and understand. A
t'ousand bucks don't grow on
bushes. But you got it here right
in your hand. See?"
'But-but-"
How much pay you git being
a steno, hunh? Maybe one hun
dred. Say one fifty. Huh. A
lousy 1900 bucks a yearl But
here's pretty near a years pay,
and you can earn it for working
on the quiet just one hour. Easy"
There was pause. Perhaps to
let his temptation sink in.
Blythe's curiosity. like a steam
valve, was nearing the point of
explosive pressure. Curiosity and
intuitive fear combined Fear for
what? For Nancy. For Pop. For
the Lincoln field and the Lincoln
team. Fer herself. or-for some-
thing! She couldn't have pinned
1t down.
The voice became lower, more
ingratatingly intimate. Nobody
seen me come here. Nobodyll see
me 60 away. Understand? Now
look, you got little kid to sup
port. Cute little boy-yea-a-a-ah!"
The last was disgustingly unctu-
Gus in tone. Unctuous and brassy
"You amt got no jack to speak
of. No husband. No future, Ell?
Unless-look, not even a drop Of
danger in this. Amt like we was
asking you to do a big job with
the mob or something, or even
work downtown. What you do is
right here in your living room.
Home work, yea-a-a-ah!" He
tackled on a throaty chuckle.
"Please-what is it all about ?"
Nancy pleaded that.
"You wanta take up the propo-
sition ?"
IF it's a chance to earn a thou
sand dollars. OF course l do. Do
YOU want to come in and sit
down."
mot me, sisl" He spoke warily.
Don't need to. But okay-look.
represent the boys, see? The
boys downtown"
"What boys?"
"Oh, some OF the boys. Buncha
fellows. Good Joes, see? You'd
like 'em, yea-a-ah. They'd like
you. They said so. You might
wanta git acquainted later. Be
worth your while, see? Girl with
your looks. Your brains. Yea
a-a-ah! Like you myself"
He added that last as IL 1t were
the ultimate compliment he could
pay Nancy. Blythe peeked up
around the stairway l. again, eau
tiously. Sure enough, he wore the
silly grin that predatory men use
when approaching a woman.
Blythe herself had seen 1t. 1t
added to her apprehension now.
Apprehension for Nancy and
everything else.
Are you-is that what you
meant?" Nancy emphasized the
"that," hard tone.
mo, no-waitl Don't git me
wrong! I was just telling you; i
like you, see? Like you myself.
You got what it takes But !
amt"
"All right for that part. I sup
pose feel honored, having a man
tell me he likes me. But what
has II to do with the money, may
! ask ?"
Blythe felt surprised that Nancy
could be so cool. She herself
would have been jittery under such
circumstances, she knew. But
then-Nsncy Hale was few years
older. Older, and far more ex-