The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1942-10-02
CHAPTER XIV

Before going to bed Curt talked
with Monahan about Collins.
Hell make good man." Stats
reported. "a little awkward at first,
but he knows Diesels and I'd say
he had the makings."
Evidently Collins had raised spec
ulations in Monahan, too, for Stats
voice was asking questions-who,
what, why? But Curt didn't know
the answers himself-and Emilio
shared the same tent with him now
chat he had shared with Montaya
on his first visit to this camp.
But the matter of Collins didn't
end there. AS Curt called at Mon
taya's office on his return to San
Alejo-the following noon, Friday
he found ''The Dark Lily frowning
and in bad humor. The Spaniard
came to the point without his usual
circumspect approach to a sub
ject.
''You hired a man named Col
Inns, no?" he commenced bluntly.
81 had not forbidden this especial,
Mr.. Curtis, but it must not be re-
peated. If the occasion arises to hire
a person locally, I must first inter-
view that person and decide for my
self"
Curt stared, unbelieving, then
hared.
SIN other words, you don't trust
my judgment? Or is it me you don't
trust?"
Montaya's voice became icy.
"Such is not the question. If had
not trust in your judgment I would
not have hired you. This, Mr.. Cur
It's, is an ironclad rule I will not
have broken" He paused, then add
ed, do you know this MANI"
''No. But I had a man I do
know try him out. Menahan- tells
me he's satisfactory. / need such
men badly and my hiring him
doesn't tie my hands. He's not un-
der contract"
Curtis anger showed in his face.
Montaya went on to an equally irk-
some subject, but in milder tone,
as though to forestall an explosion.
''There is another thing. Emilio
tells me you were separated on the
trip"
Curt glared.
''He-ah, feared I would censure
him if I should learn about it. He
told me in order to protect him
self. MIR. Curtis, I told you distinct
ly that Emilio is to accompany
you"
This was too much for Curt. He
broke out holly, ''Senor Montaya, If
I'm in danger want to know It'll
And what the danger is! Standing
bodyguard over me hampers my
movements"
'sBut do not wish to alarm you.
] repeat, you are in no danger per-
sonally-so long as Emilio accom-
panies you'll"
Curt was in a rage when he left
Montaya-such a rage that he
couldn't 60 home and face Lee at
once. Too quick to read him, was
Lee. Nor did he want to 60 to his
office in his present state. So he
had a Tom Collins at the club bar,
then another. With the second drink
he recovered himself to the point of
lighting his pipe and headed for
home. ft
There he found that Lee and the
children were at the swimming pool
behind the clubhouse, had been
while he'd been Tuning to himself
Just few yards away. The cook,
about to climb into a hammock
slung under the house for her mid
day siesta, called the information
to him. Ines was off duty in the
middle Of the day-from eleven to
three-so the house was empty.
Just as well, Curt thought, for
this gave him q chance to inspect
his stock of cartridges. The Incl
dent of the evening before was still
sharp in his mind.
He went to the escaparate in the
bedroom, the tall two-door ward
robe that held his things and Lees.
From the top shelf he took down
the small paper box that held the
rest of this lot of bullets.
He turned it over in his hands,
read the label, spilled the contents
onto the bed. He examined the
shells one by one, but could detect
nothing wrong with them.
The bullets he'd shot simply
hadn't had standard charges. Then
the rest could be faulty, too. While
turning this over in his mind his
hand was pushing the bullets alb
sently into piles Of six, the number
held in clip.
His brows knit. He counted the
piles again. Yes, six in each, and
there were four piles. But here
were three bullets left overt TWEEN
ty-seven bullets on the bedspread.
He thought back. He hadn't shot
the gun since about year ago,
When he'd done some target prac-
<ice using three full clips eighteen