Evening star., 1942-02-07

his pockets and found himself look
ing into the muzzle Of gun, held by
George Maxwell, the husband OF
Livia's sister, Vera.
ct was only going to roll q Gig
arctic" Bruce said calmly.
Let him have his cigarette" said
Jonas benignly.
They waited while Bruce spilled
the tobacco carefully on the thin
paper.
"Too bad about Earl Dixon, hey?"
Jonas said quietly. Bruce lit his Gig
arctic.
He wanted a confession Of murder
from Jonas. Then he had to get
away. Both seemed hopeless. There
was a window, but 1t was high and
barred. Maxwell guarded the door
There is only one way to deal
with people who stick their nose
into other peoples business" said
AL pleasantly. TOO bad you could
not leave Earl Dixon to die nicely
and without any trouble"
did you kill the policeman"
"And II I did-so what?"
Bruce wasn't sure. If he couldn't
leave this room alive, what differ
ence did any Of 1t make?
Stand over there" Jonas barked.
He jerked his head to one side Of
the room. Go on" he said, as
Bruce hesitated. vainly seeking a
way out.
'They tell me 1t doesn't hurt at
all," Jonas said pleasantly.
Bruce started to walk slowly to the
wall.
Have you a last message for
your-Livia?" Jonas laughed.
Bruce suddenly flung himself on
Jonas. A shot rang out. The ape
mans face twisted grotesquely, and
he pitched forward with outstretched
arms failing the air. The man who
had fired the shot said:
IT aimed at the other guy" He
screamed as Jonas pulled the trig-
ger Of his gun three times. The two
men lay still.
THE cars outside" Maxwell said
10 Bruce, "I'l join you in a min
ute"
Bruce raced the car engine. The
waiting seemed interminable, but
only q minute had elapsed before
George appeared.
George Explains.
They kept to the coastline, head
ing south.
During the fast ride George ex-
planned the mysterious actions that
had worried his wife and Livia. He
was a member of the Jonas gang
and had been double crossed by him
when he left the United States for
Mexico. He had come back for re-
venge, nullifying suspicion by a
scheme for a race-track deal at
Caliente.
''The easiest thing in the world is
to fool a smart guy" George said.
They were now at San Diego. And
this is where you get out"
OF the way?" Bruce said. He
was in a hurry to get back to
Los Angeles. That paper Livia
signed" he said to George.
IF you look in my left pocket
you'll find it," he replied. "It's my
present to her-mine and Vera's.
And now, so long"
He started the car. ''Tell Livia
we'll be back soon-when this blows
over"
Bruce watched him drive away.
He hired a car to take him back to
Los Angeles.
It was 2 am. when he arrived
At Livia's house. It was in dark
ness. He decided to let her sleep.
His good news could wait until
morning.
The early newspaper editions car
ried the account of the killing of
Jonas and the discovery of an un-
signed document denouncing Jonas
as the murderer of the dead police
man and generating Earl Dixon.
There was no mention of Maxwell
or Bruce.
Livia's face was pale and there
were dark circles under her eyes.
TITS no use," she said as Bruce
briSkly pulled up the Venetian
blinds In her bedroom, I'm out.
called Charles last night"
you're going to call him. right
back now-and tell him you'll be
ready to work-and I mean work
at 8 this morning."
He gave her the document she
had signed for AL Jonas.
II think" he said, smiling at her
expression Of wonder, II think we
can burn this now. Have you a
match?" She pointed silently to a
box on the table. And watched the
paper vanish into blackened ash.
Bruce Calls Studio.
did Jonas" she began.
Hes dead" Bruce told her.
"Shot by one Of his own men" He
decided to say nothing about
George.
How do yon know-and the
paper?" He handed her the news
paper.
What a nightmare" she sighed.
ouG yOu otA11 41dFCAA CAP4oAAASS
about the paper. How" He
looked at his watch.
You'll be late If you don't hurry.
I'll call Fordyce."
What dye think q studio is
something that can be pushed
around every time q girl changes
her mind?" Charles said over the
phone. He was exasperated. Who
cid Nolan think he was calling him
20 damned early in the morning?
''I tell you everything is all right,
Bruce said.
There was still Dixon himself
to be reckoned with, Of course, but
this now seemed easy. And whether
he lived or died, Livia would now
Re protected.
IF you don't put Livia back in
she picture I'll marry her today"
Bruce said.
Go ahead" Fordyce said. But
Bruce knew he had touched the
weak spot in the directors armor
LET me talk to her." Charles said
abruptly.
II understand you're getting mar
tied today" he said to her. Livia
laughed. It was the first laugh from