The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1943-01-19

AT this affalr, as matter OF
unimportant incident, the wag-
ering upon the polo game was
reduced to decently modest
sums, and good humors were
thoroughly restored.
Mitchell Grace had been alb
sorbed in one of the Colonel
sporadic periods of much bust
ness - letters and kilograms
and cables.
On that Sunday, Vaughan
Dunbar arrived at Stone House
at half after noon. He had been
invited for luncheon, and the
polo game, and the party which
Cynthia was giving to celebrate
the victors and console the van
pushed.
He came rather earlier than
had been expected, for it was
Colonel Merriwether's habit to
make his first appearance of the
day at luncheon time, and
luncheon time was invariably !
o'clock. Cynthia, too, was above
stairs, and Vaughan Dunbar, in
fact, to cool his heels in the
darkened study, for the better
part of a quarter hour.
Then Cynthia appeared, and
rang for cocktails, and began a
story about Bill Stewart which
she had neglected TO tell before.
But she did not have the oppor-
tunity to finish it. For Mitchell
Grace entered, bearing tel
egram addressed to Vaughan
Dunbar in the care of Colonel
Merriwether.
The telegram seemed to an
noy him.
why the devil such hur-
ry?" he murmured to himself.
And then, to Cynthia, Il shall
have to run back to the city.
It's a plucky nuisance"
"Oh, dear me-" she said.
He idly handed her the yell
low sheet. Urgent that you
confer with me Immediately.
Every moment of delay costly
Important new developments.
Robert"
But this is just simply hor-
rible,o Cynthia said Can't you
get him on the phone?"
Vaughan Dunbar shook his
head. Cant" he said. I'll just
have to 60. But | shall return
Sometime in the afternoon. If
the game is not over. I'll find
my way to the field. Otherwise,
I'll come back to the house here
If l may"
His hat was still on the table.
He picked it up, touched her
hand for an instant, bowed -
and simply was gone. He walk
ed out of the door and down the
steps and got into his car and
left with a sWiftness that was
actually precipitate Cynthia
Merriwether and Mitchell Grace
were altogether startled. They
stared at each other with half
open mouths.
Holy smoke" said Mitchell
Grace. THE guy didn't even
crouch for his leap, did he?"
Cynthia was breathless. 1T
must have been must have
been terribly important" she
said.
iii bet his royal highness
turns out to be spy. He NOV
ed like the Gestapo was behind
the piano"
Take a cocktail" said Gym
thia - herself picking one up
from the tray on the table.
And Colonel Merriwether
came in to receive the news
that his guest had been called
back on matters of great mo-
ment which the Colonel re-
GREETED in his mild fashion.
They finished their cocktails
and were moving in toward the
luncheon table when Henry
Prentiss called and promptly
got himself invited to share the
meal. But he could not come.
Horse trouble. A pony he need
ed for the game had cast shoe
and cut pastern, and another
pony had coughed twice, and
Henry Prentiss was up to his ell
bows in veterinarians.
He had called to ask whether
Cynthia would come by his cot
tage in the station wagon, to
haul him and his gear to the
field. Which she would do, GER
tainly, and how was the hurt
hand? Much improved. Prac-
tically well. No basis for an ali
bi, at any rate. And h. was NOR
tai glad she wasn't betting
against him - or '7as she, on the
sly?
UNk - IT, ,~.ncL Afraid