The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1943-10-04
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Ruth and Jack had scacely left
Mrs. Platt's house when Adam fl
k nallv got his word with Brenda.
"Ready?" he said.
"Ready for what?' said Brenda
"For me to take you home" "
"Oh. is that what you're going
to do?"
sIf you'll let me-yes."
"But I have my own car here"
Brenda reminded him. "And it's
a long way for you to walk back
from the old Leigh place."
well leave your car in Mrs.
Platt's garage said Adam. "And
:. tomorrow I'll drive out for you
i and bring you in for it. You might
try lunching at the cafeteria"
VERY well, I'll try said Bren-
da. 'Tt's pretty late, though
"City girl shouldn't mind that
81 don't. was thinking Of you.
'Thanks,' said Adam. "But
what have to say to you is more
important than retiring early. Be-
sides, have a definite reason for
wanting to be out at your place
at a late hour
"All right. Let's start"
Mrs. Plat was willing for Bren-
da to leave her car, and as soon
as Adam had backed it into the
garage he helped Brenda into his
own car and they were off.
"I'm waiting," said Brenda, aft
err they had driven some distance.
"You had something important to
say to me-"
eyes," said Adam. I'm going
to ask a big favor Of you
"What is this, anyway Brenda
laughed. "Are you turning the ia
bles or something? People have
always asked Adam-and now"
"And now I'm going to do the
asking. Do you mind very much?"
Certainly not. Go on"
"You know that little tower on
the old Leigh placer" Adam said.
From where you can see for quite
a distance around the country"
Eyes, of course. But what on
earth"
81 want you to spend lot of
time there, Brenda" Adam went
on. GAS much time as you can
spare. In fact, if I remember
right, the tower is large enough
to hold a typewriter table a n d
chair. Couldn't you do most of
your writing up there-glancing up
now and then to see what's going
on-ir the direction OF the o ! d
Johnson farm, for instance?"
adam North, will you come to
the point?" Brenda said, some
what exasperated.
"Okay, I will" said Adam.
Then he told her about the talk
he had had with the foreman and
the other men-all about their dis
cussion as to the advisability of
putting a guard out at the Johnson
place, or along the river. He also
told her something Of what he had
!, heard while down in Washington.
81 see," said Brenda, brighten
ing. ''It sounds exciting"
'You could do lot of investi-
eating without arousing suspicion.
) I mean, you could report any I'M
usual activity you happened to see
along the river near the Johnson
farm. or in and around the house
itself"
"Of course I could"
"And you'll do it?'
'You bet I will!' Brenda turned
toward Adam, her eyes shining.
1--WE been feeling like a Stacker,
not doing anything of real impor-
lance at time like this, and now
1 can really be OF service.
Thanks, Brenda, you're SWELL"
you're pretty swell yourself,
Adam. Thank you for giving me
chance to be Of service" She
looked around at the dark country
side. II never realized before what
danger Linville was in
1T may be nothing at ALL" said
Adam. 'But I think we ought to be
on the alert all the time" He
speeded up the car. "When we get
to your place, I'd like to have a
look at the tower. I want to see if
it's possible to detect light at some
distance. Have you any field
glases?"
NO." said Brenda.
''Well, I have. I'll bring them out
tomorrow.
They reached the Leigh property
shortly afterWard, and Brenda hur-
riedly unlocked the door.
II don't much like the idea of
your living here alone" Adam said
as they entered the hall.
Il don't live alone" said Brenda.
Tive persuaded old Aunt Mary
Mosher to stay with me. She used
to work for the Leigh family, and
still treats me as though l we're
child"
Good" Adam said. 'Have you
had the telephone connected?"
1T starts working tomorrow,
Brenda said. $50 Agent PDQ can
keep in direct touch with you," she
added with smile.
"Okay, but be careful what you
say, Adam warned. This isn't
game, you know. It's serious"
81 understand" said Brenda.
Nov, come on, let's climb In to