Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1944-12-22

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goes on, you learn many tricks,
many ropes was about to say
that Amber was an individualist,
too, but easy to reach through her
emotions. She very much enjoyed
playing the part gave her, which
was that OF the lovely siren. In an
assignment of this nature, we al
ways have girl of her type along"
1.-THE first time Amber saw me-"
Zorie interrupted, "she stared at me
as if I were a ghost. l know now
she thought was Anna Boland."
MIR. Lanning chuckled. Eyes, you
gave her dreadful shock"
IF she spent her life in Mar
Unique, how did she know Anna Bo-
land?"
"She did not know Anna, Miss
Corey. Amber was a resident of
Martinique, but she spent a large
part OF her life in the States. At
least, she went to finishing school
and college there. Miss Boland was
pointed out 10 her twice-once in a
New York night club, and once in
Martinique. A large part of the
treasury of France-something like
four hundred million, in gold bull
lon-is stored there, you know.
Anna Boland was in Martinique, do
ing little shopping.
"1n spite of being British agent,
Anna Boland was Amber's ideal.
Anna was beautiful, clever-and a
witch. She was quite in the tradi-
ton. She had no conscience. There
was no trick in the bag she hesitated
to use. To her, love was a weapon
or a tool. Men lost their heads
over her. Amber, in this assign
ment, tore page from Anna Bo-
lands book. She used love as
tool. At least, she tried.
81 instructed her to worm her way
into Steve's confidence, and, of
course, the surest way to worm
your way into mans confidence is
to make him believe that you've fall
en- in love with him."
"She did it very WE'LL" Zorie muir
INJURED.
"She was always jealous of you.
She knew that Steve had fallen in
love with YOU"
"Thats absurd" Zorie said.
Mr.. Lanning shrugged. perhaps!
l do not know. Love is a luxury
that l cannot afford. l only know
that Amber would not have qualified
as secret agent. She was too hui
man."
"Or too wise" Zorie murmured.
Winthrop Lanning's eyes were
partly lidded. He looked more cyni-
cal than usual. Il think you would
do marvelously in this work because
your innocence is such an excellent
cloak for your cleverness."
"I'm afraid I'm too human, too"
Zorie said. Besides l could never
work with you. You're too suspi-
cious, too obstinate"
I'm this work, my dear girl, suspi.
cion is
"Ah, yes, I know! The one firm
foundation! But I've listened to you
argue. I've heard your opinions.
You're what we call, back in Ellery-
ton, conclusion-jumper. I've sus-
pected this for some time, Mr.. Lam
ming. Now I'm sure. Suspicion is
no longer your slave-it's your mas
teri"
Winthrop Lanning started from his
chair. He was suddenly wary. Just
what are you saying, Miss Corey?"
"I'll give you a perfect example,"
Zorie quickly answered. "You hon
estly believed that what Paul Dun
can said on the lanai tonight was
the truth"
at was the truth"
at was a malicious lie! But you
leaped at it because you were so
willing to be suspicious! If you
hadn't become the slave of suspi-
cion, you would not have believed
it,"
! MY dear Miss Corey" he an
swered with his most urbane smile.
II am not a fool. Perhaps l am
always suspicious, but am always
clever, too. Sometimes l am al
most psychic. Steve has been clev-
er-altogether too clever. He has
had me fooled a great deal of the
time. He almost had me fooled to-
night"
do you realize" Zorie stopped
him, that Paul did not know what
he was talking about?"
why did he say it?"
"He and I happened to overhear
your conversation behind the hedge
with Steve and Pierre-your plans
for tonight. Paul said what he did
merely to upset Steve's plainly de-
stroyng your trust in him."
Mr.. Lanning was staring at her
curiously. This is most interest
ing, Miss Corey, but think you are
being little too clever yourself.
Your fiance was very convincing.
He accomplished his purpose nicely.
But my psychic sense tells me that
your fance was telling substantially
the truth"
| "Whv2" Zorie demanded "Re-