The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1944-02-04

bCA W IIlC. AdVCsl SOt uiC SlloA 70
but he thinks l have. That means
She hesitated. Some one else
has. And maybe we can save the
pieces for you. Listen. We've got
to get hold Of Pete Wilcox. And
gosh we can't phone; he might
hear u.s."
She looked at her watch. 1t was
after twelve. Sue stared at her
dunbly.
"Now look" Anne said suddenly.
"You put a chair under the door
knob and go to bed. I'm going out
and find Pete. I'll get back if
can, but if I can't I'll 60 over to
your house and stay until morning.
Have you got key, and what's the
nurses name il / have to explain?'
Maria" Sue answered weakly.
She fished down in her pocket.
She held out the key. what are
you going to do, Amer"
81 don't quite know. It all de-
ponds. You just stay here and sit
tight. If the phone rings say I've
died or Pm taking a bath or some
thing. Do you understand"
Sue nodded.
Sand don't worry, sweetie. Ev-
erything'n work out"
Anne went to the window over
looking the ocean and leaned out.
The tiled roof of the bar was five
feet under her sill. It sloped up
gently and down again toward the
sea wall. Beyond it was the sandy
ocean beach. She could get out all
right. Getting back in was some
thing else again. Still, getting out
was more important than getting in.
"Don't worry if I don't come
back" she whispered. "Just stay
here till you hear from me-"
She hung her bag over her Shout
ders, slipped off her pumps, fas-
tened them inside her belt and
swung her feet over the ledge.
eff I get arrested I'll phone
you"
She gripped the sill and let her
self down, the stucco grating against
her knees, felt her feet touch the
uneven tiles, and let 60 the win
dow. She crept to the end Of the
roof above the terrace. Her heart
rose. The trellis with the bougain-
villea over it was near enough for
her to catch hold Of if the ter
race was empty. She listened,
reached out, caught it and swung
herself across, climbed down,
brushed herself off and slipped
around to the sea wall.
you're being a fool, Anne" she
thought. She took her pumps off
her belt, put them on, closed her
eyes and jumped down onto the cool
firm sand to where the street came
to dead end in the ocean. She
hurried up under the palms to the
broad avenue in front of the hotel
and crossed the street to the taxi
stand.
ssTake me-"
She stopped. The driver was look
ing at her oddly-as well he might,
she thought. He'd look odder than
that if she went to the Bachelor Of
fcers' Quarters at Fortress Ell
Moro.
"-To the Escambron, she said
It was hard to remember what a
lady did or didn't do in Latin coun-
tries. The Valeras would probably
have very rigid ideas on the subject.
She got out. For an instant she
hesitated, and then hurried inside
and to the telephone.
Her heart sank as she wondered
what she could do if he was not
there. She waited. Suddenly his
voice came.
"Pete-this is Anne. I'm at the
Escambron. Can you come quick
ly? I'll be outside on the walk, about
halfway down. I've got to see you.
Pete! Are you there? It's Anne,
Pete is anything the matter?
Please, Pete! I've got to see you'll"
It was five minutes to six when
Anne came out of the dining room
of the Granada into the lobby.
At six o'clock Mr.. Taussig came
down the stairs. He had his green
guide book and his brief case in his
hand.
"Good morning." she said bright
ly. IT thought you'd forgot. I've
been I'D an hour and had break
fast"
The slight frown on Mr.. Taus-
sig's face cleared. Splendid" He
glanced up at the clock. where is
Mrs. Porter?"
"She's asleep, poor kid"
A car had come up the drive and
stopped under the portico. She rec
ognized Diego Gongaro's black linn
ousine.-Steady, old, girl, she told
herself sharply.
What time will we be back, do
you think? I'd like to leave her a
note"
.Better make it late, and if we're
back early it will be pleasant sur
PRISE" said Mr.. Taussig. "About
five."
D. Gx,o o'clock Mr. Taucc;o Az