Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1944-10-06
CHAPTER Nv

81 don't recall just what I said,"
his grandfather answered vaguely.
"But it's all right"
ut means I'll lose my job!'
"What of it? I have better ideas
for you"
''On that plantation" Paul asked
hoarsely. He was breathing hard.
Eyes. There's fine opening for
you-better than the one l men
toned"
II don't want i'll" Paul cried.
"Well, you're going to take it
Inn? You have just time to pack
and meet us at the plane. Look at
Miss Corey" he said, smiling be-
nevolently at Zorie as if she were
the final proof of something. "She's
all ready"
Aunt Hannah's voice broke in, with
sleepy irritability: Ready for
what?"
She came down the stairs, hold
ing her pink quilted dressing gown
about her short, plump figure.
This is my Aunt Hannah-Ad-
miral Duncan" Zorie murmured.
Ready for WHAT" Aunt Hannah
repeated aggressively.
GOOD morning, Aunt Hannah"
Paul said in a sardonic voice.
"My grandfather has just decided
to take Zorie to Hawaii"
Aunt Hannah stared. "What for?"
"She's agreed to help me write my
memoirs" Admiral Duncan an
sWered.
She stared at him, then at Zorie.
"How-how long will it take?" she
gasped.
"At least year." said Paul. cts
a dandy job"
but what's to become of mc?"
Aunt Hannah walled. 81 can't af-
ford to run this house without the
the assistance that Zorie gives me-"
"Rent a smaller house." said the
admiral coldly.
'Why should II" she cried. Her
nose had become pink as it always
did when she was angry. "Zorie is
perfectly happy here. She's quite
satisfied. IL won't let her go. I've
always sheltered her. She's never
Travelled. She's too-too young-too
innocent. She's"
"How old is she?" the admiral
CURLY interrupted.
"She's twenty four" Paul an
swered.
'She can legally do as she
pleases," the admiral said firmly.
"She is coming with us to the Is
lands-hm?"
''She cannot go!" Aunt Hannah
cried. "She has obligations! She
has very responsible position with
the head"
"She resigned it," the admiral
CURLY cut her off.
"You have no right coming in here
and interfering in our lives!"
"You are" Admiral Duncan said
testify, "a meddlesome woman with
nothing to say about it."
Listen to them!" Zorie marveled.
mot one of them is considering me
or what I want. They're pushing
me around as if were a puck in a
hockey game"
Aunt Hannah at this moment ut
tered small scream. She was
staring past the admiral at the
stairs. The admiral turned and
glanced at the stairs. Paul was
looking at the stairs. Zorie turned
and looked.
A man was slowly coming down.
In his left hand was one of Zorie's
suitcases. The other was Rugged
under his right elbow, while, with
his right hand, he was balancing on
his shoulder her small trunk.
Zorie swayed. She thought for a
moment she would faint.
The man descending the stairs was
the big, bronzed, blue-eyed young
man to whom she had talked in the
rain. He was smiling mysteriously
at her, with one eyebrow up. He
looked sinister
Put that luggage down." Aunt
Hannah ordered
Put it in the car" the admiral
said in the same calm but authorita-
tive voice he might have used on the
historic occasion, many years pre-
viously, when he had issued his his
toric order, when you have the
range, Lieutenant Horton, you may
let those torpedoes 60"
The mysterious young man walked
leisurely past Aunt Hannah and out
of the door.
"Zorie!" Aunt Hannah bleated.
"Who," Zorie asked huskily, sis
that?"
WED better be moving" Admiral
Duncan said cheerily, 1--WE mustn't
miss that plane-hm?"
"Who," Zorie repeated, "is that?"
Thin Tipped, Paul answered:
Lets just call him an evil force in
motion. That is my brother Steve"
"Zorie!" Aunt Hannah whim-
pered. "You can't desert me like
-this!"