Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1944-12-29
ZGM 0vEERBQ
W.N.U. EleASE

to the community-but let us say
that he was delicately suspected"
Just the wing tips" Zorie sug-
| gested.
! You might compare Mr.. Strom-
berg to the unknown element in
chemical formula" Mr.. Lanning an
swered, His presence is known.
but his identity remains obscure.
United States Army and Navy In
| telligence and the F.B.I. have been
looking for a man who fits the for
mula, but Mr.. Stromberg is so elu-
slve, so ingenious, that he has re-
NAMED virtually unsupported. Who,
after all, would be justified in sus-
pecting man of his position, his
Importance, his avowed American
| ism? And what could be more nat
ural than that a man in his bust
ness should make trips frequently
to Honolulu and the other islands,
| to keep in touch with his many bust
ness interests?"
| he must be very clever, indeed"
Zorle murmured. She was, she be-
lieved, beginning to see the effects
of this prodigious quantity of alcohol
on Winthrop Lanning He was be-
ginning to become just little gar
rulous. 1t was obvious that he was
a great admirer Of Basil Stromberg.
This device, this JY-419," Mr..
Lanning continued, was intended to
trap Mr.. Strombcrg. Berlin had or
6prPH him h rortirirDtn if
sary, in securing it. And tonight
you heard Steve making it impera-
tive"
But if there is no such device
:" Zorie began.
Zone moment, my dear. Let us
give Steve credit for possessing a
resourceful mind. Let US assume
that his superiors are giving him
all the cooperation he requires. Why
can't we safely assume that there
is a case weighing between eighty
and one hundred pounds in a small,
padlocked building at the listening
post? Why can't we assume that it
was arranged for Steve and Pierre
to get in there safely, secure it and
make off with it?"
And then," Zorie added, "to have
been followed discreetly by sailors
who would grab Mr.. Stromberg and
the rest of you when Steve and
Pierre delivered the case?"
"Of counsel" Mr.. Lanning cried.
"Why not?"
Zorle hesitated. The suspicion had
crossed her mind that Mr.. Lanning's
argument was every bit as good as
her own. Every scrap of evidence
that either of them had employed
could be used to prove that Steve
was patriotic American or true
blue Nazi. But her mind wavered
only moment. And regardless of
where the truth lay, her only safe
course was to convince Mr.. Lanning
that she was right and he was
wrong.
Because it's entirely an assurnp-
tion!' Zorie said crisply. why can't
you as safely assume that Steve was
telling you the truth, that a case
containing JY-4l9 is at this moment
in a little padlocked building at the
listening post-and would very short
ly be safely in your possession il
you weren't so skeptical?"
The case" Mr.. Lanning stated,
contains a large collection OF
burned-out radio tubes, useless con-
tanners. and other discarded access
sories."
But you're only assuming that"
MIR 7 aprir1
again, so that Zorie could see
great deal of the yellowed white un-
der his iriscs.
My dear girl, you are being very
obstinate And the important thing
we are facing is not whether Steve
Duncan has been loyal to Berlin,
Germany, or to Washington, D. c.
It's quite obvious that you re in love
with this man. You are doing your
best to restore my faith in him. You
are wasting your time, Miss Corey!
l know | am right"
He again glanced at his watch.
The important thing is, TO have
something ready for Mr.. Strombcrg
when he arrives. I may not be
here. If he does not come soon, |
will have 10 leave you here alone.
l am extremely valuable, not only
to my employers, but to myself"
He got Up. He picked up the bot
tie. 1t gurgled into his mouth longer
than usual. He put the bottle down.
He walked to the kitchen door and
stopped. He looked at Zorie for
some time. He slowly shook his
head.
Sometimes" he said in a puz-
zled voice, Il wonder myself if you
aren't really Anna Boland."
For the first time since dinner.
Zorie smiled-a faint stirring of her
lips at the corners. Her arms felt
numb. For some time there had
been no sensation in her hands. Her
feet were asleep, too. She noticed
again curious, pungent, mouldy
odor that she had first detected when
she had come into this room.
Its your suspicious nature" she
said. ITS what I've been saving.