Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1944-11-03

] AAS . iSo1S gave q olShSiiAi6
thump. YES" she said. She hest
tated, then went on: ''I'm helping
Admiral Duncan with his autobiog-
raphy."
"Really!" Mr.. Lanning said.
THAT must be very interesting"
His smile was mocking. His eyes
were narrow and knowing. Zorie
had sense of something mysterious
and threatening and ugly happen
ing just under the surface.
| He spoke rapidly in French. She
looked at him blankly.
"Oh! Don't you understand
French?" he said.
mo, Mr.. Lanning."
That's odd," he said. "That's
very odd"
"Why?" Zorie gasped.
"You might have a command Of
SO many tongues!"
but tell me why?"
"Well," he said, laughing. "mys-
terry is always intriguing"
Someone has stopped beside the
table.
miss Corey" Mr.. Lanning said,
in his graceful way, this is my
friend-my companion-Pierre Saw
oyard"
How do you do?" Zorie said
family.
Pierre savoyard said nothing. He
stared.
miss Corey" Mr.. Lanning said,
"is helping Admiral Duncan write
his autobiography. She says it is
very interesting work"
Truly" Pierre Savoyard said.
He had a soft, low voice.
Zorie felt that she was on trial.
She wished Steve or Paul would
come along. She was frightened.
Beyond Mr.. Savoyard she suddenly
saw Amber Lanning.
Amber was sleek and beautiful in
midnight blue. She was walking
slowly past. Her eyes were mar
rowed. She nodded Slightly and
walked on. The nod, Zorie realized,
was meant for her uncle. He had
evidently given her some kind of sig
| nal.
Zorie felt chill dart along her
spine. Her mouth was so dry she
could hardly swallow. The waiter
had replaced her empty cocktail
| glass with still another full one. She
drank it hastily and glanced at Mr..
Lanning, then at Pierre Savoyard.
For an instant she saw in his face
determination. 1t made him more
sinister than ever.
He said in his deep voice, at has
been so nice meeting you. Miss Cor
ey." He walked on. He disappeared.
Amber had disappeared, too.
Zorie felt dizzy. The room had
started to revolve. She squeezed
her eyes shut and gave her head
little shake. She opened her eyes
She still felt dizzy.
"Mr. Lanning," she said, IT have
date. You'll have to excuse me-"
Her voice sounded thick, the words,
fuzzy.
Those Martins! How many had
she had? Three? Four? Five?
Her face felt cold and damp.
Mr.. Lanning was rising. She could
not see his face too clearly.
She stood up, hoping she could
still walk. She made her way I'M
certainly to the door and went on
deck. The cool, strong sea breeze
felt wonderful on her face. She
went to the rail
The phrase walk it off" went
through her mind. There was moth
ing to do but walk it off.
She started up the deck. Every
thing had a CLASSY look A man in
a white coat and black trousers
was slowly coming along the deck
toward her.
She was sure it was Paul. He
stopped few feet away from her.
She could not see his face very
clearly. but she saw the anger in
his clear graygreen eyes.
''Wil you please explain this?"
he said grimly.
WHAT" Zorie asked
"Look at you. You can hardly
stand up! You'd better take a good
long walk"
with your" Zorie asked.
whats wrong" he said savage
ly, with Mr.. Lanning?"
did you see u.s."
Eyes, l saw you"
i Hes horrible mani"
but the type you evidently pre-
fer"
He walked rapidly away Zorie
stood looking after him. hurt and re-
sentful. But he was right. She
shouldn't have had those drinks with
Mr.. Lanning She would never do
such thing again.
She loved Paul, and she wanted
to please him. He carried himself
so well, she thought; he had such
fine shoulders, such a beautiful
head.
She continued along her uncertain
course. She felt confused and fright
ened The things Mr.. Lanning had
said, the questions he had asked,
had been meaningless, yet full of
dark significance. 1t was evident
that he suspected her of being some
one else; that his niece and Mr..
Savoyard also suspected it.