Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1944-12-29
CHAPTER XVI

ing your wits with an expert. l adj
Inire you for what you are attempt
ing to do. I admire your skill. You
are one of the clevercst girls have
ever known. With little training,
you could become one of the most
talented women in the profession"
Il don't know" Zorie said inno-
Gently, what you're talking about"
He laughed genially. That, my
dear, is Answer B. It is always
good, when delivered in just that
way Miss Corey, am really
very serious about this. Ii you can
make up your mind-if you can per-
suade Mr.. Stromberg that you are
heart and soul in favor of our cause,
if you can show him little of this
cleverness-I would back you up.
And you would walk out of this cab
in, alive and free"
How" Zorie asked, could you
back me up?'
He bent toward her. His express
sion was very serious. would you
have to be lying? Miss Corey, l
AipNC pol lGIIl WI u W SlSt-
where. l badly need someone to re-
place Corinne. l am sure you would
be precisely the person I need. The
work is interesting. Your salary"
Mr.. Lanning relaxed again. He
was sadly shaking his head mo.
I can see by your eyes that Mr..
Stromberg would never be con-
WINGED. You would be lying And
Mr.. Stromberg has a talent for
squeezing the truth from liars as
these grinding mills squeeze the syr-
up from cane. Perhaps there are
other approaches. am so anxious
TO help you. l will be most un-
happy if you do not live to see a
Waimea sunrise
Il am not in a position to argue
with MIR. Strombcrg," Zorie said
quietly. 'You'vc given me no argu-
ments. don't even know the back
ground. And I'm still very skeptical
of the conclusions you've jumped
to-"
I'm respect to Stcve?"
She nodded. Yes. Please be-
leve mel am not in Steve's con-
fidence. know very little about
this. But l am not convinced that
Steve has been disloyal to you. Will
you consider the evidence as l see
it?"
Il will Gladly, my dear"
Very well. Everything was 60
ing smoothly, according to plan, un-
til Paul made his announcement that
Steve was still in the United States
Navy. Did he prove it? No. You
were all on edge tonight. l sensed
that. The first mouse you saw, you
all went to pieces. Paul supplied
the mouse"
Just moment" Mr.. Lanning in
terrupted. Let me give you the
background, very briefly. Let me
tell you quickly about Berlin and
Madrid. Do you know that Steve
got into Germany strictly on the
strength of his court-martial? l am
now certain that that CONTINENTAL
was trick
But can you prove ito" Zoric
asked
No. But there are other points.
In Berlin, he enlisted the sympathy
and confidence of certain men DOW
ertul in our party, but when your
country virtually broke with Ger
many. Steve was suspected more
and more
"Why?"
eve believed he was obtaining Sc
crets from certain woman who was
close TO one of our leaders,"
But did you prove it? Can you
prove anything. Mr.. Lanning?"
Il can, indeed, Miss Corey. Steve
was ordered on ten minutes notice
to leave Germany. was instructed
to scrape his acquaintance, find out
what I could-kill him if believed
he had betrayed US. That was my
sole assignment"
But you didn't kill him."
Steve Duncan Is very clever
young man. In Lisbon, managed
to meet him. l introduced myself
as fellow martyr of Naziism. |
had spent few months, six years
ago, on this island working as a
field luna. That was why was
selected for this assignment. 1t gave
us bond. We were old pals!'
Did you work on Strombergs
mo. ! did not know Stromberg
then. Steve and had two weeks in
Lisbon, waiting for a passage to
New York. Steve spent this time
convincing me he loved Germany
more than life itself. He is such
persuasive rascal"
Zorie wondered if Steve had sue
ceedcd in persIading Pierre Savoy
ard not to kill him.
"Can you prove to me that he was
lying?"
eyes, Miss Corey! One night, in
Lisbon, he mentioned having learned
from a secret but authoritative