Evening star., 1951-06-11
CHAPTER SIXTEEN

the masked man had called, ana
that Gale was apparently "the
boss" in all the mysterious events
that had driven her father out of
town.
What do you know about
Gale?" she asked Dru.
Not very much" she replied.
"He knows the boss. as I told you
before. and always calls him per-
sonally when he's bringing a party
to the Golden Pheasant.
He has plenty of money and
tips well. He always gets the No.
treatment. best table. best watt
ers, best wine"
81 guess he's got some sort Of
q racket. because no one knows
what his business is. Gambling.
perhaps"
''It's strange he would be at
tracted to young girl like Lu-
cille."
1 They really carry torch for
each other. I found that out.
When Lucille can't get word to
him she goes nuts. And he has
called several times to check with
the boss. to see whether she has
been in the cafe"
K so she's just using Carl for
q cover-up."
That's right. She's making one
big sap out of him." Dru agreed.
Gotta run along now. Heavy
date this afternoon. Thanks for
the java"
After Dru left, Sherry sat down
by the living room window and
gazed out at the naples in the
yard, tossing in the breeze. But
she scarcely saw them.
She was trying to make some
sense out of the jig-saw puzzle
presented by the events of the
past few days.
How could Nick Gale be con-
nected with the dead woman,
Elaine Curtis. whom Sherry had
never seen?
How was her father connected
with both of them?
Who were the masked men
working for? Nick Gale. of course.
The telephone conversation had
established that.
Why did they use Jim Trevor's
Office for the dictaphone. and how
was he hooked up with the whole
deal? He was working for Gale,
that was sure. Was he part of
the gang, if there was a gang?
Why did Elaine Curtis want her
father to have that mysterious
key, and what did it fit? Some
thing that contained valuables or
information Nick Gale wanted sol
badly he would send masked men
for the key.
The mystery kept getting more
complex by the moment.
Sherry had a few strings in her
hands, and dangerous ones. How
to unravel them was the prob
lem.
Elaine Curtis key was the crux
of the situation, Sherry thought,
but she no longer had it. And
If Gale had it. he didn't know
how to use it. -a.
Now that she had Gales secret
telephone number, what good
would it do her?
Sherry could ask the questions.
but she couldn't answer many
of them.
What a strange situation, she
thought.
Here she was sitting alone
wondering what it was all about.
Carl was swimming with Lucille.
and Gale was waiting for them
to finish. so he could have his
secret date outside the side gate. /
Her father was some place, and
couldn't write her.
. She got up to dress.
Sherry decided she would go
over to the Office and catch up on
some work there. She wanted to
occupy her mind, somehow, and
try to forget.
She walked over to the Office
and when she arrived found |
Tfevor's Office door open. So she |
went inside to see him.
He was working at a draught-
ing table alone.
Catching up on my home |
work." he said. Had a date last
night when I should have been
working" he added with a smile.
With some hussy, / presume !"
Sherry answered, getting into the \
spirit of the thing.
Heavens, no." Trevor replied.
"She was lovely. We were the |
best-looking couple in Jim's |
Place!"
They both laughed.
Sherry stood looking over his
shoulder as he worked, tracing all
floor plan.
For Mr.. Gale, I presume?"
Sherry said casually.
Right"
Where does the armored vault |
go?"
Sherry thought she saw Trevor's
hand tremble. But if so, he quickly
recovered.
You've been reading too MANY |
detective stories" he said lightly /
and changed the subject.
Sherry heard the telephone ring
in her Office.
That's strange" she said. Who
can be calling on Sunday?"
She hurried next door, opened
the office and got to the phone in
time. 1t was Dru..
Il have something for you," she
said. "Shall I come over?"
"I'll come home" Sherry told
her.
She ran most of the way.
III # II