Evening star., 1951-06-15
CHAPTER TWENTY.

CHAPTER TWENTY.
During the drive home. Sherry
made her mind up about two
things.
p First. she must see with her
own eyes, and know whether
Lucille was secretly meeting Gale
Second, that no matter what
Interior motives Jim Trevor might
have, In taking her on dates, he
was being pretty nice about 1t in
not forcing his attentions on her,
When the taxi stopped at her
apartment. Sherry again asked
Jim TO take her In. After she
checked the house, she came back
to him at the door and said:
you've been very nice to me.
and you've also been very con-
siderate. You know what q tllr-
mol I'm In, and have let me try
to work it out in my own way. ]
want you to know that ! appre-l
ciate it.
She leaned over and kissed hun
gently on the cheek. Jim was
surprised and said so.
'sThank you for the speech and
the kiss. too" he said. Good
night"
He went out without trying to
kiss her again. just as Sherry had
expected. ia
The moment he was gone. she
was In action. She rapidly
changed to d street suit, and leav-I
ing all the lights burning In the
apartment, went down to the
garage and took out the car.
She drove rapidly to the Ray
mond estate, coasted down the
side street hill with her lights OIL.
and parked under some trees q
short distance from the small
gate set in the hedge.
She heard several cars come In
through the main gates and go toI
the house. Then one car left.
'aThat would be Carl leaving, :"
Sherry reasoned. TT ought to be
pretty soon now-if at all.
She did not have long to walt.
The tiny gate opened quietly and
q girl slipped out. Sherry could
not recognize her in the darkness,
but watched her 60 down the side
road toward the main highway.
There was q low whistle, then
the sound Of a starter. and a car
pulled away.
For the first time. Sherry began
to get frightened. She realized it
was very late, and she was alone
on q deserted road.
But she determined to stick it
out.
Tive got to know. I've got to-
know" she said over and over.
It was almost 3 o'clock before
she heard q car stop on the high
way down the hill.
Soon she heard voices, and o.
girl and a man walked up the
roadway toward her.
Sherry could almost hear her
heart beating.
What If they should see me2"
she asked herself.
She tried to think what she
would do.
Don't worry. 1t won't be long,
i It was the girl talking, and It.
was Luciile's voice, beyond a
doubt.
Could the man be Gale?
At the gate, the two embraced.
They stood there for minutes, it
seemed to Sherry.
Then the girl was gone. the gate
closed. and the man started down
the hill.
Almost opposite her car. he Lit a
cigarette.
It was Gale.
Mission accomplished" Sherry
thought fervently. "I hope I get
out Of here safely"
Now she knew. Carl was being
made a dupe in the most despic-I
able plot she could imagine. And
she had the proof. Now she could
act.
Gale went on down the hill. She
heard his starter grind. then he
drove away.
She decided to wait just min
ute or two, In case Lucille might
hear her engine start.
Then she regretted the wait.
A man with a fiashlight was
coming up the road from the high
way.
She slipped down in her car
but he threw the f1ashlight tkRlI
way, came over and discovered her.
Hiding from some one?" he
asked.
Sherry peered over the car door,
trembling In fright.
She was relieved to see it was
o private watchman in uniform.
'.I thought it was a holdup,"
Sherry said quickly. MY car broke
down. I was waiting for a tow
car"
"A likely story" the man said.
"Are you a dick?"
"You mean a detective? Good.
ness, no."
He flashed his light on her IL
cense card, and read her fathers
name.
"a stolen carr" he asked.
"My fathers"
He wrote down the name and
address.
TRY your starter"