Evening star., 1951-06-28
CHAPTER THIRIY-oNE

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE.
Sherry felt quite embarrassed,
riding back to the Office in the
Raymond town car. She had
never been In such an expensive
auto before.
Jim was waiting for her. when
she arrived.
Stepping out. ef?" he chided
her. Pretty fancy. I've been
waiting to invite you out to
dinner"
I'm sorry. not tonight" she re-
piled. u would be pretty sad
company I'm afraid"
Whats the matter?"
I'm worried about dad--and
other things. I couldn't concen-
trate on conversation"
"I'll risk II"
"Not tonight"
MAY I take you home, then?"|
IT want to make q phone call
first"
"I'll wait" he said.
Sherry hurried inside and called
her apartment. There was no an
swer, what has happened to
dad?" she wondered.
She looked through the after
noon mail quickly, checked with
Helen, and left the Office, going
home in Jim's car.
YOU'RE pretty glum," he said.
II wish I could help you"
"I wish you could, too, but you'll
can't" she told him Nothing isl
going to help now, until dad gets
here"
""I'll be home if you need me, II
Jim said as he left. "Call me, any
time" s
Thanks a lot" Sherry said. "I|
appreciate your interest"
She went upstairs and rang
Dru's bell. There was no answer.
Going into her own apartment she
looked in the. mailbox. 1t was
empty.
II can't understand it," she said
aloud. "Why don't I hear from
him? Something must have hap
pened."
She got some dinner, but had
no appetite for it. She sat staring
at the walls. wondering about her
father, wondering about Carl.
A little later she called Dru at
the Golden Pheasant to learn IL
she had any mail from her father.
Nothing had come.
I'm sure low," she told Dru. ssI|
don't know what to think"
He's all right" Dru assured
her. Hes just been delayed.
Don't worry, honey"
/ II wish I could stop worrying, :"
Sherry said sadly.
! She said good-by and hung UP.
Sherry decided she was certain
a1y in no mood to be referee atI
a meeting between hot-tempered
Lucille and respondent Carl. Butt
she had no choice. She had ar-I
ranged the meeting herself.
? At 5 minutes of z she
parked near Carl's boarding
house. Lucille's car wasn't in sight.
She waited for Is minutes. get
ting more nervous by the minute
! What should she do now? Tele-
phone Lucille or go into Carl?
{ She decided on the latter.
The landlady answered the door
and told her to go upstairs. When
she knocked on Carl's door there
was no answer. = -
NOW she was in q panic. She
knew that Carl would be waiting
ito see Lucille. that he wanted this
more than anything else.
! Was he behind the coor-dead? +?
Sherry ran downstairs and got|
the landlady again.
I'm worried about MIR. Brett. VI
she said. Would you please openI
shis door? He may be sick orI
something"
Certainly" the landlady said.
: They went back upstairs andI
Inside together. The room wasl
neat and clean. It had been putt
sin order since Sherry had left.
{ There was no trace Of Carl.
Sherry couldn't ask to look inl
drawers or try to find the gun.
! Did you see him go out?" she
asked.
NO." the landlady said.
Has any one been here toI
see him since I was here this
afternoon?"
Not that 7 know of. I was
away at the store for while"
Now Sherry knew. She was sure
Gale had a hand in this.
She thanked the landlady and
left the house. AS she got into her
car she decided 1t would have to|
be showdown with Gale. She
mad to know that Carl was ali
right.
Sherry debated whether to call
Jim. but decided against it. After
all. Jim was employed by Gale to
build his house. She couldn't nut
EA@~AA4 VA a cPO1 like LQaC.
Luckily I know where he lives ;"
she said, as she sped down the
boulevard toward Gales swank
apartment house.
For the moment she forgot
about her father. Her heart was
pounding, and she opened wide
the window Of the car. so the
breeze would blow directly in her
face.
When she reached Gales apart
ment, Sherry parked her car in
front and went inside.
Gales butler answered the door.
She had seen him at the party,
but. of course, he did not recog-
nize her.
n I'm Sherry Donaldson" she
said, pushing her way past the
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