Show With c IBY SA RA CH R I STY L i 4 rR CHAPTER 32 Sherman Gordon turned swiftly on Selwyn MarshI Marsh I I do sound like a fool no doubt Falling head over heels in love with witha a n girl at first sight a girl I dont don't know the first thing thing- about And don't dont want to Why lIr Mrs S Steele eele cor cornered cornered cor me one day to tell me Well Veil she intimated that there must must- be pe something funny about Thora taking a Job here and andall andall all that How anybody could look into that girls girl's eyes and not know A CIA womans woman's intuition works overtime ov ov- ov once it gets going Marsh MarsI I moralized Youre right about Miss Dahl Dahi Sherm I can an i He He caught hImself up sharply as if he had I Isaid said more than he intended Of course I am Gordon don said I quietly Ive an Idea that you yot I know enow more about her than any body else lse And I wouldn't ask you yot youa a thing I dont don't have to Just the same sam Im I'm giving you due notice If f I can win that girl Im I'm going to Sh She's s 's the only one who can stop ne me To 10 his surprise there was no sarcastic sarcastic sarcastic sar sar- castic rejoinder S Selwyn when he hel spoke said In an almost subdued voice I I Go ahead son Im I'm not stopping you Or helping you either Thanks Selwyn Gordon gave a relieved smile I didn't want ant you to doubt my Intentions Whatever Whatever What ever anybody else around around here thinks d doesn t bother me If Tho Thora a lodges any complaint you'll know what Its It's all about Yes EYes Ill I'll k know ow V ell Ill I'll t toddle on Ill I'll be around later to take on for a round of g golf lf Hes He's Scotch enough to make me look like an amateur He can shoot too How do yo you know kno Marsh ask asked asked ed d sharply Why I I Iwas was showing him blin through the old geni gentleman's emans eman's gun gUll room roon one ope d day clay y regular arsenal you know There was at ai an aut automa automatic nia- nia tic in hi the b German Gennan make I think Anyway its it's ope one dad lug lUK ged home on or ls last trip a across ro s. s Our Out friend was quite keen about It it seem seemed d to know it ii iwas was something some some- thing h. h new w. w First time I h had d seen een him really ealy enthused so J dug up pome orne cartridges and ald suggested we wego wego go out behind the barn and try it t. t You wouldn't believe belle the designs he put in a tin can at 50 paces Come here Selwyn l lowered his voice You seem to know something about affairs of t the he heart Sherm Do you think Wilma Vilma loves that fellow Yes I l' do Selwyn I 1 wondered I dont don't know her well enough to ask her hel but 1 I t thought hought she might have taken you i Into nto her confidence I think may mayO be youre you're right She's different than I ever saw her before More quiet Id I'd say thoughtful if if it was anybody else Its It's queer What is Why I I can say this to you We Vet dont don't know khow the first thing about that fellow I cant can't figure that Wilma Vilma ever would take up With ith anybody that wasn't the right sort But she's young oung after all Ive I've been wondering a little if I didn't owe it to all of us Wilma VUma in P particular to hunt him up You get what I mean I suppose there are ways You should know being a lawyer lawver Yes there are ways Gordon hesitated Could you shop around a little for me meV Sorry Selwyn but I COU lt I dont don't want to be bc stuffy about It but Wilma and I are too good friends for that Shed She'd never forgive for forgive give me if she thought Id I'd turned Sherlock behind d her back I IT T ats at's your idea eh You'd let her take a chance chances before you'd help her You know now I wouldn't Sl Sleuth ing bIg is out of my l line e anyway Gordon smiled anY But Ill I'll give you the a address of some people who have ha done a a lot of work for fol us They're dep dependable If you like Ill I'll make a ri contact there for you I I s suppose they're in the city Marsh growled All AU rIg right t. t Let me have nave the address Im I'm going in to to- morrow H lie He pushed a dum duni pad in Shermans Sherman's direction op and watched him scrawl a name and address hastily 1 fh s. s If you dont don't mind mInds Id Id I'd like UkE to io get to work Sure Ill I'll be se Ee seeing yo you often Mar Marsh h put put the address in hj hl wallet then than reach reached d down to rub rth h the satiny ear eal of the dach dachshund hund who ho jl Just it th then thi laid d his is stubby p paws pawson w won on his owners owner's knee P he observed d dryly dry dry- ly Jy If you have any children running run ning abo about t my ce to you is to I ignore them qt 4 A never-ending never source souie of or delig delight t tto to Thora Dahl was the old old-fash ionea flower flover garden at Far ar Acres She v would uld have known without being told that It had for many years been the pride arid and C care cale of little Mrs Myron The nea neat paths and prim beds beds' looked like her Thora rhora ora thought though MUch of her own spare time was in Its spent upkeep upkeep up up- keep and now in the late sum summer summer S mer it was gay with blooms This Tills Sunday morning she ha had arisen almost at her usual hour hou and had gone out to gather fresh fres flowers for the house She was seated on one end of a rustic rustle bench benc beside a heap of asters sorting them In various color combinations combinations when she was aroused from her reveries by the sound of astep aste astep on the path She glanc d over her shoulder t to find Alec Babbas watching he her heran r with an amused smile He e. e was wa coatless and wearing You are a very bUs busy lady so s early in the morning he suggest suggested ed helping himself to a seat scat o othe on the other end of f the bench H He took a silver lighter from his pock ct and turned it aimlessly in hi his s slim fingers His gra gray eyes were fixed on Thora's Thoras face but bilt she fel felt t that they were peculiarly giving no Inkling whatever whatever whatever what what- ever to the thoughts that might t be be in his mind tr You are up and about rather rathe r early yo yourself arent aren't you sh she asked with a slight smile returnIng to her task I Ito Frightfully Wilma wanted to golf I fancy I was a bit optimistic in thinking she would show up But here I amIt am amIt I It It Is a nice morning for playing play play- Ing Thora agreed Not bad Dont Don't you go in fo for r golf gol I never haven have Ive been wondering w what wt t you do with yourself I never get a sight of you except at the table Do you hide b between t tween meals Of or course not I have ve my work to attend to Rather a pity You have eve eve evenings off fC I dare say Oh I have various odds an and ends to attend to Thora Toora decided that this particular topic topia h ad beep been discussed isec sufficiently She c changed change the tile subject by asking How do you like this country Mr Babbas Well uWe 1 enough he answered r d. d Jt its it's no new rew experience for me he ac ad Ive been ov over r on on thi s g good many time before re Have Hav some Interests Interests' that require look after from time tipe to tIne time R Rather Rathe Rathea ther thera a bore bor but Jt t gives gie on one something to o do 49 9 now flOW and nd then Is your you hoin i around here No I have Uv lived d in the west st st. until rather lately Ah Ol Out t a among ong the e Jolly joH old Ind Indians ans a arid and d cowboys This Thi chap Gordon was t toiling telling me you have quite a way with hors horses I like to ride yide Cant say that I Ido do I like a fas fast t car But Id I'd rather o around on my own on feet when Im I'm on the move mO Horses are okay to bet on youre you're If If- youre you're on the Inside TO BE CONTINUED |