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Show llMJAe MAYDAY MYSTERY J'Jt 'fy Oc-tavas Roq Cohere "You've taken everything I hart and now you're throwing me aside, eh?" Pat cast a startled glance at Ver non. He had never credited Max with any such keenness of perception. percep-tion. 'Tut It any way you like. Only for G d's sake, quit whining around me." TU quit, Pat. But I'll start thinking. I guess I've been awful dumb. You haven't. 1 begin to see more and more clearly that you've been wise as h ." Pat Thayer raised his arm threateningly. threat-eningly. "One more word like that, Vernon, and I'll " Max Vernon's eyes were half closed. He spoke In a grim whisper. whis-per. "If you lay a hand on me, Thayer," Thay-er," he said quietly, "I'll kill you 1" For a second the tableau held. Then not knowing why he did so Thayer lowered his fist. He turned away. "Come along, Ivy," he said with a laugh which somehow was not hearty. "Let's get away from the kindergarten." SYNOPSIS nette Peyton, senior at thern university of Mar- osents Paterson Thayer's na to Ivy Welch, seven-ur-old coed, and there Is "Ty scene, ending with blt-iminatlons. "What you getting all heated up about, Max?" "Plenty. Ivy had a date with me, and she didn't have any right standing stand-ing me up." "It wasn't her fault 1 grabbed her and took her off for a walk." "Yeh ! But yo-: didn't know she had a date with me," "Didn't 1?" Vernon looked up quickly, his attention at-tention arrested by the sneer. "Did yon?" "Sure. She told me." "You you're just saying that to let Ivy dowD easy." "I'm saying it because It's true Who do you think you are, Fat Boy to say when a girl shall go with me and when she shan't?" "I know. . . But, Patl Ivy and 1 have been running around together, togeth-er, and we bad a date " "Oh ! to thunder with your dates. If your girl prefers to walk with me, she can do it." Pat's manner puzzled Vernon. He was accustomed to caustic comment from his older friend, but there was an unpleasant, combative ring in Thayer's voice which roused resentment re-sentment even in the breast of the placid stout boy. He knew nothing of the recent scene with Tony Peyton, Pey-ton, he did not know that Pat Thayer was In an ugly mood ; but he did know that while he would stand a very great deal from the taller man he would not tolerate the stealing of his girl. He turued on her. "Are you coming with me, now, Ivy?" She tossed her head. "Certainly not. You've acted silly, and " "I'll say he has!" interjected Thayer. "And how I" Vernon's face flushed. "You keep out of this, Pat." "Who says I must?" "1 do." "Well, I'll be dog-goned. You dol And who are you?" in all their two years of Intimacy. Thayer had never seen Max Vernon roused to anger. He was openly contemptuous of the younger man: did not even credit him with sufficient suf-ficient strength of character to become be-come really angry. But he did not know that herein he was striking Vernon in his most vulnerable spot. Vernon had cut a great swath at Marland with his lavish wardrobe, his big. high-powered car, his brii liant parties and his free spending. But there were few who knew that Max had been more worried recent "111 say so." "And nothing is going to destroy our love? Oh! Pat it's so different. differ-ent. I've run around with boys-just boys-just kids, you know. But 1 never thought I was in love with them. It's just kind of like I'd been saving sav-ing myself always for you, if you know what 1 mean." He looked down at her; his eyes narrowed to pinpoints, his body suddenly taut. "I know, Honey. Now give me one more real kiss and we'll go." Her arms were flung about his neck, and her half open lips pressed hotly against his. Her passionate Idolatry pleased his overweening vanity. She appealed to his ego rather than to his heart. Secretly he was merely amused. It was fun to win the worship of such a pretty pret-ty girl, even if she was a silly kid. What mattered it to him if shortly he'd chuck her? They pushed aside the screen of vines which guarded the entrance to the Bower and walked hand in hand through the glade. Students sprawled under the trees. The spell of the season was upon the college. It was a day for dreams and quietude and romantic reflection. They strolled toward the Main building, skirting the Bowl, and just as they passed the tennis court some one joined them. Maxwell Vernon was not happy. His short, pudgy figure approached with quick, determined strides and he fancied that he looked very dignified. dig-nified. He had a round little body and a round, good natured face. Even those who did not know Maxwell, Max-well, liked him. He had a quick smile for everybody and not ab ene- 'd' A PTE Ft I Continued 18 2- TB' -d always been fond of ad looked up to her. But j Pat . . . even though she Tre his ugly expression, or ii sound of his voice, or the i which he grabbed Tony's ! yas a Pat Thayer she bad lt;fore seen, and she felt SBjJsturbed. illy Pat Thayer spoke, his lighted with fury. jf now, Tony, I've played pjj.your way. So long as you , pbf my affairs, I'll continue iokso. But if you want trou-y!ll trou-y!ll have it and plenty, warning." ron do what 1 ask?" she initeadily. as I d n well please!" ' gj.'.'yton shook his hand from ,all.' She stepped back and he man. She was a slim, rillitant little figure and (J;; blazed with anger and iiiuifinlnation. In liwell." she said coldly. iius-.l!a it right up to me, Okie" ip'!," he rasped. "And if 1 I'd think twice before I ytling-" ppj-ned and was gone with-81 with-81 word or glance. Ivy -lit Hose to Thnvpr flnfl CHAPTER II LARRY WELCH, Bachelor of Arts, Marland 1928, and candidate can-didate for a Master's degree, sat at his desk in Academic hall facing rows of empty benches. From the outside came the drone of a campus gone lazy, and Larry leaned back in his chair, half closed his eyes, and gave himself over to the luxury of formless hut delicious thoughts. One more month and he'd have his Master's degree. One more month and his connection with Mar land would be officially severed. To day of all days It came to Larry Welch most poignantly that he was sorry. For five years his life had been lived on the Marland campus. Until Un-til the preceding June there had been showered upon him all the calcium glare that a great athlete and an outstanding student can receive re-ceive in a small, intimate and pride-ful pride-ful college. ' He was not a large man. At no time had Larry ever weighed more than a hundred and sixty-five. A casual observer would have consid ered him well formed, but rather in dined to slenderness; never suspecting sus-pecting the powerful muscular development de-velopment beneath his loose-fitting clothes; nor the superb synchronization synchroniz-ation of those muscles with a keen emt'r hand In his. i ."',she asked tremblingly, WW she mean? What Is It cker :, ;rraoc intm Instant the man forgot :ain 1 lin li "gorihe said nastily. "Forget J ly than he cared to admit even to himself. His money was gone, or nearly gone. Debt had piled up on him. He was an orphan, and the inheritance which had enabled him to spend so lavishly and which to him had seemed inexhaustible, was now nearly dissipated. Loyally, Max had never permitted permit-ted himself to think where a great deal of the money had journeyed It was queer, though, that in two years of playing cards with Pat Thayer in the privacy of Pat's room there had been a steady flow of cash from Vernon to the older man. Like a good sport. Max put It all down to hard luck. That he had been scientifically and systematically systematical-ly bled by a college crook never occurred oc-curred to him ... or certainly It never had occurred until this mo ment when Thayer's mannei he trayed to him a side of the man's character which ordinarily Vernon would have been too generous to discover. As a matter of fact, Pat Thayer had lost interest in Vernon. Pat had been irterested so long as Max possessed money, but Thayer knew that he was broke. Now that there was no more golden flood to be had he felt that the sooner he rid himself him-self of Vernon's friendship, the quicker he'd be happy. And so he sneered at Max before the girl with whom Max fancied himself in love. He taunted him . . .and, through sheer perversity, stole his girl. Max was livid. For the first time in his life he was racked with a fierce, white anger. "She's my girl," choked Max, "and you know it." "Little boys don't have girls," grinned Thayer. "You're just a child. With less brains than most. I'm sick and tired of you . . . and I won't stand any more of this talk about who 1 shall walk with and when. Get that?" and alert brain. Nor was he handsome "in a classic sense. Like his sister. Ivy, he was Intensely blond rather Norse in type. His cheeks were pink and boyish ; his eyes the blue of a spring sky. Every person in college was Larry's friend, or wanted to be. The freshmen fresh-men who took English from him this year udored him. Frankly, he considered himself a rather poor teacher and was delighted that his freshmen liked him so well that they studied reasonably' hard and did not confront him with the horror hor-ror of flunking anyone. There wasn't a boy or girl of them who wouldn't and didn't work his head off for 'Fessor Welch. But Commencement marked the end. Today that idea struck Larry more forcibly than ever before. While the weather was bleak and damp, Commencement had seemed far away ; now that summer had burst suddenly upon the campus, It seemed that the end was upon him. He almost regretted his refusal re-fusal of an offer from the president presi-dent that would carry with it the position of assistant football coach and associate professor. Yet he knew that he dared not let senti ment sway him. He was twenty-three years of age. In the city of Birmingham a good Job awaited him; a job offering offer-ing him enough salary to live well, save a trifle and plan for the future; fu-ture; the last being something which Larry most ardently desired to do. The future . . . the prospect was delightfully linked with visions of a home and a girl . . . a girl slim and straight and vividly hru nette, a girl whom he had known for three marvelous years and who was the envy of Marland If for no other reason than that she had won the affection of the great Larry Welch. And even as Larry thought of her, the door opened and Tony Peyton Pey-ton entered the room abruptly. She stood framed in the door way, an exquisite little figure, her big, black eyes shining into his, an eager smile od her sensitive lips. He gazed his Idolatry for the full pe riod of time It took the mellow chimes of the old clock in the tower of the main building to toll twelve. Noon 1 Noon of May day ! It was the girl who broke the spell. She closed the door leading into the corridor and advanced toward to-ward his desk. He was smiling eagerly as he rose to meet her. "Believe it or not," he chai lenged: "1 was just thinking of you, Tony." She flushed at the declaration In his eyes. She put both her hands In his and pressed them tightly. "I wish I loved you less, Tony." "Why r "I'd kiss you." For an instant the roguish smile which he so loved played across her lips. Cut it was gone almost as soon as it appeared and thej face she turned up to his was very . very serious. j (TO BE CONTINUED.) I iRU back. For that lustant 2 1'ttle girl again, rather nature woman she fondly TW.erselt to be. She was ,3n Pat Thayer with new ?d eyes. Thayer, cosmo- Oh of the world, expert In J"jlled himself together eiMlhle effort. The vicious, fl fled from his cold gray j.jlips lost their sternness ,i a-rned his attention once he exquisite little crea ya-iad been swept from her f0UjiIs mature suavity and arele smiled gently and arm about her yielding Iloney?" r Jen head nodded and her , rl! up to him. jNTATld she mean, Pat?" ' In control of his emo-ranud emo-ranud his light, bantering 'etnrned. It delighted captivate women even ;0LC '""K nl lacking In ns this child who snug-yitrt snug-yitrt him. le announced. . you mean?" m J maybe." '3. !ig to him passionately. 'ted her. Pat. I thought LJ and she that is you wot ow. Sweetness. You're Jfo mistrust your Pat that you? If some fool girl "viife's KOt n chxUn on 1 ile kissed her again, and jj si! and relaxed. j live are engaged, aren't we, 3baK' rse. Sugarplum. Firmly, happily." jjpi're not peeved because Jj$f. we had decided that it jS be spread around the jjut when the milk Is al igSy, Sweetheart." -Hi won't doubt me any 11 I ' never." Hut she pulled "" a embrace and stared up ;0P couldn't help being Jenl H:ny, though. I've always a(IliifT and looked up to her I"' at. She's the prettiest they say she's got Just " hoik y." peak Hed her hand In his big ,g P' never loved a man be-,p be-,p o! 'at. And I guess no man -t how a woman feels fher woman especially a like Tony who's got ni'. and money and all j ig like she did. and kind prf you know." 'rojj know. But just so long 1 ijierstnnd each other. . . ." .iU 'inderstand you, don't 1, or less." u understand me?" "I Wish I Loved You Less, Tony." my in the world. More than that, he was supposed to be the wealthiest wealth-iest man on the campus. Most of the students laughed at Max but they liked him just the same. They called him a boob but a darned nice chap. There was always al-ways a song on his lips, and a smile. Innocuous, light-hearted, living only In the present and totally, total-ly, unworrled about the morrow, Mnx Vernon was as picturesque in his own way as Pat Thayer was in his. Between the two there existed a friendship which no one even tried to understand. Max Idolized Thayer. Thayer, on his part, openly derided Max . . . and by doing so merely seemed to entrench himself more firmly in Max's affections. Nor was that because Max needed friends. The Marlnnd campus was overflowing overflow-ing with those who genuinely liked the sunny lad and with those who pretended to like him because the strings of his purse were always open. Max liked to be popular and he paid for his popularity. He was weak ... It was generally understood under-stood that one could make him do anything if one only approached him In the right way. But now as he approached Pat and Ivy, there was no smile on his moon-like face. He nodded' to Pat and addressed Ivy Welch. "1 guess this is nice," he said sharply. "Making a date with me and then standing me up for an hour." She turned upon him a wide-eyed wide-eyed baby stare. "Why. Max," she exclaimed, "1 never did I" "I'll say you did." "When?" "Just now. Didn't yon say you'd meet me at half-past ten? Didn't you?" "Did 1, Max?" "Yon certainly did. And 1 don't like to be stood up, either. I guess If yon don't want to keep a date with me you needn't make one." Pat Thayer's sneering voice cut Into the conversation. "Careful, Pat." "Of what?" "Plenty." Vernon's roly-poly fig ure was trembling. "1 don't want to have trouble with you." "I'll say you don't If you were half a man you'd get out when another an-other guy copped your girl." "You meat ?" "Ask Ivy. If she'd rather trot around with you, she's welcome. But I'm not going to share my girl with the college pesL" Max stared at Thayer. Then he looked at Ivy Welch. She was bit Ing her lips. Ivy didn't understand what It was all about. She didn't understand the black mood which possessed Thayer Pat. who was usually so suave and quiet and gentle. Nor had she ever seen Mas Vernon angry. . . . "I I wish you boys wouldn't quarrel." she faltered. "We're not quarreling," said Thayer. "I'm merely tired of Max's sniveling." "Hut I thought you were friends." "W ere is right." Mnx Vernon stepped close. "You're kind of through with me. aren't you Pat?" "Yon said IL" |