Show FREDERIC F VAN DE WATE 11 0 PM W VAN U OF ac ae TV i C CHAPTER XII continued 11 our neighbors were coming back I 1 rose to let them pass before she answered me and when we were seated again she briefly and quickly patted my hand when the curtain fell and the house awoke I 1 must have shown my thought for allegra looked at me sharply as I 1 took up her cloak and she said you are a good egg you know I 1 think youve suffered a lot tonight I 1 did not tell her how much or why I 1 only answered not at all she wrinkled her straight little nose at me and jeered spoken like a gentleman of the old school mr wagner got you down and you know it he helped me though if any comfort its more than that I 1 told her and she glanced at me again as though she expected to find some thing ilmy eyes that was not there we moved with the crowd into the lobby and to the street beyond where the starters whistles stabbed through the racket of cars and at last found a taxicab taxi cab I 1 helped her in and gave the driver her address must we she asked as I 1 sat down beside her I 1 was a little stupefied by too much music on an empty stomach I 1 said you ask the bl indest questions and you allegra said dont seem to have any human feelings at all arent you ever hungry or anything anything im practically everything so what all right she snapped if you insist on being led instead of leading me astray id like to go to minos mines minos somewhere I 1 had heard that name she misunderstood my hesitation and tried so tactfully to reassure a poor employee of her aunt that I 1 smiled one of the things I 1 want most in the world at present is a chicken sandwich and a seidel of beer my child I 1 told her your ambition touches me it does indeed give me the address I 1 the cab swung east at my new order I 1 asked why should minos mines mean anything to a boy from the country and what it she answered maybe youve heard grove or me speak of it he likes it and he used to take me there a lot perhaps she added and I 1 thought her voice grew tighter hell be there tonight be swell I 1 said as heartily as I 1 could but she marked the hollow sound you dont like grove and its my fault no I 1 answered it s probably mine well go somewhere else it if rather she said meekly 1 I dont know why I 1 said minos mines if grove burned up with delight at seeing either of us but I 1 dont know I 1 just havea have a hunch always play them I 1 advised her right she said and her ber head came up again well do just that mino himself sleek as a black cat ushered us into a wide low ceilea chamber where a band presided over a square of dance floor about the polished rectangle that dancers were quitting tables were packed and beyond them along the walls were high backed stalls dance allegra whispered to me I 1 shook my head the smell of food was hard tor for a starving man to stand I 1 well sit over by the wall then mino she told her guide has has mr paget been in tonight mino seemed desolated that mr paget had not I 1 did not share his grief I 1 gave our order to the waiter and prayed inwardly that he would be quick qu ick from the center of the dance floor a master of ceremonies spoke amid gusts of laughter and retired as two lines of girls pranced out on either side of the band platform the midnight show allegra said lifting her voice above the din do you mind 1 I can take it or leave it I 1 think she mocked any sort of music please you have you no savagery in your breast at all mister if I 1 had not matched her own deliberation when food arrived she would have had her answer allegra lifted her seidel and grinned at me across it heres luck she called through the racket suddenly the music paused the dancers held a complicated formation and before applause rattled I 1 heard a voice in the booth next to ours the band reviving blotted it out the dancers stamped and whirled I 1 sat with my seidel still halfway half way to my lips reason told me I 1 was mistaken my ears defied it its not poison allegra said I 1 could not answer her I 1 was back at the switchboard at the morello and the wheel had just come off miss agathas chair and I 1 had left a voice that identical voice to get its own number while I 1 rushed to the old ladys aid but the owner of that voice was dead I 1 must be mistaken and yet I 1 knew I 1 was not I 1 was not likely ever to forget the thick foreign cadences I 1 managed to smile at my astonished companion and slid out from my place will you excuse me just for an instant I 1 muttered and without waiting for reply stepped around the high back of my settle to the next booth CHAPTER XIII I 1 hit my foot against the wine bucket and I 1 said excuse me instinct supplied the words thereafter I 1 had no others in the booth where I 1 had heard the dire voice raised sat lone and lyon ferriter I 1 had rushed for an avenue to the end of mystery and had slammed up against a blank wall it if my face were stupid with amazement abe uie Fer were calm lone smiled though I 1 thought her eyes widened there was no flaw in lyons greeting my dear chap he said and rear reaf pleasure sounded in his easy voice this is splendid sit down he half rose and held out his hand I 1 took it instinct still controlled me my aly mind was crawling from the wreck of another collapsed hope perhaps I 1 was beginning to have delusions maybe I 1 had only imagined the guttural voice that I 1 had heard once before as the herald of murder I 1 managed to smile and released lyons cordial hand thanks I 1 said inanely 1 I just wanted to say hello but sit down lyon urged making room do lone begged A glass of wine her brother went on and signaled a waiter youre a godsend the fact is that were killing time rather than his lean face wrinkled in a faint grimace go home were also waiting for everett who was to meet us here we find minos mines rather more soothing than what the papers call cal the murder flat louis another glass thanks I 1 said again and shook my head I 1 did not dare inspect now the fresh horde hoide of doubts that cried for attention the most I 1 could do was to cover up and I 1 tried to keep my voice and my face quiet as I 1 went on im in the next booth with miss paget I 1 thought I 1 recognized your voice I 1 hoped that by some sound or sign he might show alarm the thick voice must have come from this booth I 1 wai was as sure of this as I 1 could be of anything but lyon was drawling on in his faintly english accent then ill not ask you both tc join us though be most welcome I 1 think im beginning to bore my sister a bit the fondness that ever showed when he spoke of her softened his face now weve been here said lyon for when did we come in louis seven thirty sir the lingering waiter replied for almost five hours then which only goes to show how much misery isery in loves any company eh mallory I 1 wish have a glass with us the band brayed on my mind gyrated with the dancing chorus 1 I must go back I 1 told lyon we were on our way home ive had a rather strenuous day good god he said with a little shudder who should know that better than I 1 he frowned at the welt on his hand lone said in her husky voice 1 I think youre pretty generous to speak to him at all mr mallory accidents I 1 answered flatly will happen which lyon supplied with a crooked grin is scarcely news to our family eh good luck old chap he added as I 1 mumbled farewell and backed away nice of you to hall hail us As I 1 returned to my table I 1 craned my neck into the booth beyond it was unoccupied that voice could not have come from there it had issued from where lone and lyon sat that meant then alien that lyon I 1 managed to smile at allegra but my pretense was poor she asked whit what is the matter nothing in the world I 1 lied and sitting down hid bid my treacherous face in the beer seidel when I 1 lowered the emptied glass I 1 added lyon and lone ferriter are in the next booth she dropped her voice to match mine her earnest eyes probed and pried at the mask I 1 wore what happened I 1 jeered to hide my own confusion you seem my child to have the wrong sort of hunches unless your brother is under the table he had no date with her tonight they have been here since seven thirty she was only half satisfied and mocked in turn and I 1 suppose your stampede to their booth was just a social call eh she was the one person in the world to whom I 1 wanted to tell everything ery thing and I 1 knew I 1 would gain merit in her eyes by confiding in her she was watching me with a fairer version of her aunts derisive grin I 1 only said curiosity rather I 1 thought I 1 recognized his voice perhaps for that the recording angel pasted a gold star on my report you are she told me the most chronic liar I 1 ever met youre just beginning to appreciate my virtues I 1 answered after a momet moment she shivered a little and drew her coat coat up about her shoulders can the rest of them be displayed in a taxicab she asked 1 I think wed better go I 1 knew she was worrying afresh over her no account brother there could be no better showcase I 1 boasted as we rose the alle band blared its climax the dancing girls skipped back to their dressing room in a rattle of applause beer rested uneasily in my stomach as I 1 got my coat and hat from f rom t the he check girl I 1 found myself shivering not even the smile allegra gave me as I 1 helped her into the taxicab dispelled my misery she was of the flotsam the dark whirlpool into which we all were caught and whirled about ever more rapidly we sat speechless while the taxi rolled uptown until silence grew uncomfortable I 1 said at last to keep thought at bay ill remember this evening its one thing more I 1 owe you and your aunt I 1 hope the payoff pay off will come some day I 1 knew the words were stilted while I 1 spoke but only half my mind had followed them lyon had been the murderer why lyon had spoken over the z il why dont you play fair telephone again in the restaurant in a voice not his own or were those blunted cadences really his and the faintly english speech he employed part of a disguise he wore beside me allegra chuckled must you she asked behave like electro the mechanical man meaning what I 1 heard something more than jest behind her question she said with an impatient gesture meaning many things among them your pretense of dumbness you arent dumb thanks or not she pushed her attack as dumb as that why dont you play fair there was earnestness in her speech there was appeal on the face turned to mine the world at the minute was filled with many things I 1 was unfitted to handle her warm voice was blowing away everything ery thing but thought of how much I 1 wanted her I 1 tried to get out of danger im at least I 1 told her that dumb how I 1 played fair she did not answer altwer for a minute then she said in a quiet voice ive told you more than ive ever told anyone else except grove I 1 I 1 trust you a lot why dont you trust me id trust you with anything mine I 1 said I 1 meant it too she laughed but not as if she were amused so you say she answered you fill fall over a wine bucket youre in such a hurry to see who is in the next booth she gave me the sort of 0 look that always robbed me of my wind then she made it worse by slipping he strong little hand in mine hei bright bead was against my shoulder youre pretty swell at that she said I 1 think the angel must have run out of gold stars before he laid aside my record that night if I 1 forgot all but my need of her it was because her eyes and her soft mouth dared me it if for an instant I 1 let go of everything id sworn to hold fast and kissed her at least I 1 caught myself on the way down it the sort of kiss 1 I bah P wanted yet it let left t us both less there was ringing in my ears and I 1 thought the cab had a flat till I 1 found it was the pounding of my heart the pressure of the diamond and platinum coronet against my forehead helped me to let her go after a little when I 1 did not speak she asked in a shaky voice well I 1 said hone bf the things I 1 wanted to I 1 just patted the hand I 1 still held and dropped it Al legras silence bothered me her profile was clear and sharp as the head on a coin in the uneven pulsing of lights beyond the taxi window she said looking straight ahead 1 I lied to agatha today I 1 dont usually do that I 1 told her when grove dropped out that I 1 get anyone to take me to cheera r 4 tonight I 1 never tried I 1 on d that I 1 was disappointed and s st sr id what I 1 hoped shed do once or twice in a lifetime fortune off offers ers you the thing you want most and remembering the way she has treated you you dont believe it I 1 did not now I 1 thought I 1 was reading wild meaning into her words she turned toward me with an odd little smile and hurried on ive been lonely and frightened and I 1 needed you I 1 guess I 1 needed to be alone with you and tell all I 1 thought we could be friends and instead you behave as though you were well a millionaire that a lowdown low down gal gai was trying to compromise if I 1 have I 1 told her 1 I beg your pardon my dear I 1 think though that youve got the parts mixed up youre the millionaire wait a minute I 1 saw she was trying to break in and I 1 hurried on it galls you to have misled your aunt all right what about me ashes lifted me out of a hallmann hall mans uniform ashes given me a job and her confidence I 1 have little integrity maybe but im not a complete J so and so it do you a bit of harm to consider the problems of someone else now and then the girl did not answer she had turned her head and was looking out of the window I 1 did not wonder that so few persons in this world were ever nobly there was no pleasure in it I 1 said and now that that is all cleared up to our mutual dissatisfaction how about changing the subject its not necessary she answered and turning as though she had a aided something looked squared squar squarely el y me were almost home sand maybe just as well too I 1 answered thank you miss paget for a great many things her laugh was like a breaking stick then she caught hold of herself if you dont stop patting me on the head bead she warned ill take a poke at you will you answer one question for me honestly just one I 1 could see the marquee of the morello just ahead and a group of men who lingered on the curb beneath the street light will you allegra asked again and I 1 wondered why her voice was so tense 1 I promise I 1 told her and belatedly wondered if I 1 were pledging myself to disloyalty to sh rane unless I 1 added ti afi cerns someone else for a few minutes I 1 had forgotten the murder and lyons almost certain part in it it came back to me now and made me a little sick the cab slowed down allegra asked inoa ina low clear voice youre in love with me arent you the taxi had stopped and walters was opening the door I 1 might have kept silent but her hand clung tc mine as I 1 helped her he out I 1 heard myself say never know how much TO RE ne 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