Part 30 (1/2)

”Marie,” she called, ”Marie!”

She looked anxiously over the little roof garden, and peered down to the canyon. Twice she went up to the window, and each time drew back again, afraid to enter.

She leaned over the railing on the roof, calling aimlessly and hopelessly.

”Marie, Marie!”

A moment later she heard a light step below, ”Oh, Marie,” she cried and her voice was a sob.

”It's me, Miss Eveley, what's the matter?”

It was only Angelo running up the steps to her.

”Angelo, what are you doing here?” she demanded sharply, her nerves on edge.

”Oh, I was just fooling around,” he said evasively. ”I thought I heard you calling.”

But Eveley's nerves were too highly strung this night to brook an idle answer. She caught him by the shoulder.

”Tell me where you have been and what you were doing,” and there was something like suspicion in her voice.

And then suddenly the little bit of foreign flotsam became a man, to give her courage.

”Come inside and sit down,” he said authoritatively. ”I'll tell you what I've been doing, but don't stand out here like this and get yourself all worked up for nothing.”

He threw up the window, and went in first, turning on the light, and Eveley followed him numbly.

”Now sit down and I'll tell you. I have been sleeping in the garage ever since you got mixed up with that bunch of Bolshevists and--er Greasers. I thought something might happen and I've sort of stuck around. I had a key made to the garage, and I've got a nice bed fixed up in the attic.”

Eveley held out her hand with a faint smile. ”You are a good friend, Angelo, sure enough. But there was no danger. And oh, where can my Marie have gone?”

”Are her things here?”

Acting instantly upon the suggestion, Eveley ran into the other room followed closely by Angelo. Every slightest sc.r.a.p and shred that had been Marie's had disappeared.

”Maybe she left a note somewhere,” said Angelo.

Frantically Eveley flashed through the small rooms, searching eagerly for some final word or token. But there was nothing to be found.

”Some one has kidnapped her,” she cried, wringing her hands. ”We must phone the police.”

”I wouldn't do that--not yet. I'd phone for Mr. Nolan first. Let me do it. And why don't you go down-stairs and ask them if they saw any one around here to-day, or saw her leaving?”

”Oh, Angelo, that is fine,” she cried. ”I'll go--and you phone Nolan quickly.”

By the time she returned, Nolan was on his way to the Cote.

”She--she left herself--just walked away with her bag--alone,” said Eveley faintly. ”I am afraid she did not--care for me.” And there was sorrow in her voice.

”Oh, sure she did,” said Angela rea.s.suringly. ”That's why she left I guess. She may be in bad in some way, and so she went off not to get you mixed up in it.”