European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 12, 1948, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Synopsis Buz Keith a. Policeman Cleveland checks into an exclusive. Nevada summer resort As a san Francisco Playboy to. Do some investigating. Bill thinks his Best Friend Rick Martin reported Mohave drowned accidentally at the resort on this wedding Day after to much drink was really murdered. Bill meets an attract be blonde Alana Stevens Secretary to Cal Routier manager of the resort. Cal tells Alana to search Bill s Cabin and Bill catches her in the act. Suspicious tie follows her next Day Jhen she goes Riding. He finds her. Talking with Cal and his Henchman gig Benson and Cal is fusions. This frightens Alana and next morning when Bill tries to Jon her _ in her ride again she makes him go off alone on a very spirited horse. Then she fires a revolver Shehas taken from col s desk to frighten the horse. Thrown but in Hurt Jill catches Alana still carry ing the gun and when later he re Teiwes a threatening typewritten note he suspects her. He discover the note was written on alarms typewriter but says nothing when Alana gives him helpful information concerning gambling at the Casino on the Day of Rick s Accident. Meanwhile Cal threatens Alai a to keep Clear of Keith. Part in when Keith  into Lakein the sky s Casino from Rou tier s office he stopped to speak to the cashier girl. He glanced at his wrist watch Casu ally what time s the poker game Start looks like i m Early he ? Lake in the sky Doest have poker. There s everything  poker s my game said Keith. Draw  the girl fluttered her eyelashes and leaned toward him lowering her voice the poker games did t go so Well Here. Too Many kibitzer in a Public place you know. Men did t like it but " she glanced around some times there s a game on at night. I can Tell you somebody to  Keith Felt shaky in the Knees. He thought his laugh sounded harsh. You mean in one of the hotel rooms gambling s Legal in Nevada of yes 7 said the girl but or Wiseman who owns the Casino would t stand for any private games that did give the House a Cut that is she whispered if he knew. I m not sup posed to know either but.  Keith nodded and winked Drew out his Wallet and shoved a Bill across Ather. It just happens i Don t like kibitzer at a poker game  ask gig Benson. He s Here at night. He s a big Man with " thanks. I know him said Keith and turned  in his own Cabin once More he stretched out on the plaid divan. He lighted a cig Aret arid stared at  that drifted toward the ceiling. Now he believed he knew exactly what had happened to Rick Martin on his last evening alive. Rick would have come to the Lodge for dinner and after Ward gone into the Casino. He would. Have asked about draw poker and the right  have sized him up As having Money which he had. Somehow Benson had steered Rick u the poker game upstairs and Rick had won. Not peanuts but real Money because Lake in the sky was a Rich Man s resort. They would have made 16 up a game Rick pulling out the Little soapstone Good Luck Monkey that mar had Given him. Set it on the table  patted i everything was falling into place now the Monkey Hadj Jeen on the bar in front of Keith just before Benson had come at him viciously on the dance Hoor Benson had recognized it Keith sat up with a Jerk his body rigid with this new realization. From Here he had to Force himself to go on. Rick must have wandered Back through the Lodge after the game an Benson who had played or had looked on would have been figuring How Roget his hands on the Money. He could have forced a fight that looked to other guests As though he were bouncing a drunk. Later with or without Routier knowledge he could have forced the liquor Down Rick and planted the Evi Dence of the wild party in Rick s Cabin. Keith Drew out the threatening note. Heptad received and stared at it. Who but Benson could have written it Keith dragged himself to his  note was his Only Concrete evidence that anything about the Case was Dif Ferent from what the sheriff said but with or without the help of sheriff Mccann of Washoe county he had to find but whether he was right. He would wait Only Long enough to see Alana Stevens safely out of the mess because. For some unexplainable reason he still was sure she could explain her unusual behaviour innocently. He decided to speak to her. It was dinner time before Keith found her. She was alone at a Corne table in the softly lighted dining room looking wistfully out the window at the Moonlit Lake. A Lana Stevens was Beautiful. Witha Shock Bill Keith realized it As he stood looking Down at her. He had thought of her As pretty As Blond As Young but she was  was depth to dark Blue eyes that she raised to his and an imploring softness revealed by the candlelight. She had smoothed her Gold hair Back i Magazine cover style and wore a Light Blue dress with  until her eyes wavered uneasily did Keith discover he had been staring a Long time without  want to talk to you Keith said this noon when we were interrupted i or. Routier will be Here any min Ute Alana broke in leaning Forward with Odd  s Gray eyes cooled somewhat but he smiled As he walked around the Square dark Oak dining table set for two. He patted the chair opposite Alana Routier can sit there and i la sit Here he said taking the chair beside the girl. I must talk to you. It s  girl Shook her head and relaxed a Little. She even  re very persistent Bill Keith. I intended to get in touch with you later about our. Horseback trip to Morrow. Sunday will have the horses ready at eight and the Lodge packs a very g of , can wait Keith s tone was serious. What i Alana spoke eagerly. But i want to go she said with her eyes too right her smile too charming again. The Trail up to Kettle lakes is Beautiful and there s a Meadow with Trout  Keith Drew a slow deep breath to counteract a plummeting sensation of disappointment. She was closing the door on him again that noon in Rou tier s office he had Felt Friendly toward her for the first time. He had sensed. By grasping the ends of the reins he got the added two feet he needed to reach the girl. Biu Keith had no desire to die but even if the ride Alana was a trap he was determined logo with her her willingness to help him even though she did t know what she was helping with and now she was putting on her act once More. Had he been wrong about her at noon. It was then that a thought Slid out of his brain and raked Down his spine to fan t she been too willing to show hip the Casino s gambling report for july 3rd?Keith continued with More caution. I m looking Forward to the trip. Just wanted to get the  Well have plenty of time to talk tomorrow Alana said gaily with her eyes on Cal Routier who was making his Way toward them and nodding to guests at other tables As he came. With slow., almost wary movements Bill Keith stood up searching Cal Routier s handsome face for the slightest Trace of guilt but Routier Only smile genially and said hello. Keith having dinner with us sorry i can to said Keith. Routier pursed his lips a moment arid then signed to a waiter. You will have a drink with us Keith thanks. I think i can stay that Long said Keith and sat Down again. Alana Stevens was Gay and  the orchestra music began Routier said Alana with dark brow raised in invitation and the girl went into his arms eagerly to dance. Keith alone at the table watched them with a tightening pressure in his Chest and then the woman began to sing. She had a huskily soft voice and Keith moved his brooding glance toward the orchestra to discover Denise Rose at the microphone. Even at that distance Keith saw that he Reyes were jealously following the dancing Progress of Routier and Alana in the scattered crowd on the floor. Routier and Alana. Keith asked himself Why he chose to discount that association. Routier had a  which probably impressed a girl of Alana s age. And head no doubt that Routier was More than casually interested in the girl , had t Alana purposely avoided Keith when his intentions had been obviously romantic avoided him that is until tonight with a sudden uncomfortable Pound ing of his heart Bill Keith put some other facts in order quickly. It was Alana who had insisted upon the ride weekend. June ii. Ims