European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 26, 1948, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Bill Keith had Neter been in love before but he had no doubt about what hit him when he took Alana  arms this was it by Jean Sullivan illustration by Martin Freyer synopsis Bill Keith o policeman from Cleveland checks into an expensive 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 while drunk on his wedding Day was really murdered. Bill meets blonde Alana Stevens Secre tary to Cal Routier manager of the resort. He becomes suspicious other after he discovers her search ing his Cabin at Cal s orders. Two Days later she shoots off a revolver to frighten his horse while he i Riding and he is thrown. Then he receives a threatening note obviously written on Alana s  becomes suspiciously Friendly to him and he guesses Rick won 0. Private poker game conducted by gig Benson Cal s Henchman on the Day of his death. Then she takes Bill on a picnic and both of them Are shot at by unknown assailants. Bill learns from sunday Jones the resort s stable Man that gig has the kind of Rifle they were attacked by. Bill drives to Reno to see the sheriff and while he is away Cal s Safe is robbed of $50,000, and Gigis murdered. A raid to be implicated Cal forces Alana to pretend she and he have been in Reno to Gether during the crime. Bill decides to go to Reno to see hark Wiseman Cal s Oumer Boss for a showdown. I part i with a new determination in these lines of his Mouth Bill strode through the arched hallway to the Casino hark wiseman1? office Wason an enclosed Mezzanine overlooking the gambling tables. Keith put his Handon the Knob and his shoulder against the panel at the same time. He was inside with the door closed behind him so quickly that five people turned startled faces toward him and froze speechless for a moment. Alana Stevens and Cal Routier were there seated beside a wide desk half facing the door. Two men wearing soft rimmed hats leaned against the Wall near them. And standing behind the desk was a Small Fla Shily dressed Man with a Long deeply lined face. His eyes of an undetermined color stared fix edly through thick lenses glasses. I m looking for hark Wiseman announced Keith clearly. The Man with the thick glasses an swered him with a Matchin Gly Clear and even tone. I m hark  you came up Keith for this he waved a hand toward Alana and Routier this Little  who told you i was Here Keith wanted to know. Not or.  no not Routier. I have other me who watch out for my interests  other  said Keith. Are you sure Routier does 16 there was a heavy silence then they Tell me you re a trouble maker Wiseman said slowly. You would t be one of the boys i be been Reading about who Are Drifting out fro the East and Midwest no. I m from san  re a liar said Wiseman calmly. What do you know about the Rob Bery at Lake in the sky and gig Benson s murder. Nothing he answered briefly. What did you have against Benson i heard you knocked him out one night on the dining room dance  i Haven t anything against Benson that i can  that said Wiseman. A Friend of mine was drowned intake Tahoe right after he Toad spent an evening gambling at Lake in  Keith said. Routier sprang to his feet and leaned on the desk toward Wiseman. Sheriff Mccann told me about that he said quickly. He came around investigating and i told him what  fellow was  Rick Martin did t drink said Keith through stiff lips. Without moving his body Wisema turned his head very much like an owl to stare at Routier s excited  the Man turned Back to Keith. I suppose your Friend lost a lot of Money that night and you re out to get even with the House. That happens  time around Here. Let s get Back to the robbery Keith. You weren t fool enough with the familiar not unpleasant Tingle of danger and excitement run Ning along his Muscles Bill Keith stood ready his hands Loose at his sides and decided it was time i Don t know How the Money got out of the Safe he said in a dangerous voice but i know How some Money never gets in. Has anyone else told you har Wiseman that there Are poker games going on upstairs at Lake in the sky some that really draw big Money with no Cut for the House it sounds strange does t it in a state where gambling is Legal but some men like quiet game Sand my Friend was one of those. I think he won a lot that night Bill Keith had struck Home. Before the words were out he knew it by the Ashen color of Cal Routier s handsome face by the ugly angry deepening of the lines around Wiseman s thin lips. Wiseman did t look at Routier. He growled at Keith people Don t do that to me Are you sure Keith asked  la investigate Wiseman rasped. In the meantime where Are you from and what s your business Keith i m from san Francisco Keith an swered with insolent vagueness Andy business " Wiseman was tired of being  jerked his head toward the boys with the hats. See what he s got on him in the Way o  Bill Keith was ready for them. Theman in the Blue shirt moved faster than his Friend. He grabbed Keith s Arm and Keith Shook him off easily keeping Anele on the heavy boy who closed in then. Keith gave him a stiff Elbow that doubled him up with a Grunt and turned Back to the Man whose very shirt mad him angry. The fellow was wiry. He came out with a fast swing at Keith s face and Keith ducking landed a Lucky one that Laid him on the floor. But the prize fighter had come up behind. Wiseman said evenly let me look at his Wallet just As the big fellow slipped his hands through Keith s Elbow and pinned his arms Back. Routier cried ill get it for you and Keith saw the blow coming but lie was in no position to Duck. He jerked his head and All he did was present his Chin to Routier s fist. Bill Keith Sank into a Black Velve Blanket and rested for awhile. Then the Blanke began to have bumps in it an to Jar Bill s head uncomfortably. Gradually the steady Roar in his ears changed too and became the muffled Roar of an automobile motor. With a stir of curiosity Bill Keith opened his eyes. He closed them again and groaned. Bright Auto lights coming along the Highway ahead had stabbed him Bill with care Keith rolled his head inthe direction of the voice. It was Alana. She was sitting beside him driving his own car at a High Speed. Everything s All right she said Ina soothing tone still without looking at him. Be quiet Bill. We re almost Back to the  eyes widened noted i relevantly that her Gold hair even in the dash Board Light had a soft shining Quality and then he pushed up straighter in Theca seat. His neck ached dully. His Chin Felt As though it were padded with Sifflard. Keith remembered everything and was t so Happy about finding Lana beside him. He said coldly Nice of you to go to All this trouble for  you sure you re All right Bill Keith ignored the concern in her when you kiss me like that Denise Rose murmured finally i m glad i have the Money voice. What happened after i left the party  Alana sounded . Wiseman looked at your Wallet checked your police credentials and put the Wallet Back. They carried you Down the Back stairs to your car and i would t let them leave you there i insisted on driving you Home thanks grunted Keith without gratitude As he held one hand against the aching Back of his neck. The car swerved to the right and into the parking space in front of Lake in the sky Lodge just then. While she parked in front of his housekeeping Cabin and switched off lights an ignition Keith sat glumly silent.  Alana put out one Handin the dark to touch his Arm and Keith steeled himself against the thrill that went through him. Bill Don t push me away any longer. We have to  Are some things. I must ask you. If you la come in my Cabin i la get you some aspirin and an ice pack for your  did. The ground rocked under him and he did t feel As grimly Independent As he had Back in the car. He sat Downto wait with eyes closed while Alana disappeared toward the Kitchenette and clattered ice  girl had taken off her White coat. She stood there in a Short sleeved Blu Edress smiling Down gently and holding the prescribed remedies on a Small  it was the smile that effected a miraculous cure on Bill Keith. The expression that he had longed to see warm and Sweet and completely without pretence or  brought Keith to his feet slowly that smile. He took the tray from Alana s hands set it on the Coffee table and turned Back to  she whispered of  and stood there with a look of eagerness although she shared a wonderful moment of discovery too. Why did t you Tel me about Rick Martin before tonight she whispered. Continued on page19 weekend june 26. S948