Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-02
Another Titus Story by J. Frank, Davis

"Or did L Get 'em up! Quick! Both
of EN-.
Abreast of Tosteli and not three feet
distant his hand. patting the left upper
pocket of his vest had suddenly swung
in swift arc toward the gunman. grip
ping the pistol that had ieaped from
the arm holster Its barrel bored forci-
bly, into the pit of Tostelli's stomach.
according to the technique of the south
west in such cases Automatically. in
the instant of attack. the surprised gun
mans hands sprang out from his sides.
In that same crowded instant, Titus.
had him by the right wrist and had
hauled him to the sidewalk and swung
him around. SO that he was a shield be-
tween the Texan and the taxicab.
Keep that left one up!' he gritted
Higher
Over Tostellfs shoulder. Bill saw a
startled face peer through the side win
dow of the taXicab and instantly disap-
pear. The taXicab got under way to
depart
Bill shifted his pistol with incredible
speed to a point under Tostelli's left
arm. and fired two shots. one a quick
echo of the other. into the street. and
had the gun back against Tostelli be-
fore the gunman had realized what was
happening.
There we're shoutings behind him. and
two policemen. summoned by the shots,
came pounding from Broadway.
This man was laying to shoot me.
| Bill snapped at them before they could
grasp any details of the scrimmage.
| Grab him and go into his pockets.
, and probably in the other. too. When
you've taken them off him I'll give you
| mine I've got permit in my pocket
| to carry it. I fired those shots you
| heard. to get you here. III explain 1t
all at the station. Go through him.
Hurry"
There was a ring of authority in
| Capt Bills voice, and. while one po-
| liceman warily watched Titus for
signs of treachery. the other pro-
duced two automatics from Tostellrs
clothes. Bill promptly handed over
BY now a crowd was jostling and
| enchanting and another policeman
came pushing his way through.
This man is a gunman, Bill sald.
taxi that you kin see just turning
into 9Th avenue. If you go after II
in a hurry you'll get it. They've
probably got false numbers on ana
are figuring on changing them in the
| first dark block. but they kin be
| tires. l figure / happened to HIT
both those tires with those two shots
| fired" ~
| The newly arrived officer. COM
\ Wandering q private autOIHooIe pdeh
at the corner, streaked eastward IN
pursuit.
The crowd. pouring from Broadway.
was getting thick. and more ponce
men came. lieutenant shouldered
| his way through authoritatively.
what was the shooting, Heller
| NAM" he demanded.
This old guy was shootin' to give
| the alarm, sir" the policemen who
| had arrived first replied. 1T seems
Tostelli. here, went after gun and
| he beat him to it. He had Tostelli
! covered and was holdin' him when
come"
BEAT Louie Tostelli to it, the
lieutenant exclaimed, incredulously.
You say he
yes, sir. He says Tostelli was get
| tim ready to lcroak him. So Eisen-
| valid and me frisked him first thing,
and he had two gats-both loaded.
| The tumultous rafting clang of the
| approaching patrol wagon began to
| split the crowd.
| $50 we've got you at last. Light
Ming" the lieutenant sneered. at the
still silent Tostelli. And got you
| good. We were bound to sooner or
| later, you know"
| For the love of Peter" cried Bill.
netulantly. ''Stop calling him Light
! ning.' I come from country where
I've seen quite a lot of men handy
| with pistols, thataway. and. believe
me. boys, comparatively speaking. he
ANTI!
Copyright. 1927