The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-20
Nora leaned forward.

what 90 you mean Dy Cnat(
Didn't you fall down on It last
timer"
ASK Slim" he said shortly. 'sThis
is the time I'm interested in, and II
we pull 1t off, Nora, you're going to
quit fooling with me. Maybe, when
get the door open, you'll give me
that kiss I've been waiting for"
Maybe when you get It open,
George. I'm not SO sure you'll open
1t. I'm not so sure Of your nerve"
Then she sank back IN 4 heap. She
screened her face with her hands.
NOW what"
Don't say that, George" she
whispered. mot here. Ever since
I've been in this room-it-it doesn't
feel right
Hold the light up" he said
roughly. What's the matter with
you? This isn't a graveyard"
He resumed his manipulation of
the knob. Garth noticed that from
time to time he glanced quickly over
his shoulder at the somber corners OF
the room.
Nora had, TO a certain extent.
startled Garth. He fancied once
that something moved behind the
divan. George caught his start and
demanded an explanation.
We'll" Garth croaked. 'I agree
with the lady. l don't like the room"
"I know what 1t u.s." said Nora
'That cop was killed here, wasn't
her"
What do I know about tt?" he
asked angrily.
fright here, George. And II he
1t must have been Just this-this
time OF night-when heAGeorge:
Cant we turn on the lights? / don't
like places where people have died
hard. But you-you're not afraid ="
Afraid! A man with a red heart
afraid of dead onesl They never
come back"
Don't say that. know. My
mother told me such things. She
was Italian. She knew. She saw.
George, don't say that. It's cursing
the dead. And he lay right there,
didn't he, George, between you and
the safe? That's why Slim stayed
outside. Maybe Slim killed him. I
want to go, too. Let Simmons hold
the lamp"
No." George said. THAT thing
he wears isn't human company. You
stay"
Evidently she had yielded TO an
excess of terror. In spite of Georges
commands she was trying to pass the
lamp to Garth. 1t slipped from her
fingers, and the white shaft circled
swiftly downwards. She caught the
handle before 1t reached the floor,
but now the only light In the room
was narrow circle which bored into
the carpet and exposed dark. irreg-
ular stain.
Nora cried chokingly.
Blood! George! That's his
blood"
Cursing, George reached forward,
caught her arm, and swung the light
away from this desolate reminder of
tragedy.
mo wonder!" she whispered. mo
wonder Slim didn't have the nerve
to come back and do those same
things. He'd have seen the man he'd
killed between him and his work. If
l thought you had that much nerve,
George. might believe 1
might"
"Try to keep the light steady,
Nora"
There was beseeching. child-lfke
quality in his tone. He worked with
difficulty now. His hands were no
longer perfect mechanical tools.
Garth saw drops glitter and fall
slowly to the stained carpet. Then
George with sigh turned the handle.
Ready to Open" he said. Talk
about Slim! Crying, Nora? Good
Lord"
Don't. George" she said. TT I
half close my eyes I can see him
through my tears. lying here in the
shadows. Can't your"
He clasped his arms about her. He
hid his eyes in her hair.
Garth's fingers reached out, then
he thought of the frayed piece of
paper possibly in the inspectors
hands and already urging the night
to a successful climax. This anguish,
too, he must suffer.
Nora, however, was protecting her
lips.
You promised" George began.
II said If you had that much nerve.
But I know you haven't. Even If
you had croaked him you wouldn't
dare acknowledge it here. Why,
George. you're kneeling where he
lay"
"What difference does that make?
I'm kneeling to you. And let Slim
rave. I'll give you your price. You
needn't be ashamed to kiss me, Nora.
1t wasn't Slim. / did 1t. The cop
jumped me from behind that sofa,
and I let him have the knife"
He raised his lips expectantly.
Garth didn't understand at first.
He only realized with savage Joy
that their lips did not touch. Yet he
questioned why the big man, Instead
of answering the temptation of that
mouth, half-open and inviting, droop-
ed backwards until he lay stretched
on the floor.
Georges cry in his ears aroused
him, and he saw IN the ,reeling.
drunken shaft of light that blood
flowed and joined the ancient stain
In the carpet.
He arose. He knew what that
scream would unloose upon them.
Springing backward. he grasped
the handle Of the safe and opened
the doors.
Nora" he whispered. Come
here"
He snapped Off. the light. Grasp
ing her hand. he seated himself on
the floor with his back to the open
safe. He drew her down.
"Why7" she asked.
They will be here" he said.
There IL no way out except through
that door which they will use, It ia
safer to wait here. Why don't they
crv,, 90