Evening star., 1921-11-01
CONTINUED from Yesterdays Star.)

go away!" screamed Bookie Skar-
van. you're dead! Go away! Go
back to hell where you belong!" His
hands clawed out in front of him.
DO you hear? You're dead-dead!
awayg
Dave Henderson spoke through
You ought to be satisfied then
Bookie. You've wanted me dead for
you"
There was no answer.
Dave Henderson's eyes automati-
room. Yes. that was Dago George
there on the floor near the bed, lying
on the side of his face, with a hideous
cash across his head. The man was
dead, of course: he couldn't be any
thing else. But anyway Dago George
was as something apart. an extrane-
GUS thing. There was only one thing
in the world. one thing that held mind
and soul and body in thrall of wild.
seething. remorseless passien-that
maudlin, groveling thing there,
end of the desk. and who hung there
with curious limpness, as though. be-
cause the knees sagged. the weight of
his body was supported by his arms
alone-that thing whose lips, evil
IDENTIFY trying to form words, jerked
up and down like flaps Of flesh from
which all nerve control had gone.
Maybe you didn't know that ]
knew 1t was you who were back OF
that attempt to murder me that
might've years ago" Dave Hender-
son thrust the fashlight into his
well. you know 1t now!"
A sweat bead trickled down the
fat, working face-and lost itself In
q fold of flabby flesh.
mol" Bookie Skarvan found his
tongue: mo! Honest to God. Dave"
Don't lie! I know!" There was a
tones stand away from the desk
a little, so that I can get a look at
that telephone on the floor! I don't
want any witness to what's going to
happen here. and a telephone with the
"My God" Bookie skarvan cried
out wildly. What are you going to
"Yes. I guess It's out of commits
utterly detached: he seemed utterly
to ignore the other for a mo-
ment, as he looked at the broken in
strument.
Bookie Skarvan. in an access of
fear. mopped at his wet face, and his
little red-rimmed eyes. like the eyes
Of cornered rat, darted swift. fran.
tic glances in all directions around
the room.
Dave. do you hear" Bookie Skar-
vans voice rose thin and squealing.
why don't you answer? Do you
hear! What-what are you going to
do?"
TITS queer, kind Of queer, to find
derson evenly. Il guess there's a
God-Bookie. How did you get here
from San Francisco"
Bookie Skarvan licked at his dry
lips, and covered back from the re-
volver that was suddenly outflung in
Dave Henderson's hand.
II followed the girl. I thought
you'd opened up to the old man, and
he'd bumped you off with that bomb
to get the stun for himself. was
sure Of it when he died, and she beat
it for here"
And tonight?" Dave Henderson's
voice was rasping now.
~ got the room opposite hers"
Bookie Skarvan gulped heavily; his
eyes were fixed, staring now, as
! though fascinated by the revolver
| muzzle. "She came downstairs. fol-
| lowed her. but 1 don't know where
she went to. I saw the package go
| into the safe. l could see through the
fanlight over the door. I saw him
| bOOkle SkaTVdn s nanQ JerkeO out To-
ward the huddled form on the floor
Il saw him put it there"
Mechanically. Dave Henderson's
eyes followed the gesture-and mar
| rowed for an instant in a puzzled.
| startled way. Had that dead man
there rtQved? The body seemed
| slightly hsarer to the head of the
| bed! Fancy! Imagination, He
hadn't marked the exact position OF
the body to begin with, and it was
still huddled, still inert. still in the
| same sprawled, contorted position
His eyes reverted to Bookie Skarvan
You had man in here with you
at work on that safe. a man you
! called Maggot. and you sent him, with
that dirty brand of trickery Of yours
| to bring back some one you called
; Cunny the Scorpion, with the idea
that instead of finding you and the
money here-they would find the po.
lice" There was a twisted, merci.
less smile on Dave Henderson's lips
Where did you get into touch with
your friends"
l onsc gno a