Pueblo chieftain., 1921-03-27
CHAPTER THREE.
The Frame In.

inc frame Up.
From his own safe hiding place. the
spectacle of silent Madden's crump-
ling body silhouetted in the open
doorway of his gambling place pro-
duced a terrifying desire for action
on Joe Wong. Though he had been
Instrumental in collecting Madden's
gang, when he discovered the plot
against his leaders life. he was not
of the stuff of which heroes are made.
Now that the leader was gone, his
allegiance was no more. Furthermore,
the fewer the people who knew that he
had had anything to do with this
nights work, the better for Joe Wong.
Almost before the body of Madden
touched the threshold, Joe was in full
flight, lodging and STOPPING over m
stinctively as though to guard himself
from the shots of Maddcn's divided
gang. He knew no more than new
born babe of what went on in that
narrow street ten seconds after the
first shot was fired. And when he
arrived breathless at Chang Los door
he made a vow to himself that moth
ing in the world would ever make him
reveal what he had heard and seen
that night.
The shot which laid Madden low
was followed by an instants death
ly silence. Madden's hurriedly sum-
moned followers took that much time
to realize the situation. But the tri-
umphant attitude of the little group
of their former gangmates as they
Sazed from across the street at the
fallen leader was too eloquent. DIV
ing behind posts and into doorways
they opened fire. In moment the
entire street was one splitting. bark
ing hell of bullets, the dimnesS
streakod with flashes of flame.
A rubberneck wagon, numbering on
its last trip for the night was aoan-
doned by its driver in the middle of
the street, it's passengers scurryinE
to safety like rats from sinking
ship. Instantly it became the center
of the fight, each side using 1t as
barricade from which to sntpe at the
other.
Looey Fang, after getting" two
me-: went down in the center OF
b II cursing, struggling figures
who -mptied their revolvers in his
body and fought their way forward
to where Madden lay.
Far down the block big police
man came running toward the scene
of the battle. As he rounded the cor
ncr he took in the scene and opened
n police box TO turn in a riot call.
1t was royal gang fight, such as
Chinatown had not witnessed for
long time. From II darkcned window
Black Mike enjoyed his revenge with
Il satisfied eye. Dappcr Bin Ballard
MS newly bTIlNfh sAa'lft NANNllNh ''N'
him. but with feelings the reverse OF
exultant For one thing, he had no
grudge to satisfy. and for another
such a wholesale fracas was not ms
line. He avoided gun play and con-
ccrncd himself with the society end
of Crookdom.
II was when the fight was raging
it's hottest that they saw Madden
gang finally reach him and pull him
to his feet. To their amazcmcnt'
they saw him staggcr for moment
and then, as those who were helping
him We're again swept away by inc
surge OF the mob, he 'crawlcd pain
fully away, his hand pressed close
to his shoulder, in the direction OF
Chang Los.
With a curse that his enemy had
not been wounded mortally, Mike de-
libcrntcly Icvclgd his automatic at
the Policeman and shot him through
the heart. As one man, both Mike
and Dappcr Bill dropped out OF sight
OF the window and fled through tho
back passagcways. stopping only wAeh
they were safe some blocks away IN
n deserted lumber yard. Ballard turn
cd on Silva furiously:
Damn you for a fool! You've done
1t now. DO you know what this
means Wen both swing for 1t
surc!" he gaspcd.
But tho ggnEstCr smiled hiS CROOK
ed smile. 'DappCr, yuh sure ar"
smooth EuE." he answered, but yur'
young. an don't know 1t all yet.
'Twon't be me that pays, but the
dirty squculcr that wanted to double
cross me I'm Euiu' to frame him an
frame him good, II he over gets out
from Saint quentin, yuh n me VIII
have made our pile and have beaten
It far from hcrc.'
Al about tho same time. Madden.
weak from the shock and the loss OF
blood, had barely managed To- struE-
gle to Chang Los bazaar Whcr" nc
fell against tho door half unconscious.
4 littlc wicket opened cautiously and |
an cyc ucCpCd forth. Then with = |
ghrill exclamation. Joe Wong opened |
tho door. and aided his master To
carry tho gambler and place him on "A
couch tn tho inner room.
Before thoy had succeeded In |
g,nunchinE tho flow of blood, silky /
Nioll came rushing In. She had hcArI 1
the sound OF shots as she sat at An /
nicE bedside. Like a hid"ous dream. /
the warming she had received 'nili"r I
In the evening cam back 90 her, and
her feet grew wings as she sped down .
the stairs and out into the street I
There Ehc found tho crowd running In 1
every direction from the police Win !
dows flew up. female voices Joined In .
the frantic huhhub.
They've groakcd Madden" n wom- !
an shrillrd from the second story .
across the way.
"Oh. my God. where's daddy" Moll |
called to ono OF the gang, as hc rush |
Tss 9IIT | i z