Evening star., 1921-11-02
FROM NOW ON
BY FRANK L. PACKARD.
Copyright. 1se1. BY rublis Ledger O..
Copyright, 1891. BY =. Z. Dssis cssJ.

~ s -
side. No. just the ringing in his ears:
there wasn't any other sound. But
there wasn't an instant to lose; potn
Bookie Skarvan and Dago George we're
dead There wasn't an instant to lose
only the instant he must take to make
sure he made no fa.se move here before
he snatched up that package on the desk
there, and ran upstairs, and, with
Teresa. made his way out by the ffre
escape. -
He stopped, and stretched out his
hand to exchange his own empty re-
vo}ver for the one that lay on the floor
where it had fallen from Dago Georges
lifeless hngers-and, instead. drew his
hand sharply back again. Fool! The
police would investigate this, wouldn't
they? Boolie Skarvan couldn't have
he was moving toward the desk and
back toward where Bookie Skarvan lay
suppose he took Bookie's revolver
then? He shook his head. He
did not need one bad enough for that.
1t was better to let things remain as
they were and let the police draw their
own conclusions, conclusions which. If
nothing was interfcred with, and he got
away with the package Of bankHotes.
would point no inference that. by hook
or crook, would afford a clew which
might lead to him. Was he SO sure
of thato Suppose the Scorpion had been
let into Bookie's confidence. and that
the Scorpion when he got here should
happen to be caught by the police
and talked to save himself?
A grim smile settled on Dave Hen
derson's lips, as he thrust his useless
revolver into his pocket, and, reaching
out to the desk. picked up the pack
came of the Scorpion, it couldn't be
helped! And. after all. did 1t matter
very much? It wasn't only Dago George
and Bookfe Skarvan who were dead
Dave Henderson was dead, too!
1t had been scarcely a minute since
he had first risen to his feet: it was
his mind. sitting, weighing, arguing with
itself, that had seemed to use UP price,
less time, whereas, in reality, In its
swift working, 1t had kept pace with,
and had even prodded him into speed
in his physical movements. He was
running now. the package of hanknotes
in his hand, for the door. Dago George
was dead. Bookie Skarvan was dead.
And Il
He staggered suddenly back. and
reeled from the impact, ali a man from
just outside in the hallway launched
himself ferociously forward across the
threshold. The package spun from his
hand to the floor. Half flung to his
knees. Dave Henderson's arms shot out
instinctively and wrapped themselves
around his assatlant's body.
Came snarl and an oath, and Dave
Henderson's head rocked back on his
shoulders from a vicious short-arm
jab that caught him on the point OF
the jaw. 1t dazed him; he was con-
his hold, that his hands, like feeling
tentacles. were creeping further up
the mans body toward throat and
shoulders, drawing his own body up
after them into a more upright po-
sition. His'head sang with the blow.
A voice seemed to float from some-
where out OF the air:
That's the stun. Maseot: Soak
him"
Dave Henderson's arm had locked
now like steel bands around his as
sailant and were Tightening. as the
others were Tightening around him
In turn. The dizziness was leaving
MIN; Tney swung, rocking. to the
strain. The man was strong. A face,
a repellent. unshaven face. leered into
his. Twice they swirled around. and
then seemed to hang for an instant
motionless. as though the strength
OF one e1erted to its utmost was ex-
actly counterbalanced by the strength
OF the other; and over the others
shoulder Dave Henderson could see
another man, man who laughed with
ugly coolness, and who had flaming
red hair and eyes Of blue SO faded
that they looked repulsiye because
they looked a. though they were
white.
Maggott and cunny the Scorpion. .
There had been some one there in the
front of the honse-it had been Mag.
got and Cunny the Scorpion. And at
any moment now there would be some
ono else-the police!
That nicely OF balance was gone.
They were struggling. lurching, stag
gering in each Others embrace again
he, and this Maggot who snarIed
and cursed with painting breath. Their
heads were almost on each others
shoulders. He could see the straining
muscles in the others neck standing
out like great. purple, swollen cords
And as he whirled now this way and
that. he caught glimpses Of the red
headed man. The red-headed man
seemed see to be quite unconcerned for
struggle. He picked up the package
Of bsnknotes from the foor, examined
It dropped II again and ran to Bookie
Skarvan's side.
A queer. hard smile came 70 Dave
Asnderson.s Hen. lips This painting thing
around him seemed to be weakening
q httle-or was it trioks He tirht.
ened his own hold. and edged his own
hands q little higher up-and still a
little higher II he could only tear
himself loose TOR the fraction Of a
throat! No. the man wasn't
weakening 30 much after all! The
man seemed to sense his intention.
and. with . sudden twist, each en-
deavorinE to outmaneuver the other,
they spun in wider circle, like
danCerQ
and crashed against the wall, ana re,
bounded from 1t. and hung again,
middle Of the floor.
The red-headed mans voice came
Soak him, Maggot!"
That was the Scorpion. The Scor-
pion seemed to be taking some inter-
est at last In something besides
Bookie skarvan and the package Of
A grunted oath from Dave Hender-
sons antagonist answered.
.,,S Damn It. I can't! Curse youse.
CONTINUED in Tomorrow StarN