Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-05-26

was saying as they entered the room
"And that amt all. Wen land in ~.
If we don't look out. We just ductoa
a bad fall. The bulls pretty near hsd
us that time we poked our nose ont
from the park at Seventy-secopa
street"
Some one pressed a button and tha
room leaped to light. Through ta
open crack Of the closed door Clsv
recognized Gorilla Dave. The second
of the gunner was out of range of his
vision.
From the sound of creaking furni.
ture Clay judged that the unseen man
had sat down heavily. ut was tina,
blowout queered us. And say-how
came the bulls so hot on our trailY
Who raped to emp"
"Must "a been that boob wit the
COIL. He got busy quick. Well, Jerry,
won't have to salve the cops this
time. We made our getaway all right
said Dave.
"Say, where's JOey?"
pulled a sneak likely. Wha's II
matter? Listen! What's that?"
Some one was coming up the stairs.
The men in the room moved cautious.
" to the door. The hall light was
switched on.
"Lo, Jerry" Gorilla Dave called soft
ly.
He closed the room door and the
sound of the voices was shut off in
stantly.
The unlimited guest dared moi step
out of the closet to listen, for at any
instant the men might re-enter he
crouched in his hiding place, the thlr-
ty-eight in his hand.
The minutes dragged unfortunately.
More than once Clay almost made up
his mind to steal out to learn what
the men were doing. But his judg-
ment told him he must avoid a brush
with so many if possible.
The door opened again.
"Now beat it and do as 1 say If you
know what's good for you," a bullying
voice was ordering.
The owner of the voice came in and
slammed the door behind him. He sat
down at the desk, his back to the
closet. Through the chink Clay saw
that the man was Jerry Durand.
From his vest pocket he took a fat
black cigar, struck a match and lit
it. He slumped down in the swivel
chair. 1t tool no seer to divine that
his mind was busy working out a prob
lem.
Clay stepped softly from his place
of refuge, but not SO noiselessly that
the gangman did not detect his pres
ence. Jerry swung round in the chair
and leaped up with catlike activity
He stood without moving, poised on
the balls of his feet, his deep-set eyes
narrowed to shining Sits. 1t was
in his thought to hurl himself head
long on the man holding steadily the
menacing revolver.
"Don't you! I've got the dead wooas
on you" said the Arizonan, a trencH
ant sadness in his speech. I'll shoot
you down sure as h-I's hot"
Durand's face wore an ugly look Of
impotent malice, but his throat was
dry as a lime kiln. He could not es-
innate the danger that confronted him
nor what lay back of the mans pres,
ence.
what you dom here?" he demanded
MAXIM my party CALL" retorted
Clay easily.
Jerry cursed him with a low, savage
stream Of profanity. The gangman
enraged was not a sight pleasing to
see.
Il reckon heaven, hi, and high
water couldn't keep you from cussln'
now. Relieve yore mind proper, Mr..
Durand. Then We'll talk business"
murmured Clay in the low, easy drawl
that never suggested weakness.
The ex-prize-fighter's flow of lam
guage dried up. He fell silent and
stood swallowing his furious rage. 1t
had come home to him that this mar
r~ow-fanked young fellow with the
close-gripped jaw and the cool, STEADY
eyes was entirely unmoved by bis
threats.
".Quite through ~effervescing?" asked
Clay contemptuously.
The gang leader made no answer.
He chose to nurse his venom silently
where's Kitty MasonY"
Still no answer.
Il asked you what you've done with
Kitty Mason?"
That's my business"
"By Cd. you'll tell. or I'll te9r
It out of you'll"
Clay backed to the door, found the
key, transferred it to the inner sloe
of the lock, turned it, and put it In DIS
pocket.
The cornered gangman took =
chance. He ducked for the shelter "
the desk, tore open a drawer anu
snatched out an automatic.
simultaneously the cowpunene,
pressed the button beside the door anu
plunged the room In darkness. ~