The Holbrook news., 1922-07-21

with his fingers, found hook, un- fastened 1t, and pushed open the trap. He looked up into starit night and moment later stepped out upon the roof Presently the slim figure of the girl stood beside him.
 They moved across to a low wall. climbed it and came to the dormer door of the next house. Clay knelt and lifted it an inch or two very slow ly. He lowered it again and rose.
 I'm heap obliged to you, Miss" he said in a low voice. You're a game little gentleman"
 She nodded. My name is Annie Millikan."
 Mine Is Clay Lindsay. I want to come and thank you proper some day"
 "I take tickets at Heath's Palace of Wonders two blocks down." she whispered. Look out for yourself. Don't let 'em get you. Give 'em a chance, and that gang would croak you sure. You will be careful, won't youi"
 "I never threw down on myself yet"
 The girls fiippancy broke out again.
 
 Is and I'll send you a salad bowl" she flashed at him saucily as he turned to go.
 Clay was already busy with the door.
 Darkness engulfed him as he closed the trapdOor overhead. His exploring feet found each tread of the ladder with the utmost caution. Near the foot of 1t he stopped to listen for any sound that might serve to guide him. None came. The passage was as noiseless as it was dark.
 Again he had that sense of cold fnger-tips making a keyboard of his spine. But he trod down the panic and set his will to carry on. He crept forward along the passage. Ev- cry step or two he stopped to listen, nerves keyed to an acute tension.
 A flight of stairs brought him to what he knew must be the second floor. To him there fioated a murmur of sounds. He soft-footed 1t closer, reached the door, and dropped noise lessly to a knee. A key was in the lock on the outside. With infinite precaution against rattling he turned it, slid it out. and dropped 1t in his coat pocket. His eye fastened to the opening.
 Three men were sitting round table. They were making a bluff at playing cards, but their attention was focused on a door that evidently led into another room. Two automatic revolvers were on the table close to the hands of their owners. A black jack lay in front of the third man. Clay recognized him as Gorilla Dave. The other two were strangers to him.
 Something evil in the watchfulness of the three chilled momentarily his veins. These fellows were the gun men of New York he had read about paid assassins whose business it was to frame innocent men for the peniten- tiary or kill them in cold blood They were of the underworld, without con- science and without honor.
 A soft step sounded In the corridor behind the man at the keyhole. He had not time to crawl away nor even to rise before a man stumbled against him.
 Clay had one big advantage over his opponent. He had been given an instant of warning. His right arm went up around the neck of his foe and frightened there. His left hand turned the doorknob. Next moment the two men crashed into the room together. the Westerner rising to his feet as they came, with the body of the other lying across his back from hip to shoulder.
 Gorilla Dave leaped to his feet The other two gunmen, caught at disad- vantage few feet from the table dived for their automatics. They were too late. Clay swung his body down. ward from the waist with quick, strong jerk. The man on his back shot heels over head as though he crashed face up on the table, and dragged it over with him in his for ward plunge to the wall.
 Before any one else could move or speak, Lindsay's gun was out.
 Easy now" His voice was gentle drawl that carried a menace. Lem me he boss of the rodeO a while. No. Gorilla. I wouldn't play with that club if l was you. I'm sure h-l-a-mile on this gunstuff. Drop itl" The last two words came sharp and crisp, for the big thug had telegraphed an un- intentional warning of his purpose to dive at the man behind the thirty eight
 Gorilla Dawes fingers opened and the blackjack dropped from his hand to the floor.
 For the love O Mike, who is this guy?" demanded one of the other men.
 I'm the fifth member of our little party" explained Clay.
 "Wot tell do youse mean? And what's the big idea in most killin' the chief?"
 The man who had been flung across the table turned over and groaned. Clay would have known that face among a thousand. It belonged to Jer- ry Durand.
 T came Tn at the wrong door and without announcin' myself" said the cattleman, almost lazily, the unhurried incidence of his manner not shaken. You see wanted to be on time so as not to keep you waitin'. I'm Clay Lindsay"
 The more talkative of the gunmen from the East side flashed one look at the two automatics lying on the floor beside the overturned table. They