The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-04-15
fcontinued from Yesterday

ions. She could see through the crack in the panel. There were two men in there, French Pete and Marry Day undoubtedly, and they sat on opposites sides of a table. and a lamp burned on the table, and one of the men was counting out a sheaf of crisp yeI1ow-back banknotes-but the other, while apparently engrossed in the first mans occupation, and while he leaned forward in apparent eagerness, was edging one hand stea1thily to- ward the lamp, and his other hand, hidden from his companions view by the table, was just drawing a revol- yer from his pocket There was no mistaking the mans murderous inten- tions. A dull horror, that numbed her brain, seized upon Rhoda Gray; the low-type brutal faces under the rays of the lamp seemed to assume the aspects of two monstrous gar goyles, and to spin around and around before her vision; and then-it could only have been but the fraction of second since she had begun to beckon to Pinkie and the Pug-she felt her self pulled unceremoniously away from the door, and the Pug leaned forward in her place, his eyes to the crack in the panel.
 She heard a low, Quick-muttered exclamation from the Pug; and then lJs extinguished. that crack of light in the panel had vanished. But in an instant cIriously like a jagged light ming flash, light showed through the crack again-and vanished again. It was the flash of a revolver shot from within, and the roar of the report came now like the roll of thunder on its heels.
 Rhoda Gray was back against the opposite wall. She saw the Pug fling himself against the door. It was a flimsy affair. It crashed inward. She heard him call to Pinkie:
 Shoot yer flash on der table, an grab de coin! I'll fix de other guy!' Were eternities passing? Her eyes were fascinated by the interior be- yond that broken door. It was ut terIy dark inside there, save that the ray of a flashight played now on the table, and a hand reached out and snatched up scattered sheaf of -banknotes; and on the outer edge of the ray two shadowy forms struggled and one went down. Then the flashlight went out. She heard the Pug speak:
 Beat it!"
 Commotion came now; cries and footsteps from around that corner in the passage. The Pug grasped her by the shoulders, and rushed her back into the cellar. She was con scious, it seemed, only in a dazed and mechanical way. There were men in the passage running toward them and then the passage had disappear ed Pinkie Bonn had shut the con- meeting door.
 Hop 1t like blazesr' whispered the Pug, as they ran for the faint gIim- mer of light that located the cellar exist. Separate de minute we're out side!'' he ordered. ''Dere's murder fir dere. Pete shot Marry. I put Pete to sleep wid & punch on de jaw; but de bunch knows now some one else though he don't know who we was dat did de shootin'. I gotta make dis straight right off de bat wi6 Danglar.'' His whispering voice was labored, panting; they were climbing up the steps now. Youse take dc money to my room, Pinkie, an wai1 fer me. I won't be much more'n hall an hour. Nan, youse beat it fer yer garret, an stay dere!"
 They were outside. The Pug had disappeared in the darkness. Pinkit was closing, and evidently fastening the trap-door.
 The other way, Nani' he flung she started to run. '@That takes you to the other street, am they cant
 
 around the whole block. Me for 2 fence I knows about an we give: 'em the merry laughi Go in!"
 She ran-ran breathlessly, stumb ling, half falling, her hands stretched out before her to serve almost il lieu of eyes, for she could make ou scarcely anything in front of her She emerged upon a street. It seem ed abnormal, the quiet, the lack O commotion, the laughter, the uncon cern in the voices of the passerS-b, among whom she suddenly found her self. She hurried from the neigh borhood.
 THE DOOR ACROSS THE HALL.
 It was many blocks away befor calnness came again to Rhoda Gray and before it seemed, even. that he brain would resume its normal func tions; but with the numbed horro once gone, there came in it's place like some surging tide, a fierce virilit that would not be denied Tn moneyI The old couple on that door step. stripped of their all Wasn' that one. reason why she had gone O with Pinkie Bonn and the Pug Hadn't she seen a way, or at least chance, to get that money back?
 Rhoda Gray looked quickly abou her. On the corner ahead she saw drug store, and started briskly in ths direction Yes, there was a way The idea had first come to her fror the Plugs remark to Shluker tha after they had secured the money Pinkie would return with 1t to tn Plugs room, while the Pug would g and square things with Danglar. An also at the same time, that sam remark of the Plugs had given ris to & hope that she might yet trac Danglar tonight through the Pug but the circumstances and happening of the last few minutes had shatteI ed that hope utterly. And so ther remained the money. And. as sh walked with Pinkie and the Pug little while ago. knowing that Pink would, if they were successful. carr the money back to the Plugs room just as was being done now precisel