The Holbrook news., 1922-08-04

elgnt nel0 ms eyes IaSclnateO. By the light of his flash Clay discovered the man to be a chalk-faced little in- consequent.
 "Say. don't point that at me" the old fellow implored.
 Are you alone?"
 You know It."
 'Is Jerry comin' himself with the others?"
 ''They don't none of them tell me nothin. I'm nobody. I'm only Joey"
 Unload what you know. Quick I'm in a hurry
 The man began a rambling, whin- ing tale.
 The Arizonan learned that a room had been prepared on the second floor for a woman. Slim had made the ar- engagements. Joe had heard Durand's name mentioned, but knew nothing of the plans.
 'I'll look the house over. Move along in front of me and don't make any mistakes. This six-gun is liable to permeate yore anatomy with lead"
 The cattleman examined the first floor with an especial view to the ex- it's. He might have to leave in hur- ry. If so. he wanted to know where he was going. The plan of the sec ond story was another point he feat ured as he passed swiftly from room to room. From the laundry in the basement he had brought up a coil of clothes-line. With this he tied Joe hand and foot After gagging him, he left the man locked in small rear room and took the key with him.
 Clay knew that he was in a precari- ous situation. If Durand returned with Kitty and captured him here he more mistakes. Certainly he would leave no evidence against him except that of his own tools. The intruder would probably not be killed openly. He would either simply disappear or he would be murdered with witnesses cattleman was as much outside the law as the criminals were. He had no legal business in this house. But one thing was fixed in his mind. He would be no inactive victim. If they got him at all it would be only after fighting finish.
 To Clay, standing at the head of the stairs, came a sound that stiffened him to a tense wariness key was being turned in the lock of the street door below. He moved back into the deeper shadows as the door swung open.
 Two men entered One of them cursed softly as he stumbled against chair in the dark hall.
 Where's that rat Joe?" he demand ed in a subdued voice. Then came a click of the lock. The sound of the street rain ceased. Clay knew that the door had been closed and that he was shut in with two desperate criminals. What have they done with Kitty? Why was she not with them? He asked himself that question even as he slipped back into a room that opened to the left.
 He groped his way through the dark ness, for he dared not flash his light to guide him. His fingers found the edge of a desk. Round that he cir cled toward closet he remembered having noted. His arm brushed the closet door. Next moment he was in- side and had closed it softly behind him.
 And none too soon. For into the room came the gunmen almost on his heels.
 "Jerry'll raise h-l,' heavy voice was saying as they entered the room. And that ain't all. We'll land in stir if we don't look out. We just tucked bad fall. The bulls pretty near had us that time we poked our nose out from the park at Seventy-second street."
 Some one pressed a button and the room leaped to light Through the open crack of the closed door Clay recognized Gorilla Dave. The second of the gunmen was out of range of his vision.
 From the sound of creaking furni- ture Clay judged that the unseen man had sat down heavily. Tt was that blowout queered us. And say-how came the bulls so hot on our trail? Who rapped to 'em?"
 Must "a been that boob wit the goil. He got busy quick. Well, Jerry, won't have to salve the cops this time. We made our getaway all righ:," said Dave.
 Say, where's Joey"
 Pulled a sneak likely. Whas it matter? Listeni What's that?'
 Some one was coming up the stairs
 The men in the room moved cautious ly 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 uninvited guest dared not step out of the closet to listen, for at any instant the men might re-enter. He crouched in his hiding place, the thir- ty-eight in his hand.
 The minutes dragged interminably. 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 heat if and do aS I say if vo,, know what's good for you," bullying