Evening star., 1923-11-29

I<TTS all right. boys Cranl
called out. "Open the door
I've got Birdie outside
u They passed the table. passe,
through the doorway, and the doc
| closed behind them. In the semi
darkness here. as they headed for tn
exit to the lane, Larmon touched Joh
Bruce's elbow.
He brought me down here in
taxi" Larmon whispered. 81 suppos
now 1t was one of his men who drov
it,"
Birdie, he just told those rats.
said John Bruce tersely. DO yo'
hear, Crang? If he's still out there
send him away"
They emerged into the lane. i!
taXicab stood opposite the exit: Bird
lounged in the drivers seat.
John Bruce's revolver bored int
Crangs side.
Beat it," said Crang surlily 10 tn
man. Il won't want you any more.
You won't-what?" Birdie leane'
out from his seat He stared for
moment in bewilderment. and thei
started to climb out of the taxi.
The pressure of John Bruces = re
volver increased steadily.
screamed out wildly. Beat it! Dt
You hear? Beat IT:
BRIDES face darkened. ,,,
"Oh--sure" he muttered, with
disgruntled oath. lie shot the g gears
into place with a vicious snap. sure
ANYTHING YOU say" The taxi roareC
down the lane and disappeared arouhe
the corner in a volley of eXhausts.
Go on" John Bruce ordered
Al the corner Of the lane Johr
Rr,lre turned 10 Larmon.
You arc safe, and out OF 1t now
he said. Il am going to ask you tS
step into the first store We pass amo ,,
get me some good light rope, but
after that think you had better leaNf
us If anything happened between
here and the steamer, or on the
steamer. you would be implicated. :.
TEX" 1t was the quill toothplck
again. "Ill get the rope WIN peas
ure." Larmon said calmly: put
never lay down a good hand. am
going to the steamer.
John Bruce shrugged his shoulders.
Larmon somehow seemed an aostract
consideration at the moment - out
Larmon had had his chance. >,
What time does the steamer Saii' ;
Grange" John Bruce bit off his words,
as he looked at his watch.
-Four o'clock" Crang mumbled.
Walk faster"
They stopped for moment IN iront
OF a store. I1dTIflOH az"
out again almost Immediately with
a package under his arm .,
4 block farther on John Bruce hall
ed passing taxi.
Fifteen minutes later. pusnlu :
through the throng on the dock, J3hn
Bruce produced the ticket, theS
mounted the gangway. and stewar q
ed them to stateroom on one or the
lower decks.
John Bruce closed the door and
locked it. His revolver was in his
There isn't much time left, he
said coldly. About ten minutes.
At the end of five. Crang. bound
hand and foot, and gagged. lay iasheo
into his bunk. .,
John Bruce tossed the ticket on the
.'There's your ticket" he said stern
iy. IT wouldn't advise you to come
back-nor work any further about
exposing Mr.. Larmon, unless you
want to force a showdown that will
place some very interesting details
connected with the life of DR.. Crang
in the hands of the police:
The bugle rang out again.
glance in Crang's direction. opened
the cabin window slightly, then un-
locking the door, he motioned Lar
mon. to pass out. He locked the door
on the outside. stepped to the deck,
tossed the key through the window
20 the floor of Crang's cabin. and
drew tho window shut again. A min
ute more and with Larmon peside
i'm. he was standing on the dock.
Neither John Bruce nor Larmon
spoke.
And presently the tugs caught hold
of the big liner and warped her out
of her berth. e..,,
John Bruce" had sailed for South