Evening star., 1923-11-27
Continued from Yesterdays Starr

would prefer that should explain my
| own connection with this affair first
Again Larmon nodded.
perhaps it would be just as we'll.
he said.
Once moro Crang looked cautiousl,
| around him.
| We've are quite alone, I take it?'
Quite" said Larmon.
| My name is Anderson-William An
derson. Crang stated, smoothly. :"
was the one who telephoned you las
| night. l am a friend of John Bruce
the only one he's got, / guess, excep'
yourself. Bruce and l used to be boy:
together in San Francisco. 1 hadn't
seen him for years until we ran into
each other here in New York a few
weeks ago and chummed up again
AS told you over the pnone. / don't
know the ins and outs OF this. but
know he is in some trouble with. q
gang that he got mixed up with in the
underworld somehow"
"Tok" The Quill toothpick fiexed
sharply against one of the tall man S
front teeth. william Anderson"-he
repeated the nams musingly--"yes,
remember. ] sent a telegram in your
care to Mr.. Bruce a few days ago"
Yes" said Crang.
The quill toothpick appeared to oc-
cupy the tall mans full attention for
period of many seconds.
Are you conversant with the con-
tents of that telegram, Mr.. Ander-
son?" he asked, casually, at last.
Crang suppressed a crafty smile
Mr.. Gilbert Larmon was no fool!
Mr.. Gilbert Larmon stood here as
Mr.. r. L. Peters-the telegram had
been signed. GILBERT Larmon." The
question that Iarmon was actually
asking was: How much do you really
know?
why, yes" said Crang, readily. II
did not actually see the telegram, but
Bruce told me it was from friend of
his-a Mr.. Peters-who would arrive
in New York Wednesday night, and
whom he seemed to think he needed
pretty badly in his present scrape."
Larmon took d turn or two up and
down the room. He halted again he
fore Crang.
"I am obliged to admit that l am
both anxious and considerably at sea"
he said, deliberately. There seems to
be an air of mystery surrounding all
this that l neither like nor under
stand. You did not allay my fears last
night when you teiephoned me. Have
you no more to tell me?
Crang shook his head slowly.
Ne" he said. you've got every
thing I know. Bruce has been like a
clam as far as the nature Of what is
between himself and this gang is con-
cerned. He will have to tell you him
self if he will. He won't tell me.
Meanwhile he sent you this"
Crang reached into his pocket and
took out the envelope addressed to
Mr.. r. L. Peters that he had taken
pains to seal the night before.
Larmon took the envelope, stepped
over to the window, presumably for
better light, and, opening the letter.
began to read it.
Crang watched the other furtively.
The quill toothpick. from series of
violent gyrations, became motionless
between Lannon's lips. The thin face
seemed to mold itself into sharp, dog
ged lines. Again and again Larmon
then the hand that held the sheet of
paper dropped TO his side, and he
stood for a long time staring out of
the window. Finally he turned slowly
and came back across the room.
This is bad, Mr.. Anderson-far
in hard voice. II believe you said
you would take me to Bruce. This
letter asks me to accompany you, and
| see We are to go at once He mo-
toned toward a box of cigars on the
table. Help yourself to a cigar. Mr..
Anderson, and take q chair. I'm sorry
If it's as bad as that"
Crang made no answer, save to nod
his head gravely as Larmon stepped
quickly toward the door of the apart
ment's adjoining room.
Crang struck a match and lighted
his cigar. The door of the come citing
room closed behind Larmon. a cloud
of blue smoke veiled Crang's face
and 4 leer that lighted his suddenly
narrowed eyes.
so that's it. is it?" grinned Crang
TO himself Il wondered how he was
going to work it. Well. l guess he
would have got away with it, too
If 1 hadn't got away with it first"
He sat motionless in his chair-and
listened. And suddenly he smiled ma
liciously. The sound of running water
from a tap turned on somewhere on
the other side of the connecting door
reached him family.
And now a little salt!" murmured
DR.. Sydney Angus Crang. He blew a
smoke ring into the air and watched
smoke ring-nothing"
The minutes passed, perhaps five of
them. and then the door opened again
and Larmon reappeared.
I'm ready now," he announced.
quietly. Shall We go?"
Crang rose from his chair.
Yes" he said. He glanced at Lar
mon, as he tapped the ash from the
end Of his cigar Larmon had not
forgotten to change his clothes. I've
got a taxi waiting"
"All right" agreed Larmon, brisk
ly, and led the way to the elevator.
Out on the street Crang led the way
in turn-to the taxi. Birdie reached
out from his seat and flung the door
open. Crang motfoned Larmon to en-
ter and then leaned toward Birdie as
though to give the man the necessary
address. He spoke in a low, quiet
tone:
Keep to the decant streets as long
as you can, so that he won't have a
chance to get leary until it won't mat
ter whether he does or not? Under
stand?"
Birdie touched his cap.
Yes, sir" he said.
The taxi jerked forward.
IT'S not very far" said Crang. He
smiled engagingly as he seettled back
in his seat-and his hand in his coat
pocket sought and found his revolver.
his own thoughts, made no immediate
reply. The taxi traversed a dozen
blocks, during which time Crang.
quite contented to let we'll enough
alone. made no effort at conversation.
Larmon chewed at his quill tooth
pick until, following a savage little
click, he removed it in two pieces
from his mouth. He had bitten II in
half. He tossed the pieces on the
floor and produced a fresh one from
MS pocket.
My word!' observed Crang dryly.
You've got good teeth"
Larmon turned and looked at him.
"Yes, Mr.. Anderson, 1 have" His
voice was level. And I'm going to
show them-when 1 get hold of
Bruce"
Crang's expression was instantly
one Of innocent bewilderment
why" he said, II thought you-'
Have you ever met the lady?"
Larmon asked abruptly.
"The-lady?" Crang glanced out
of the window. Birdie was making
good time, very good time indeed. An
other five minutes at the outside and
the trick was done.
.The woman in the ca sen Ga Id Iar-