Evening star., 1923-08-09

But yours is only a monkey
wrench"
He won't know that"
But"
Look here, you're wasting time.
Put out your sidelights. take the tail
light off your car, and then come help
me stretch this rope across the road"
They got the rope ready between
treeSand tree, and then let it lie in the
road in case another car came along
before the one they wished to stop.
Greg tied a handkerchief in the mid
not escape the drivers attention. He
had the red tail light ready as a fur
| ther summons to stop,
THAT clothes line won't hold him
up no more than a cotton thread If
he wants to drive her through" OBJ
jected Hickey.
HE won't know but what it's a
steel cable"
II don't like this job"
Greg made haste to keep him busy
Cover your radiator, and let the lap
robe hang down over the license num-
ber Tie a rag over the rear license
plate. Let down the front window.
Detach the meter and lay it on the
floor.
whats that for?"
"It'u be in our passengers way on
the ride home" said Greg grimly:
For nearly a minute before 1t hove
the crematory car through the night
| He was driving her hard.
IT'S a six" said Greg listening with
n professional ear Hes got bum
spark plug. She's running on five
legs"
"Tm not the man for this job"
moaned Hickey. I'm sick"
Hide yourself behind the flivver.
! I'll call you when you're wanted"
Hickey obeyed this order with
alacrity.
Finally the rays of the searchlight
showed around the bend ahead, jig
ging up and down with the movement
| of the car. To Greg II seemed as il
she would never turn the corner. HIS
heart was beating like a pneumatic
hammer. He clenched his hands to
keep them from trembling. He had
the dummy pistol in one.
Meanwhile rope. handkerchief and
red light were in place. Finally the
dazzling white light swung around
the corner and illumined them. Power
was shut off. The great car came to
d stop with the scrape of locked
, wheels on macadam. Greg stepped
out of the shadow. He had turned up
his collar and pulled down his hat
brim in the time-honored style.
Get down from your seat" he
| commanded.
IT appeared he had cool customer
| to deal with. Sure, Mike" was the
! down.
Hands upm said Greg
He was obeyed. AT the same time
the cool voice said: Sorry, old man.
but you've stuck up the wrong train
amt carrying no consignment of
| gold this trip. Thirty-four cents, IA
| pocket knife with blade missing
and dollar watch, that's the lot
You're welcome to it for the expert
ence."
Greg grinned in return. This was
| a victim after his own heart. Much
| obliged" he answered, matching the
| others tone. Keep the change. This
! hold-up isn't meant for you person.
| ally.
what is it. them"
81 Just want TO give your passenger a
! transfer"
Gee, a stiff! I suppose you're one
! then"
'If you like"
y didn't think they was 50 hard
pushed for ,f stiffs nowadays Well:
! ened to 'em in this business
| Greg ordered Hickey TO start his
engine. Run her into the road" he
said. "and back her up at charon's
| boat"
| While Hickey was performing this
| evolution Greg and the crematory
driver continued to converse amiably.
BY way of answer the other threw
| the doors open. Two pine boxes Of
/ significant shape were revealed one
above the other.
Take your choice" said the driver.
| Did you read the labels before you
: loaded them in?" asked Greg. u
want the one marked Alfieri.''
! oh, the dago. He's on the bottom
+! He's the heaviest"
| Have a cigar" said Greg. Have
| couple"
| Much obliged. Jack. Certainly
square of you. Wouldn't mind being
stuck up any night ff they was all
| like you. Life is slow in this neck
! of the woods"
They lit UP and puffed comfortably
| together
sorry I'll have to report my loss
| as soon as ! get in" said the driver.
| You see, the station agent helped
me to load UP, and he's a cranky
cuss, not regular guy like you and
, me. What's stiff more or less to a
| reasonable man! But you see the
! relatives kick up such n dust"
That's all right" said Greg. we
! have to take our chances, of course"
Tell you what I'll do, though. I'll
give you five minutes or SO before /
| drive on"
| Thanks, thatll help
! BY this time Hickey had his car in
place, They ran out the lower of the