Evening star., 1924-03-30

as to rent ana its general suitability
for a young couple. He groaned.
IF / lose my job, I've lost every
thing"
Utter decentralization followed. He
couldn't have arrested Il child-and
he knew it. Through the mysterious
grapevine telegraph" by which
Police orders are sometimes tipped of
to Interested parties, Spike Kennedy,
former heavy weight champion,
learned that Officer Foley had been
told TO put the cuffs on him. In for
chile and inelegant terms he sent his
reply via Pete Rizzoli:
Tell that cop I'll meet him any
place he names and I'll beat him to
death with his own club
EOR four nights officer Foley hid in
i the shadows of doorways while
members Of the Forty Strong Gang
prowled along the beat looking for
him. on the morning of the fifth day
ne showed up at the hospital, crushed
in spirit and on the verge of nervous
prostration.
The doc says I can get out of here
tomorrow" cried Tnly. Amt that
swell? How come you haven't been
here in two whole days.
She stopped suddenly, perceiving
that he was trembling from head to
foot Her face blanched.
Gee whiz. Why, Jack. what's the
matter. What's happened?''
'I'm-rm resigning." he faltered.
I'm going away. ] come out to say
good bye"
The Queen Of Hearts stared at the
Jack of Clubs.
We'll, for the love Of Mike" she
protested. why don't you tap me
on the head again and be done with
it,
Foley sank into a chair and began
plucking al the lining of his hat.
Miss Miller studied him a moment
and then formed her own conclusions.
Jack. if you want TO shake me
you don't have to go out of town. 4
1 ain't got any strings on you. Just
because I'm leaving the hospital is no
reason why
He flung out his arms despair
ingIy.
Cant you see what's ailing me?
come near KILN you, didn't /? Can
T ever forget it? Amt it mark ed all
over the sidewalks My nerves gone,
my jobs gone-everything's gone.
Why. l can't even swing a handker-
chief for fear of hurtin' a fly.
wanted TO take you from here
church. l even had a fiat picked out,
but-but-''
He hid his face in his hands.
Tilly Miller reached out and
rumpled his hair fondly, as though he
were a small boy and she his mother
Her eyes were moist
Honey" she Confided, you're a
good cop, and love you, but, oh, my
you're a rotten detective. Now. you
listen to your angel-child. ] fell for
you the first day. and so long as you
were bringing me flowers and candy
far be it from me to spoil things.
But how do you figure you could
have cracked me on this side of my
head when it was the other side that
was turned toward you?"
Foley lifted his head and his blue
eyes blinked stupidity.
Figure it out" encouraged Miss
Miller. "I butted into the jam from
your left, didn't 1? If you want to
know the truth, wasn't going to see
one man jumped by mob even if he
was a cop. There was a fellow
swinging a blackjack, and he was on
my left"
She raised the bandage and dis
closed a long, white scar.
Sec
Officer Foley stiffened in his chair.
The scene was reconstructed in his
mind. Once more he was battling
for his life with his : eek against It
wall and his club was aimed at a
man who was swinging a black jack.
Suddenly the mans face came back
! to him with startling distinctness.
| 1t was Spike Kennedy! Dull red
crept into the hollow cheeks of the
| Jack of Clubs. His eyes grew hard
and small and his heart began to
pound heavily against his ribs. He
drew a long breath and got to his
! feet. The girl regarded him appre-
hensively
We'll" he demanded, "are you go
| ing to kill me or kiss me-"
He paused with one hand on the
| door and looked back, but his eyes
had such a far-away expression that
| it was doubtful if he ever saw her.
1--WE got a little business to attend
to- said he. "If it comes out the
! way L expect I'll be out in the me n
f, ing to carry you downstairs
!; X x !.