Evening star., 1924-09-07

torture. Well. this night will pay for
II. Listen! Answer me this: Why
didn't you pull your gun, Denny"'
81 haven't any gun"
'fYou lie!"
NO" said Alice that's the truth"
The Nightingale stepped toward her
and, with a quick motion OF his gloved
hand, caught her chin and turned her
face into the moonlight.
You'd believe me. wouldn't your
she said, meeting his gaze.
yes"
We'll, when we heard you, / flung
it into the water. That was the
splash"
The poor fool let you do that. did
he?"
TT was my idea," said Alice.
through chattering teeth. I'D rather
have him dead than-"
She choked. He released her chin
at the moment that the other man
had crouched to spring at him.
You love him a lott" sneered the
Nightingale, looking from her to the
man. "Oh, 1 know all about both OF
you. He's got a job and salary.
and has covered his tracks. He's
going straight. Maybe he and you
want to get married right away.
Don't I know all that? Don't I?
L
1? I've got this here gun In my
hand. Why don't you beg, Denny?
Why don't you rum
Denny gave a growl of rage.
"Pd kill him; wouldn't /, Alice"
asked the Nightingale.
Don't you answer" said her lover.
Cant you see he's playing with us
like cat that's got pair Of mice"
The Nightingale laughed. He threw
L. ~ l. II
lips. his voice issued forth again,
sweet but terrible, Stimulating joy
BUSINESS but horrible in its needlelike
quality.
Suddenly he clipped off a note and
whirled about toward the girl
why wouldn't I kill him? They'd
get me for it-but what's that to
me? You love each other, eh? That
means 1 get you both with one shot
in one shot, Ell? Gee, but amt it 4
beautiful night! Look at them
mistS!'
4 cloud passed over the moon. Far
"a away beyond the inlet, on the
waters of the Sound, a steamer be-
hind the fog lifted its voice in
tremulous bass note. The rowboat
was humping against the pier; the
little waves Tapped at the piles.
Again the Nightingale spoke.
Denny, you was always a good
feller-up there. learned to like
you, Denny. Do one more thing for
me. And then-maybe-'
What do you want?" the other
asked sullenly.
Let me kiss your girI-just once,
Denny"
The answer was growl.
We'll. what are you going to do
about itT asked the Nightingale.
He was sliding over toward her;
suddenly he made a dart of his head
and shoulders. He seized her arm.
Denny was too quick for him: the
girls lover leaped forward; he st-ucl;
| the Nightingale a crashing impact in
the face. The discharged convict
staggered back, clawing at the air
| with his left hand
Now KILL" roared Denny. you've
| got the gun. Do itr'
The Nightingale. however, began to
| laugh.
Not yet, Denny" he gurgIed. look
ing down at the cleaning weapon
| in his hand. "Ho, no, no! Not yet.
We amt begun our little play. Maybe
you're right and Alice is wrong,
Denny. I'm all bad, eh? So what
| can you expect from me. eh? Some
thing nice? Something interesting.
So let's look around"
He backed away toward the end OF
the pier and, with a quick thrust OF
his pointed chin, looked over the
edge. He was humming to himself
little quiet tune which was almos,
like whispered soprano.
"Hello-a rowboat-a rowboat, and
no oars" he exclaimed mo oars,
Maybe somebody uses this boat and
has hid the oars. What's over therec'
He pointed with his left hand
| through the fog at the blurred mass
of shadow which was the shore across
the bay. That's where the state
| road runs, amt it? Well, lets look. >
A long box built of heavy boards
rested along the top Of the pier; the
Nightinsale. standing over it. braced
| his legs, pulled upward, and, with
Shrek, the staple which held the
paddock came out of the wood. He
lifted the hinged cover and. glancins
over his shoulder SO that his victims
I might not spring on him from behind
he felt around in the interior.
| Here they are" he exclaimed, 'the
oars! Ha, ha, Denny, If you'd only
had these; you and your girl could
have made your getaway! You could
have taken a little row when yol
/ ue0Tu SluSlHs. wen, DeHHy, now
| it's you and me will take little
row-a cold little row."
The girl uttered a cry.
| whats the matter?" protested the
| Nightingale. You amt going to OBJ
ject to his going for little row will
| an old friend? You amt going to OBJ
ject if I don't shoot him down like {
dog?"
I'll go, too," Alice begged.
But the Nightingale shook his head
! "Tisn't safe for three. Two's
enough. Wen take our little row
and them
| Then"
"why, one of us will come back fol
you, little girl You wait here. One
of US will come back-that's what
hope"
! Denny stepped forward
You got a gum" he said accus
| ingly.
That's sol" the Nightingale said
with mock astonishment, glancint
down at the weapon in his hand
What will we do about that, 1 won
| der? Suppose / throw it over afteI
we've started? How'd that be? Th'
gun won't be any use to me, any.
how-after this beautiful night.
meant to shoot you with it, but that,
rough work. So. Denny, you climi
| down and sit in the seat in the stern
I'm going to row, Denny. Wen
start fair"
| He threw back his head and laugh
ed heartily. The girls lover took
deep breath; he shrugged his should
ers and clenched his hands.
"I'll CO." he said.
mo, no. no"' sobbed Alice.
The Nightingales face twiste'
about in one of those spasms OF e1
preston which characterized him.
"Say, what's the NATTER" he asked
in his evil whine. You didn't low
me, and you loved him. What wa
wrong with that? You two are plan
ming to get married and go straight
| What's wrong with that? I RnaWet