The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-04-09

FITCH THRUST TOWARD HER
the hail had not been heard, for the
house was as decorously still as
though it We're not planned to carry
an unconscious girl out within the
hour to horrors as yet unknown
They reached the lower floor and the
tradesmen's entrance unchecked and
Sallie felt a little sob well up in her
throat as the cool night air beat
upon her face.
Still at Fitch's heels she ran across.
the court, through a door in d wall.
down an alley and over another wall
by means of small ladders already
placed there. A second passageway.
an open door of iron grill. and to her
amazement the girl found herself
upon a side street, broad and deserted
save for themselves.
Her companion gripped her arm
and hurried her on relentlessly when
Sallie. painting, would have cried out
the truth to him. but as they turned
the corner and the headlights of a
car approaching slowly up the street
came into view she managed to
wrench herself free.
Fitch. listen, you must listen or
you'll get into trouble with your
chief. Let me go and III give you this
string Of pearls. l only let you think
l was this Diamond Bess' so that
you'd help me get away from those
/ terrible people, but I'm not" she
sobbed breathlessly. Il don't know
anything about her except what I
read in the paper. I meyer saw those
diamonds
My Gawd" He seized her again
IN a grasp which made her cry out
with pain. Still trying to double
cross. are you? 1 thought you'd be
on the level with a pal as had done
as much for you as what I have.
Bess, but you're like all The rest,
That was Sloat himself that I
croaked outside your door there
croaked. do you hear, and I'll go to
the chair for it if I'm caught! They
was gOin' to take you to a private
horspital that doctor has out in the
country and do you in, I heard the
whole thing and in three days at
most the papers would have had the
death of Miss Copeland from injuries
got in that wreck. BH'me me I wish
Ia let EN- take your
You mUst-you must believe me-,
Sallie walled
III believe you all right when the
chiefs through with you" Fitch re-
/ spOnded venomously. And me get
tin soft on you. Here's the car
/ Now you come along and come along
quiet, or I'll give you a rap on the
cOnk. woman or no, so help me"
[ Sallie had forgotten her pistol, but
now she raised it desperately just as
/ the sedan rolled up to the Grub and
/ its lights were extinguished. With
/ a contemptuous laugh Fitch twisted
her wrist and the pistol fell to the
| sidewalk.
Here, Bill" He spoke into the
opened door of the sedan. IT'S Bess.
! all right, but shes tryin' to do us
dirt and make a getaway. Toss her
in and gag her if she peeps. Wait
till 1 find this gat and We'll be off,
As the car rolled on Sallie covered
in her corner. realizing the futility
of further struggle. Her sense reeled
and she felt that consciousness was
| leaving her bat she clenched her
hands and bit deeper into her lower
lip. fighting with all her strength to
keep command Of herself To what
sort of awful den were they taking
her? What would their fearsome
leader do to her when he found out
the mistake. if his gang did not hest
/ tate at murder. Sloat-.
A shudder shook her from head to
foot and she shrank still further into
her corner. Fitch beside her and
Bill in front were grimly silent and
the stoId, bulky man at the wheel
had not even turned his head It APP
peared to the terrified girl that they
| drove for countless miless turning
corners which she could only judge
/ by the lurch and swerve of the car
and although she dreaded unspeak-
ably their journeys end the suspense
| became unbearable.
At last, just as she felt her self
control slipping from her. the car
stopped with a jerk and the fellow
called Bill opened the door and got
out.
''Th nix she'll give any trouble.
/ F'red?" he asked.
Come on, Bess. no bluffing now,
No. she'll go quiet: she's all in
In pitiful obedience SalEe had striv-
en- TO rise but her knees gave way
beneath her and she was only d.mly