New Britain herald., 1924-08-06

| find out something damn quick" He was gone again, hastening uT the road toward the staring head lights
 CHAPTER V. The Nervous Gunman IL was a big black machine, Ions and squat and heavy, with luggage or the running boards. luggage on the rear. three spares, and four occupants one of them a chauffeur in uniform The Wreck ignored the chauffeur. al. though he kept a furtive eye on him He stepped close to the side Of the tonneau and addressed himself to one of the three persons who sat there.
 'I'm asking you again for A few gallons of gas" he said. I've go' to have it: that's all. You can spare me some without any trouble" And I'm still telling you to go tc the devil" answered a heavy voice from the central figure We haven't got any gas to spare. And you'd better get busy and roll that f1ivver out of the road and let me get by, If you need any help my driver is here"
 "I don't want that kind of help" said the Wreck, still controlling his voice. T want gas"
 The heavy voice laughed.
 were not running a tank wagon"
 "We people with fivvers." de- clared the Wreck. slowly, "are not gas hogs. If I had as much gas as you've got in your tank I could run from here to New York You're what I call damned hog All I'm asking is five gallons and I'll pay for it. Do.I get it?"
 There was an abrupt change in the Wreck's demeanor He stepped back a pace. pulled his cap close over his eyes and brought to view an object he had been concealing behind his back Even in the gloom 1t was possible to get an idea of what 1t was.
 stick 'em up!" he parked. All hands. Be in a hurry now"
 There was feminine shriek from the tonneau, and the Wreck then and there first learned that one of them was a woman. But it was no time for courtesies.
 "All up--eyerybody! You there, in the front seat! That's the idea. I want to see eight hands up all the time. And I don't want to see any funny movements, either.
 He had to take 1t for granted that eight hands were up; he could not count them very clearly in the dark, particularly as his eyesight was none too keen. But that, of course, was something they did not know.
 Listen hard, now" he said, brisk ly When tell you to do some- thing, do it quick and don't give me any back talk. I want everybody out of that car. on this side of the road. And just keep those hands up; I'll open the doors. It'll be awful good for your health if you bear in mind that I'm nervous. I'm apt to get excited. Everybody out. now; one at time. Line up!"
 The driver came first, his arms stiffly aloft. Then three figures in single file from the tonneau, the last one wearing skirts. The person with the heavy voice coughed nervously.
 wen give you i've"
 Shut up!" commanded the Wreck. "Youll give me anything I want You three--'' He indicated the pas with a wave of the gun. You three step out in front of those lights where I can keep a good eye on you That's business. Stay there. Now, driver, got can?"
 "Ah-ah-yes, sir"
 Get it--and be careful you don't get anything else"
 The man in uniform moved eau tiously to the side of the car and unstrapped five-gallon container from the running board.
 Its full sir" he said.
 Full, eh? Carrying extra gas and wouldn't give me a drop, eh? All right, you pick up that can and march-straieht up the middle of the road"
 For a few seconds 1t puzzled the Wreck what to do with the trio who still stood with their hands up in the glare of lights. He solved it by ordering them to a point midway be- tween the two cars, where he made them sit down and told them not to budge.
 My partner up here in the fliv- ver," he explained, lis looking at you over 8 pair of sights He's pretty good shot. / He's nervous, too."
 The man with the five-gallon can walked ahead until the Wreck halted him within half dozen paces of the stalled car. The Wreck stepped ahead to speak to Sally He found that she had disnounted and was standing by the roadside, beyond the beam of light.
 You crazy"
 He placed hand roughly across her lips.
 "Shut up!" he whispered. Stay where you are and say nothing. I'm running this"
 Sally was boiling, but she obeyed. It seemed the only way to keep him from some other wild folly.
 The Wreck called to the man with the can and, as he reached the fliv-
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