Evening star., 1924-12-07

buliy Siri ne applauoeu, VOICE
lessly.
And curiously enough she, too, sud-
denly felt elated.
THE men below were moving about,
= their activities interspersed with
comment.
"They didn't get away with any
stuff. Charley. It's all here"
Say. Red-Ill bet II was that Port
land gang. We must have scared
them Off"
| They parked them there. But 1t isn't
like that Portland gang to run"
Pour bucket of water on Bill and
see IL that Will bring him to. There's
something funny about this business.
I'm going to take a look around"
Wig groaned softly and Nancy
glanced swiftly up at him.
What fool I ami" he whispered.
II could have gotten gas from your
carw
To Nancy it seemed, for a second.
that she must laugh outright.
What good does II do to think of
that now?" she whispered back.
None" he admitted. But 1t does
make me feel like a"
There he stopped short. A streak
of light penetrated under the door
that gave them an uncertain sanctu-
airy. One of their unwilling hosts
had returned to the hall below, car
rying the lamp.
They held their breath.
Then, abruptly, the light disap-
peared and the hi-jacker swore.
Red" he beloved.
Whats the matter now?" demand
cd Red, from the kitchen.
Bring the searchlight. The lamp
has blown out"
Wait a minute. That boob Bill left
the kettle on and It's boiling over"
Nancy felt Wigs arm tighten about
her.
Listen" he whispered. They've
separated and this Is our chance.
That car is still running outside. I'm
going to jump the man in the hall.
When ! do, you make a dash for the
CAR
"But-but you?" she demanded,
quickly.
I'll keep the man downstairs busy
long enough for you to get away, he
promised. grimly. And you can send
help"
IF you think I'm going to leave
you" she began. Indignantly.
You do as l say he commanded,
and though his voice was still whfs-
per it sounded like a shout to her.
ITS the only way"
II WON'T she retorted.
He groaned aloud in evaporation.
Then:
Please dear" he begged.
And as II that were not surprising
enough he kissed her. squarely and
fairly on her lovely, mutinous mouth.
For my sake" he added, and, re-
leasing her, he threw open the door
The man in the hall below was
about to relight the lamp. He held
this in his left hand while with his
right he scratched a match. AS Wig
opened the door he glanced up. mouth
gaping wide. Wig gave him no time
to collect his wits. Vaulting the rick
ETY. stair rail he landed fairly and
squarely on him.
They went down together with
crash that shook the house. The
lamp splfntered, the match went out
and all was darkness. Then:
I've got him. Nancy" shouted
Wig. Get out-quick!"
But Nancy never stirred. She was
still savoring that surprising kiss
Then, abruptly. an electric torch
flashed on in the hall below. 1t re-
veaIed Wig pinning down his quarry,
but left her in the dark.
Get up" snapped Red, come from
| the kitchen TO see what was the mat
ter.
THERE was nothing for Wig to do
but to obey. He got up. but his
| late adversary did not. There was,
after all, nothing very big about him
| save his voice. and Wigs attack had
pitched him head foremost toward the
wainscoting.
Snap your hands up and keep them
Pa6
| like dog"
And again Wig obeyed. He knew
| that Nancy had lost her chance and
he could have wept. But moro wisely,
hoping against hope, he attempted to
| create a diversion.
The only time ever tried to shoot
a dog I fiunked it." he observed, con-
versationally. He looked at me SO
appealingly with his big brown eyes
just as I'm looking at you now"
"Cut the comedy" advised Red.
You didn't come alone. Where's the
rest of your gang? Come clean-.and
make 1t quick"
They're outside" lied Wig. And
If I were you I'd be careful with that
gun. There's seven of them coming
and coming fast
rs that SOL" spat Red. We'll, they
may crack me. but I'll get you first,
kid, believe me. Say your prayers,
and say them fast"
Then he fired. But not deliberately
The automatic went off in the same
way that the breath went out of him
involuntarily.
1t was his first impression that the
roof had fallen. He revised that al
most at once. Iii a free-for- all he
was credited with prowess equal to
his weight in wildcats. His second
impression was that he had at last
encountered this.
The automatic. still smoking, slipped
from his hand, the electric search
light, still lighted, rolled across the
floor. Wig retrieved them both in
stantly.
Quit, Nancy" he cried "Quitr'
Nancy did not even hear him. She
| had reverted to the primitive; indeed
she never did have any clear idea of
Just what happened after she, too,
| had launched her attack over the stair
| rail. She continued to attack the still
bewildered Red with a fury that
would have won her a croix de guerre
| from the old King Berserker himself
until Wig gripped her shoulder and
| pulled her off.
She glanced up at him then, breath
| less and a little dazed, but never so
lovely.
"He-he was going to shoot you"
she murmured like a bewildered child.
He might have shot your said
! Wig, sternly, and thrusting her be-
| hind him he addressed Red. Get up
and keep your hands up" he snapped.
| You missed, but l shan't"
I'm not afraid OF that gum" re-
piled Red. "If you'll keep that hell
cat off of me-
| The front door, swinging open with
bang. cut him short. Two men, each
| of them armed with a sawed-of shot
gun, menaced them from the thresh-
/ old.