Evening star., 1924-12-07

tlenan's hip pocket the automatic
feel quite sure you will find there"
As Nancy's fingers searched out the
weapon, the giant writhed anew.
Steady" counseled Wig. STEADY
old top"
But the pressure he was applying
to tortured wrist was not soothing
The giant unleashed a flow of pro-
family.
II could stop him-but time
presses" Wig apologized. He glanced
swiftly about the room--and added
Give me the automatic, please, and
get that rope in the corner and see II
you can manage to tie his ankles"
The rope proved heavy and cum
bersome. But she would have tried
, to do his bidding If, as she bent down
before him. Wigs prisoner had not
turned a somersault and come down
with crash that shook the house.
"Ooh!" she breathed, coming un-
steadily to her feet.
as II X
WIG hurled himself upon his ad-
w versary and brought the butt OF
the automatic down upon the giants
head with a force that turned her
sick.
The rope-quick" he ordered then
Nancy got 1t to him, then watched
while he trussed up his man, hands
and feet
He'll never come closer to death
than he did then" commented Wig,
grimly, as he rose and surveyed his
unconscious foe. II don't know yet
why l didn't shoot him and get it
over with-except that l didn't have
time to-"
But what happenedT she de-
manded. bewilderedly. II don't un-
derstand yet"
"He was about to kick you in the
face with that cute little foot of his
hobnails and ALL" Wig explained.
That's the way with these snow
birds. You never know what they'll
do next!"
SNOW birds?"
Dope fiends. / had a hunch the
minute he spoke that he was one.
Lucky for me he didn't happen to be
full of hop when / tackled him. Some
of the Boches who came over the top
In Franco
He stopped short. A car was ap-
preaching. The laboring of its en-
Gine was audible above the roaring
storm a second later A searchlight
flashed it's beam through the win
dows.
Quick" Wig demanded, and
snatched at her hand. Upstairs is
our best bet nowH'
They shot into the now-filled hall
and up a rickety stairway. At the
head of this there was a door. He
closed it behind them softly. yet
swiftly, and they found themselves in
absolute darkness.
The car had stopped outside, though
it's engine remained running. Wig
had his arm about Nancy, her heart
hammered against his ribs as they
listened.
The devilr' doomed a voice so
startllngly distinct that Nancy
jumped The doors wide open"
Jaw. Bill's full of hop againi" came
another voice, disgustedly.
Two of 'em anyway" murmured
Wig. Let's hope that's all"
The newcomers stamped their way
in.
Hall full of snow" exclaimed the
first speaker very loud speaker.
I'll punch Bilrs nose for this"
Wig felt a tremor run through
Nancy and his arm frightened about
her
What do we care?" he whispered
Bill ought to have his nose punched
The darkness seemed less dense now
that their eyes accustomed them
of her face as she glanced up toward
him. He became conscious then of
how closely he held her, yet he made
no move to release her. To the con-
trary.
"Shh!" he whispered. "Don't
move
She didn't. She came closer. if any
thing for the big voice had boom ed
again.
We'll I'll be bowed" it announced
The men below had entered the liv-
ing room. Somebody" announced
the other. must have been here
"A regular detective isn't he?
commented Wig in Nancy's ear. He
was curiously exhilarated; he felt
able, somehow, to cope with anybody
and anything.
But cold douche was in prepara-
tion for him.
They left Bills gat behind any
way" reverberated the loud speaker
~ did" corroborated Wig. II left
1t lying on the floor. Kick me,
please.
Instead Nancy looked up at him
again.
'They-they sound like the three