The Pleasantville press., 1926-07-13

make trouble, they'd be swell identifi
cation That's all. I guess you birds
know what those pictures are worth.
"Al right. Now nobodyll get hurt
| so long as you behave See tLls
| table?" He nodded curtly to snnl
serving table in front of him "Jusi
| walk up here and kick in with what
ever you got Oh. Money an jewels
| get me? one at a time"
No one moved. Pellen's coid eyes
| Travelled swiftly across the group. and
rested on Sally Keddeston. Her eyes
were wide with terror, and her
rouged mouth stood out like scarlet
slash across the pale face.
"Pearls, Pm lookin' for" rasped the
gunman. "Where are they? Did you
stick 'em in your purse" The wom-
ans mouth opened helplessly. mop"
Eddie the Immune scowled at Coswell.
Maybe you didn't give 'em to 'er yet.
eh? Maybe you were goin to give
'em to her-late tonight Come on!'
There was movement among the
little group. and Hugh Coswell, badly
scared, came forward, one hand CROP
ing in the inside pocket Of his coat.
"Sh," nodded Pellen, with a grin,
81 thought you had 'em. Well, just
hand 'em over brother-Pll see they
get taken care Of"
"Now the rest Of you" he invited,
| with significant gesture. "Step up
| and contribute. An don't try to hold
out on me, see? Pull any funny stuff
an I'll have the boys finish you. All
right-hurry it up!"
A hardlooking youth in a rain coat
and cap now appeared in the door
way, leveling an automatic. Hugh
| Coswell SUNK away from the table,
gray-faced, and crept closer to Bei-
tram.
"God," he groaned, "if I ever get
out of this"
| Bertram felt curiously sorry for him..
| This nightmare scene would doubtless
prove a lesson to him. The others
| had now moved forward and were lay
ing their offerings upon the altar of
| Eddie the Immune; the men silently
parting with their purses, the women.
not without whimpering protest, strip
ping off their rings and Jewels In
less than two minutes Eddie the Inn
mune had everything of value they
possessed, safe In his own pockets
and again the twisted smile curved his
hard mouth
"You can go now," he said. The
| o< hn
the victims without pausing. rushed
out.
Bertram, feeling somewhat un-
nerved, glanced at Kitty Hewitt. She
had apparently enjoyed the little COM
edy. 1t had passed off rather well no
one had seen her toss the match upon
the flashlight powder.
Calmly Eddie the Immune lighted a
cigarette and nodded to the gunman,
who disappeared. then he staggered
toward Kitty Hewitt.
"Come on" he said quietly; let's
blow. The cars waiting"
"Oh," replied the girl, "but I'm 60
ing home with Doctor Darand. came
with him, you know"
"Oh!" Eddie the Immune's cold
blue eyes fastened upon Bertram. $50
you're Doctor Darand-eh?"
"Yes"
you're the guy that worked on
me2"
~ did what could"
"Hm."
No thanks at all. Instead. the gum
man frowned at Kitty Hewitt. "Com-
in back to town with him. are you7"
Eyes, Eddie"
Abruptly, without another word, he
turned and walked out Of the room.
Bertram glanced at Kitty apprehen-
slvely; then a second later they heard
powerful automobile leaving the
drive outside.
"Come," said Kitty Hewitt. 'let's
get out of herew
Speeding along the highway toward
town under the cold November stars,
Bertram spoke but little. What a
strange mess the whole affair was
Kitty Hewitt-and those gunmen-
"Well," she spoke quietly, 'yOu saw
| the whole show. What did you think
of it?"
~ don't know what to think"
"Want to call the police?"
"N-no."
"Or do you feel that maybe your
friend Coswell learned lesson? If
Pm any Judge Of men. he did"
"Oh," answered Bertram. you're
right about that. That part of it was
justiable. suppose. But the hold
up"
Listen" Kitty Hewitt's voice grew
hard. "Those men we saw with wom-
en- tonight are what people call higher
ups They don't play the game
sQuarely-they make their own rules.
Nobody can touch them, do you un-
derstand?"
Surprised, he glanced toward her,
and in the faint light her eyes were
burning with a strange intensity.