Evening star., 1926-09-29
Strategy.

Mickey" Gaines directed his man.
'keep this gang covered while 1 hunt
the girl, Shoot the first one who
stirs!" He was off, daShing from the
room, fashlight in hand, while Mickey
stood grinning at his three prisoners.
Say" he commented, you all
about had us fooled"'
The two Milanas began Il hurried
conversation, firing a volley of ques-
ttons at the old woman, who main
tanned q stolid. glaring silence, While
overhead Gaines footsteps could be
heard, running from room to room.
IF ! thought you two crooks were
IN this I'd shoot you where you
stand" he swOre as he retoined the
group. Mickey, stand that old hag
against the wall. She's going to
speak, or else forever hold her peace
The old woman, looking into the
barrels of two cloSe-range reVolVers.
legan first to whimper and then to
cry loudly for help, her arms out
stretched.
Wants YOU to rescue her." Gaines
commented to the Alilanas; suspect
toure not any more eager to do that
1nan | am. Make her Squeal, She
understands you, Find out who took
me girl? If Walter is behind this
he's going to pay big price"
The old woman began to pour forth
Il volume OF Spanish dialect. accom-
panied by protesting gestures and
floods of tears, while the two ATilanas,
lowering over her mplored and
threatened.
"E'hat were YOU damned fools do
ing?" Gaines flung his FIRST question
ut his assistant" Il Thought | brought
trained help down here. Get out and
send each man in, one a. Il time.
Mickey vanished ana the two assist
ants. reporting one at time, assured
the detective that every entrance and
FlndoW had been closely watched.
an0 that no one had entered or left
tae house.
I'VE haven't missed q trick, boss.
You brought tpe Gi"l in and shes still
lere.'
Gaines considered a moment.
"Then there is Il subway" he said
iriefy. Find il while Ina putting this
woman through The mill. Milana.
what $ she telling you?"
Protests innocence" Milana an
swered. but shes lying! My God,
can't you make her speak, Gaines"
The pistol cracked. a bullet whizzed
through the air. entering the wall "a
few jrchcs above the old woman's S
head
Talking now" Gaines asked care
lessly: The next one will get your
right hand. and m not waiting long,
other"
The woman Wept louder. and began
- fresh torrent of words, interspersed
with curses, hut this time Gaines
could see that she was making some
kind of a confession. and he caught
enough OF il to issue a curt order to
ATlana.
Ramon. Get that money and bring
It here"
Alilana. after another question to
the Madre. hurried from the room.
returning presently with a heavy can
vas bag.
"One thousand dollars in gold"
Nilana $ voice shook with rage. "She
MS Japanese offered ii to her for
lUe girl while she was preparing her
upper He gave her some drops to
rut in Carolita's tea, and hid in the
L5tchen while we were being served.
he Madre has not seen him since"
Ask her if it's Walters worl<?"
She says not. She says that
Walter promised her his money within
4 hours, She says she thought she
might as well pick up this extra thou
sand, Is long as CarOlita couldn't win
out, anyway | think she's telling the
ruth. Gaines"
ASK her If she ever saw the Jara,
lese before?"
Milana complied. reporting:
Yes lie lives here in town. sup
losed to be a rum runner
Gaines thought rapidly.
well" he said. while we have
her under cover we might as we'll get
ha 81 no tpnn
Nilana Il pencil and paper. take it
Gown just as she tells it! Just a
minute, here's my man again, what
10 you find?"
"A trapdoor in the kitchen leading
into a cellar with a long winding
passage, heading north. Shall we go
through?''
Yes. you and Mickey: And shoot
II you have to! This is no time TO
take chances. Report as soon as YOU
IAN, and. wait. get a wire through to
l'ail Reynolds in care of our office.
I'll write it for you, one Of the men
viii have TO dash for Tia Juana with
~"
He scr!bbled few words. and the
man hurried off
Now. then. make her begin at the
uC@inning. Get every word down
right. The thing we must be sure of
- Carolita's identity. although I think
J N going to be able To prove that in
another way"
How" asked Afilana desperately.
For Gods sake, if you have Il ray
~ hope, speak"
Through the ring
The ring, You've seen it? Where?"
MS tones were incredulous.
II haven't seen IT. hut I think I
know who has IL. I'm speaking now
II the ring you say was stolen from
Mario
Then you've seen Walter-you're
keeping something back. Gaines. l
have to find out what she knows, I
amt contain myself longer
Gaines waited while Milana. with
the greatest difficulty. extracted a full
Confession from the old Mexican hag,
2 feat which absorbed full half hour
and required infinite patience. Halt
inSly. one hand on her heart. her
ryes fixed upon the barrel of Gaines
revolver she told her story Of intrigue.
deceit, foul play. revealing the game
of blackmail played at concert pitch.
she had extracted money from Milana
and Walter Reynolds, cheated them
both. played them against each other
md hoodwinked them so successfully
that for l6 years she had been piling