New Britain herald., 1926-03-24

fltll "lln DlNlS, Agdlu 1lldL Cglzy laugh. His whisky-laden breath reached Jimmy across the room. And then he said something that Jimmy Rand had waited months to hear: "I killed your old man now I'm gonna finish the job'
 Jimmy felt sudden cold like fee against his heart-and with it came Il steadying calm.
 He said, between taut lips: Il know you did. Jensen. I've been waiting 10 hear you say it before l killed you. I've known for weeks that you did it. He felt that. after all, it made little difference 10 him what happened, so long as he could bury his fingers in the others throat and choke the brutal drunken life out Of him.
 You did. eh 9" and Jensens voice was 6 sneering taunt. How'd you get so smart? Hell, kill me? Huh.'
 You don't believe I've got a gun" I'm waiting, too, Jensen, waiting to have you tell me what I want to know before I use it."
 What a gigantic, crazy bluff, he thought. And what a still crazier thing to be doing to sit and handy words with q man who had him trapped in a dark room, pa tiently waiting for him to make move. biding his time to get him ill his crushing hands.
 Still, he thought, and was sur prised at the calm with which he was able to contemplate it., If the other was going to get him he would go down fighting, armed with a hatred he had never felt before. Meanwhile, If Jensen would talk well, he would find out what he could.
 What I want to know" he said, is who hired you to kill my father. I've known all along you did 1t. You thought you were shrewd, Jensen. planting that Handkerchief in the room. But you didn't intend to leave that stub of a theater ticket. That wasn't so smart. Come on. tell me who was behind It."
 You'd like to know. eh?" There was a crafty ring to Jensen's voice. Well, I'm not tellin'. Sure, l bumped him off, sure. Called him up at his office. Told him I had news of his father-what's his name?-oh, yes, Thaddeus Rand"
 Jensen laughed again. Jim my thought the sound of 1t would drive him crazy. No harm tellin' you about 1t. You're gonna get yours anyway Well, he comes right down to the room. see? The room ] have in the hotel. Falls for 1t just like fish, Pretty smart of me eh?"
 Jimmys hands twitched. He bit his lip savagely to down the hot anger that was leaping up 10 destroy his forced calm. And Jensen's voice went on, maddeningly, tauntingly:
 Yeah, pretty smart of me, IT say. Comes right upstairs an knocks on the door. An says, Come in Just like that. Come in says. Huh -huh-ha."
 Again that thick, crazy laughter.
 50 he comes in, an I says, 'Wha do you want?' an he says. Are vol the man. he says, that called me uI and said he had news of Thaddeu' Rand?'
 "'NnI goys GvnU ,o,,etfa y,ooAo q mistake. You got the wrong room, guess Pretty slick, eh, Rand? Oh I'm not so dumb"
 He paused. and the short silenc, was again broken with laugh.
 Jimmy said. his voice like chilled steel: And then what?"
 An then he turns to go. 'Bej your pardon he says. Real polite Rand, I'll say that for him. He turned around, with his hat Tn on hand an his other hand on the door knob. An then lets him have it. Bingo."
 He made loud smacking sound of fist on palm. With the old black jack, Rand. understand. Goo blackjack. Made it myself. : Best blackjack in tn world. Damn you. you got it away from m
 that night, didn't you? Neve mind, you're gonna get yours in
 coupla minutes. Plenty c { time.
 l That's all. I turned on the ga