New Britain herald., 1927-03-12

! Her ItsliHS OH IoHb-bt IouIS were two barrels from the bung-holes or which oozed the overflow of fer meuting wine. Another corner 1 held small still not then in oper- s.tion. On its top was copper boiler half filled with cold mash. | An unpleasantly pungent odor, i thrown off by the fermenting wine and sour mash struck their nasal organs. The floor. ceiling and walls on three sides were Of ce- ment. On the fourth side tightly 1 fitting blanks held back the blue clay but not the slime that oozGi ] through the narrow CreF.ces. The ] place was damp and colder by 20 1 degrees than the air in the street, ! Piled up along one wall were case after case of bottled goods marked Canadian Nhiskcy." Don glanced at the young Italian who ] had sunk down on one of the cases, 1 Bootleg stuff" he remarked with succinct brevity.
 The other held up a warning fin 1 ger.
 "Quiet-th' gang" he cautioned in a husky whisper as the sound of voices fell on their ears. He motionod toward a ventilator in the wall a duplicate of the one above by which he had operated the pivot block. That's Bino's tip-off,' he hissed, from tn store when he's workin' down here. Listen"
 'Looka here, Bino," they heard harsh voice saying, you better come clean with us. That pair nusta ducked in here for it's tn only place they coulda got into in th' short time they had, Now. where are they"
 Nobody here but me-" came the evenly spoken reply Of the store keeper. Who you lookin' for?'
 "You know damn we'll wl.o we're loollin' for. It's Charley Costello of Ecnolas gang. He bumped of Nick Naletti just q few minutes ago an we're gonna get i'm, sec"
 Well, get 'em-I'm not stoppin yuh." they heard Bino reply short. Iy.
 "You're damn right you ain't stoppin' us. An you ain't helpin them birds either. I guess well put you in q plac" you'll stay put fir few days or ill you wise us up to where them two guys went. Or maybe" He flashed a gun threateninglv
 Don Keene looking at Charley Costello, saw the Italian start as tho man above voiced his intcn tions rcGardinS Bino.
 "Cmon, Bino, you go with us.' The voice upstairs held a note Of finality in it that struck q chill into the heart of Donald Keen". He searched Costollo's face.
 "WelI.' he said in a low tone as they caught the siam of a door above, "it begins 10 look as if we'd grabbed off fine hunk f'r our selves, Bno will squawll in about an hour an then that gang'M come down here an clean up on us,"
 No" said Charley shaking his head. "Bino won't squcal on me. but"
 He stopped. In his dark eyes burned light impossible 10 define. Don waited, wondering.
 "But what" he prompted finally.
 "We'ro in q tight place. I'm afraid. Don" replied the young gangster. For tn hell Of it is, he went on slowly. T don't know how to work that damn block from below. Tn fact, l don't think it can be worked from underneath. Tn only other time I was down here vas with BjDo and his wife worked th trap from mp above when W2 got ready to loavc"'
 Don looked anNously at Teddy The girl had been listening 10 Cos tello with a swiftly growing fear showing in her eyes. He took her hand and pressed it rcassuringly.
 "Don't fret little pard,' ha said trying to assume an Enconcern ha did not feel. "We'll get out of here some old way"
 A warm flush dyed the girls soft cheeks. Don turnod' to the Italian hurchod up on the whiskcy case.
 "They got you. too, didn't they""" he said and lnolt down in front of his wartime buddy. Here. lot me help you off with that coat and shirt till I sec how bad"
 And though his own left arm was numb to his finger tips and hung useless at his side Donald Eocna managed 70 remove the other S clothing above the waist.
 II" found an ugly looking hole some four inches to the right of the spine and just above the lowcr rib. Evidently the lower part Of the right lung had been pierced from h rear A thin trickle of blood secpcd from the wound.
 "T'd better ge, some water" said Don and rose to follow out his own suggestion. He found q spi@ot, hut the spjgot emitted nothing, He turned, dismaycd, toward his two companions The Italian was watching him with eyes that had grown big with Q new, scared look in their dark depths.
 "No water.' he gasped In chokoa whisper. "Maria' What, in Gods name. are we gonna do in