Evening star., 1928-08-02

road. The big man who killed Boris.
he had il. Best give 1t over. What
could he do2
He stared at the splendor OF the
level and from ii to the bright tinSel
hangingS on the fir tree and suddenly
his brain focused and his racing
thoughts stood still.
He heard the rattle and slide of the
window opening behind him and
draft of air set the decorations to
swinging on the fir tree. Very cau-
tiously he shook the chain out OF his
hand and pressed the diamond between
thumb and foreflnger.
Put your hands up, both Of you.
the voice commanded, "and you IN
gray, / am watching you particularly
It viii be unfortunate If you drop what
is in yours
Walk~-'s arms already we're raised
high above his head Cameron neSl-
tated. holding his breath.
Put your hands up" the voice rap
ped impatiently.
AS the trooper obeyed, his thumb
darted out. Tipping the diamond away
rs one shoots a marble. Fn bit his lip
and waited The man at the window
gpoke rapidly in another language 10
some one outside. Cameron heard the
rasp of cloth on wood. The window.
ratfled family and feet dropped to the
floor
sYou both the order came in the
same gentle. menacing tone, will walk
over and stand against the wall.
Good
Again the whisper Of rubbing cloth. a
Rr7argt. and the creaking of floor boards.
Nov" the unseen ordered, you can
both face about
beside the Christmas tree stood
little man. his hat set far back on his
high. bald skull. a strangely meek Ht-
tie man, Cameron thought at first
glance, in shabby, rumpied clotnlng
with his hat brirn flaring out his ears.
It vas incongruous that so milo q
figure should hold a pistol trained
steadily upon him and Walker. Then
he noticed the eyes set close TO the
neshy nose. They were gray and opaque
as granite and as hard. There was
brain behind them; Cameron could feel
that. but ii was an inhuman intelligence
as merciless as the Scornful mouth,
twisted into a perpetual half sneer.
Behind the little man and looming
head and shoulders above him. was
grinay, hairy giant The sprouting
beard accentuated rather than masked
the loose bestiaiity of his lips. ABOVE
the vide cleekbones, Redeemed eyellos
hllnked with bovine delibeTatinn. From
the enormous span Of his shoulders.
thick arms dangIed great hands, hall
closed and naccid. There was SEN
suai flicker of anticipation behind
those reddened lids. The trooper felt
dread touch him coidly. He spoke
aloud
4 know you both. I've seen you
before"
The little man wrinkled his fore
head as though lifting his non-existing
eyebrows.
yes" he said politely, but you shall
not see us again"
T7Tere was a soft. velvety menace in
his prediction Beside him, Cameron
could hear the police chief breathing.
The trooper spoke boldly 10 anodyne
hishadinbng fear
Levine and ChapIinsky," he said. as
though memorizing the names.
The face of the little man twitched
almost imperceptibly and the scornful
lines about his lips deepened.
open your hands" he bade Cam
eron 6tiil quietly and, as the trooper
hegttated, snapped quick His body
ouivered as though something within
struggled 10 be uDleaShed. The Dig
man behind him continued 70 stare.
Cameron slowly spread his fingers
wide, displaying empty palms.
No trace Of emotion touched Le-
vines face. After long silence ne
asked.
Where is it,"
"Where is what?" Cameron retorted.
plained mildly, ~ should like that
diamond right away"
Il have no diamond. ] don't know
what you are talking about " the trooper
replied stoutly
The little man did not answer but
sputtered and dr0ned something in Rus
sian to the giant who stood oenlno
him.
I'm ordering him 10 make you tell,
he explained. quite pleasantly 70 the
trooper
CnaplinSky moved his great bulk TO-
ward Cameron with the ungainiy ease
of bear, His reo~rimmed eyes
sparkied now with an almost cniioish
pleasure The trooper braced himself
fof a struggle II was useless. Win
gleefsi ssyagery, Chaplinsky grappled
with him. twisted both arms behind
Cameron's back and pinned them there
with one hand. lie gmelled ike a Wld
animal His other paw Rrlpped MS
prisoner by the nape of the neck, cloat
10 his ears. and pressed.
Of the troopers head throbbing tor
ment that tried 10 batter it's WAY
through the peak of his skull
He ground his teeth 10 check
sRYoan and caught pain-blurfeo
glimpse Of Levine watching hin
tbougntfuly Then sight went out To
red mist
Behind his victim, ChapIiDsky barred
strong yellow teeth In a grin Of de-
light. IT was not Cameron but Walker
sghen~faced and shaking, who groanef
In horror At the sound Levine glanced
at him sharply and spoke word q
the giant The iron grip on Cameron
neck relaxed Consciousness returned
as the pain ebbed and he caught him
aelf on the verge Of falling. He managed
20 keep his feet. swaying drlnkenly, snc
twisted his thTobbing neck. without 4
word He was aware. above the drum
ming of blood in his ears that Levine