New Britain herald., 1928-03-13

I'm not ready to die just yet" l Well, then, We might as well be on our way, l suppose" said Jack. lie was suddenly eager, anxious to s-e Jill and the children. Since their reconciliation Jill had seemed dearer than eyer before.
 m get my coat and hat and n1ee- you at the door said Nita rising. Its just as well that every tody doesn't know We go out to- gather. People will talk And l real Jack"
 H. nodded grateful to her for her consideration. Blake had paid the check for Nita's and his dinner so there was nothing to hold them. They had been sitting at the table when Jack passed and Nita had called him.
 He didn't seem 10 be drunk, then" unused Jack, as he glanced at tte recumtsnt figure. He must have hit 'em up pretty fast in th' last half hour
 II Jack Stuart could have seen the remarkable rapldity with which Jim Blake sohared up as soon as he had made certain Of Jacks and Njta's departure it might have start d him to guessing.
 I've noticed il before in Jim" said Nlta, talking almost at ran- don and with an odd catch in her .,r.p+h ''JJa 1I tn 1t sleepy after he's taken four or five drinks. Where is your car parked 2" She put the question abruptly
 "Over in tn west corner of th' she'd he replied, Its not our own car; Jill had that, so l had to rent one"
 "Blake is driving Eddie Bakers car,' she said. in the manner of one talking just to keep up the conyer- sation-or to keep the listeners at tention. 'Is it q flivEer you've got, or a regular caro-
 "Oh. it's q good car,' replied Jack. Better, really, than our own, and Wait till I-Ah'"
 The "Ah." was jerked out of him, il might almost be said, by the very roots. when a powerful spotlight flashed suddenly full in his eyes. Then:
 Put up yer 'ands---hot' O yuh.' came the sharp command in q snappy, metallic tone that wavered not nor did if brook delay. Jack stuart waited not for any repeated order. He put 'em up.' A quickly stifled scream broke from Nita Ra- vclle
 Shut up. woman" parked the voice behind the spotlight, and a huge automatic showed it's menacing muZzle within the lights focus for an instant. ''Dne more squaNk outta you and-' The unuttered threat carried a double barreled suggestion of horrible possibilities.
 Brisk 'en, Pete bot of 'em'" came the next command. and sec ona figure. heavily armed and masked. stepped forward to execute orders Never mind tn jack now see'f either's gotta rod!'
 With his hands high above his head, Jack Stuart underwent the first real "frisking" of his life. T. consisted Of quick running Of hands over his pockets.
 When nothing in the shape of q gun was found, the frisker turned his attention to the woman. As the light was shining directly in his own eyes, and she was in the rear Of him, Jack could not witness the 'in dignity" to which she was subject i cd. Whatever it's nature, it was "X- ceedingly brief.
 Now, you two climb into the car there an sit tight on the back seat You're goin' fer q ride Step lively now"
 Looking into tn" 'roWning mouth of that huge automatic, the muzzl. of which looked as big 10 Jack as that of a coast defense gun. he felt that discretion. under the circum- stances. vas by far he best part of valor. H. stepped lively.
 His companion, evidently. had stepped even livelier. for she was inside and seated when he arrived,
 Oh. Jack" she whispered. tremu- lously. they won't murder ns, will theyp'
 "I don't---I hope not" he said, and he said it fervently. But life 1 vas very uncertain at best, he'd heard say
 The man with the spotlight and gun sdu"ozed into the small space ln front of them. closed the door, md snapped out his light. The other f"llo~ had taken the drivers seat. An instant later the car shot out rom under the shed and turned to- ward the road.
 Would you -- CT mind telling ~trre you aktng us, Mis- 'er2" queried Jack, with natural curiosity.
 "Uont you ev,r tell, bo for it's secret" came the quick, snappy answer. "You'rr goin' f'r a leotle l ride 's told yuh' You don't know wh4rf-hut yer on yer way, An l now he still fer l gotta t'ink''
 r occurred to Jack that hs own thinking apparatus, the machinery ] that usually ground Out the regular ! sristt, hut be fust-rlogged or ru.st- tluftod Nothing seerned 10 function correctly. 10 aynchronize in the GUS tomarily pr racrihod manner. All that ira could cent .r on was. They were going som where - but they didn't tgp" hef~'"
 CHATTER NTI
 Tta n.au "lth the spotlight and thr trapped voice indicated that his, clock was ticking to standard ad- Hstwput. hoW yer. for he said;
 w re bout due to rive al th' plan. wer" eoin' 10, Wfut you two don't s,. you won't talk so much hoFf &p I'll J9.,f un tHase nice