Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-20

wv pocketbook and case combined
4 In which foreign paper
money, stamps and newspaper
cuttings hid all but the tips of five DIES.
perate- looking cigars of the branc
known in italy as ToScano.
The other declined with thanks.
"Awfully good of you, but prefer
a pipe"
Marney grunted and tucked the re.
ceptacle out of sight.
$50 you were in a hurry to quit the
gay city, eh?"
Dighton started.
For some reason or other, looking
at Marney, q picture floated across his
mind of ravens he had seen hopping
around the site where the executioners
block had stood at the Tower. His
expression implied that he knew more
than the other thought
What do you know, Marney?'
II know you were in devilish hurry
Another guy standing by me at the
window wanted to take bets with me
that you'd miss it.
You can say what you like here
in a reasonable kind of voice. by the
way. i've been the whole length OF
the train and there's not soul on II
that matters"
He spat out piece OF chewed leaf.
1.-THE teller with money TO Throw
about was wool buyer from YORK,
shire. There's an Italian senator and
his secretary, back from some con-
vention or other, a couple of vamps
out to see what they can pick up at
Bordighera or San Reno and a fair
proportion of stand-aloof English FOLK
looking for the sun. What have you
been dining to yOur handS?"
He shot out the question SO quickly
that his companion jumped.
"That?-oh, that's the breath OF our
friend with the green monocle.
He lowered his voice.
HE came into Daudot'S fiat while ]
was there and wiped out a French
woman"
Marney whistled softly.
"And you're alive to tell the tale!"
Dighton laughed. $50,
I'm alive right enOugh-and still
kicking Shed pushed me into another
room. hadn't the least idea who was
coming, mind you. ] suspected IL
might be our friend, but wasn't sure.
was standing on the other side OF the
door when he blazed of. A little later
I caught sight of him from the BAL
cony-"
Marney moved his head slowly up
and down.
And he never knew you were there!
Holy Mike! but isn't that just Won
derful!"
1T was getting out after him." pur-
sued the other, that picked up this
rash. I'd tied a towel round my face.
but I hadn't thought about my hands"
The American gazed at him for some
moments in silence. Il,
"Some people, he asserted. ARE
born under lucky star. It's no credit
to 'em-no credit whatever. They just
can't help themselves. Others-take
Corlitt, for example, received visit
from the guy in the white mask only
utes to tell you their impressions! You
packed your grips then and beat 1t,
eh?"
"You bet did. I'd done all had
to do in Paris and had no desire to
be arrested by the French. police on
the strength of the testimony OF a con-
cierge. This thing'll be in all the pa
pers in a couple of shakes"
Marney shook his head.
"You can make your mind easy on
that score, old scout. Certain people'll
be bribed to keep their mouths shut
or spirited away If a bride doesn't do
it. Ahlborg's new dope's too rich q
mixture for a machine like the French
public, or any other public, for the
matter of that. They'll be looking out
for the man with that gun, sure enough,
but there'll be no publicity about it."
Then you think-
Il think you were right in shifting
your quarters-dead right. You're
paid to take risks, but not unnecessary
ones"
He reached up and pressed the bell.
II don't know how you feel" he
continued, "but I'd like to drink the
health of teller who's encountered
the Lizard twice inflow long Is 1t?"
Dighton made a rapid calculation.
About 43 hours, as near as I can
make it."
The figure astonished himself. So
much had happened since Corlitt's call
at his Office with proposition that he
could have sworn he had been indulg-
ing in underground warfare for at least
a week.
IF you'll take my advice" said the
older man when the drinks were
brought, "you won't go out for trouble
You won't get grouching because q
week slips by without anything in par
ticular happening. You'll just thank
| those lucky stars was talking about
just now. If you do strike "a. dull week
the next'll be cracker-jack!"
He raised his glass.
well, here's howl"
"Cheerio!" murmured Dighton.
He was beginning to like Marney. II
was growing upon him every minute
| that somewhere beneath that horny
| case hardened exterior there lurked 9
heart of gold-more than that, a sense
of humor to which its poSsessor re-
| fused for some reason to give express
! sion.
"Daudot was in with the other chap,
he announced presently, II found out
that much. One of his reasons fol
crossing the Channel was to get rid Of
rope of pearls they'd stolen"
| Marney frowned.
| "My!" he muttered half to himself
that's Interestingly"
His cigar had gone out, and he lii
| it from the flame of a battered brass
pocket lighter.
why didn't he wait to see the
Chief?" he broke out suddenly. "Dic
you find out that?"
Because" said Dighton, "he hap.
pens to be dead!"
The other screwed his paper into 9
ball and tossed it into the opposite cor.
ner. He pulled down the blind ovel
the door on the corridor side and faceC
Dighton, both hands resting on hi.
knees.
who killed him?"
"The Lizard, suppose"
what for?"
Because he heard he was going tt
Taverner.'
Marney extended one hand, palm up.
permost, to an invisible audience.
Gee! What dyou know abou
that?" he demanded. "All from tn,
mouths of babes and sucklings! Car
you beat it,"