Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-05-13
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by JJEFFERSON FARJEON crAAi @s cMLFs-A -m@L+
CHAPTER XII
By JEFFERSON FARJEoh


But while they planner. events
were moving elsewhere. and decis-
ions were being taken out Of their
hands. A sudden sound in the
launee hall fell upon their ears.
Something had fallen heavily to the
ground.
Its the plank against the vim
dow whispered Brown.
which means that somebody has
decided to pay us a visit" Charlie
whispered back. Lets interview
them before they get in. shall we?'
mo. not you.r murmured Brown.
gripping the poker which he had
taoughtfully retained. You stay
here, and listen from the door. If
you choose your moment, you'll be
twice as useful II you join in any
trouble as a surprise
That's true" nodded Charlie.
only. If / miss the moment, and
you want me. just shouti"
Another sound came from the
lounge hall. Something else had de-
scended upon the ground. But not
q plank, this time. The visitor.
Brown ran quickly out Of the
room. poker between himself and
eternity. He reached the hall in
half a dozen strides. The visitor
was standing by the window. II was
the individual referred to by Char
lie as big Ugly Mug.
What do you want?" demanded
Brown.
You" answered the burly man.
ironically.
Then come and get me-" retort-
ed Brown.
I'm going to-" grinned the burly
man. II ought To have got you
when you bought a paper next To
me at Kings Cross yesterday-but
I didn't know you quite SO well
then"
"P'r'aps you know me even bet
ter in a moment" said Brown. BRAN
dishing his poker.
Drop that returned the bury
man. "or Ill put a bullet through
you"
A man brandishing a poker is not
a match for a man brandishing a
pistol. but Brown had progressed to
a stage beyond counting the odds.
III he had counted the odds. he
would have dropped the poker and
raised his hands. Instead. he hurled
the poker at his adversary, and
lodged swiftly to one side.
His SwiftnesS saved him. The
burlv mans bullet flashed past his
head and spat into the wall behind
him.
Charlie heard the crack Of the re-
volver from the kitchen door, and
darted into the passage: but here
he halted. not sure eve vet that his
moment had arrived. From a shad-
owed angle he could glimpse the
happenings in the lounge hall. and
his glimpse suggested that Brown
was still keeping his end up.
The burly man. confused by the
advent Of the Doker. which had
struck him with some force upon
the head. worried by Browns unex-
Dected swiftneSs. and Infatuated by
his bad shot. resembled a numbering
bull in the presence of a toreador.
He lurched heavily after the flying
figure Of Brown. stumbled. and
nearly fell. Brown reached the win
dow.
"Now's his chancel~ thought
Charlie. Go il. Brown
But 20 the watchers chagrin.
Brown suddenly darted away from
the window. A new figure barred
his way. The figure of Pip.
"Hcre-come inl" shouted the
burly man. Helm me catch this
damned cell"
Pip was a bit of an eel. himself.
and a second later he had opened
the window wide and had leaped
into the room. And now an amaz-
ing chase ensued. Brown ran around
and around the room like a terrified
and enraged mouse. ducking the
furniture. and showing it at his adj
v~ersaries when they snatched at
him. Once he jumped Gear over
an armchair and. fwistinc around
Immediately afterwards. serked IL
over ut Pip. who was iumpl1ag after
| him. Pin snrauled OH Che Soor. and