Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-03-03

By CLIMBED. c1oa9

sharply.
The Jap lost no time In obeying
orders. II he wasn't scared entirely
stiff he was too scared to argue
matters Just then. With q hand that
shook visibly, he unlocked the
chain and stepped back allowing
free passage into the short hall.
Lead US to Maxwell-your boss,
and do 1t quietlyl" commanded the
sergeant with terse brevity as he
stepped inside, Immediately follow
ed by the others. He prodded the
shaken. II not really scared Jap,
with the gun. go onl" he continued
peremptorily. Get a move on you
we want to talk TO MAXWELL"
"YessirI" said the Jap. hurriedly
responding to the guns chilling
touch. Him at lunch!"
He opened the one door at the
end OF the hall, led the way through
what, apparently, was a living room
and a library TO another door. For
Just the fraction Of a second he
hesitated. Then. evidently consider
ing that discretion was the better
part OF valor, he pulled the door
wide opened and moved quickly TO
enc side
The sergeant, carefully watchful.
stepped into the room. his gun held
handily. II was q wise precautlon.
as he instantly realized.
Herbert Maxwell, trusting, pre-
sumably, TO the steel chain on the
front door and to his Jap'S ably
to keep any visitor engaged long
enough TO send a warning signal.
had been caught unawares. thanks
TO Kelly's forethought and quick
action.
Sitting at the table and facing
the door as he ate his luncheon. hs
looked up at the sound Of the
knobs turning. At the sight OF
Sergeant Kelly'S unwelcome coun-
tenance and close behind him the
faces OF Rex ballard and Marks,
the lawyer, a quick, sharp cry es-
capped Maxwell. His right hand
leaped toward his hip pocket and
he had the gun out in plain view
when a shot tipped past his ear.
SO close he must have felt the wind
OF 1t.
stick up your hands, Maxwell
quickl" barked the sergeant in a
voice that cracked. The hands went
I'D, auckland empty. The next
moment the Maxwell artillery was
in the hands OF the police.
The Fox sat down again, his shifty
gaze encompassing his visitors with
a look that plainly denoted surprise,
If not downright establishment
Obviously this was the first intima-
ton Maxwell had received that the
wireless report published by the
newspapers OF the Blucbird disaster
was incorrect.
Believing his two former wards
and their obnoxious friends all at
the bottom OF the Caribbean Sea.
or In the bellies OF the hungry
sharks that he knew inhabited those
waters, II was a trifle disconcerting.
so to speak. to have them walk in
all OF a sudden on a man eating
his lunchl
And Jimmy Blairl Maxwell blink
ed as his startled gaze encountered
the clear, intelligent gleam In those
brown eyes. Jimmy Blair back in
New York and in his right mind
once morel The Fox shivered a bit
and the short hairs on his fat neck
stood up.
Then from out OF this ghoStly en-
Semhle Of faces surrounding him.
these faces OF his dead victims
risen, as it must have seemed to
him. almost. from the depths OF
their watery graves to denounce
him, there appeared suddenly an
other face. the dead white enact
ated face OF the woman he had so
cruelty. SO wantonly wronged-
Madame Leclerc. Then the thin.
starved face of still another VIC
tim, Jean Bouchard, the face that
had enabled him TO obtain pos
session OF fourteen million dollars
In securities, calne within the focus
Of his rowing vision.
In truth, Mr.. Maxwell seemed 20
be facing a situation we'll calculated
10 hold his undivided attention for
awhile.
But the mans ego. his infallihle
self-confidence that never failed TO
respond when called upon, was al
ready functioning along the old
lines.
CTO BE CONTINUED