The Washington times., 1930-11-29
Chapter 20.


the victory Hotel, on a side
street, West of Central Park in
the 7O's. The office was on the
second floor. If one took the
stairs, the clerk couldn't see
from his regular position who
came or went. Maybe that was
why the Victory was usually
crowded jam-full for all manner
of illicit trysts behind locked
doors in the dingy chambers.
Annie walked. She turned at
the fourth landing and unlocked
the door of Room 444. AS she
threw the switch a single hang
ing bulb shot pale rays over a
medium-sized room with a bed,
an armchair, a plain chair. a
lame dresser, a waShStand and
a clotheStree. The furnishings
were in keeping with the eX-
terror.
Annie whisked off her beret
and her released hair lighted
the place more than did the
sickly drop-light. She fixed the
ringlets with a few deft expert
touches-and she turned at the
sound Of steps. The door opened
and Tommy, leaning on a cane,
closed and clicked it behind
him.
Tommy boy!" she cried, and
she ran to him.
But he did not stretch out
his strong arms. He motioned
her to sit, and he sat on the
other chair.
A Straight Talk
annie" he began, you and
I must have a straight talk"
"Yeh-sure. But-who hurt
you? What is it?"
"Oh, 1 got that in Freeman's
flat when we rekidnaped Alice.
It's nothing"
Tommy boy-before you spill
yours, let me tell you what you
got to know. Freeman has put
the finger on you you
know what that meanS?"
II think I do thought
about it myself"
"Your life amt worth a
nickel as long as he lives. He'll
chase you thirty thousan' miles
an croak you in a church.
Ordinarily they drop you if you
blow away, but when they're
indicative. the world amt big
enough to save you. Didn' they
put Eddie Diamond on the spot
in Denver after he quit an
went out West to die o t. b.
Tommy boy? Didn' they take
Fat Walsh in Miami, a long
way from Broadway?
Freeman has always killed
for strictly business an Dragged
he had no passions. But he's
found a few lately. An among
'em, strong, is revenge!
Bitter Hate
"He hates your soul. Even If
you give up an let him muscle
you out O. your own properly
he'll still have you bumped off.
Say-in my home town a gang
ster by the name of Nails Nor
ton hired a horse one day an
wents ridin' in Lincoln Park,
The horse thrun him an stepped
on his head an they picked up
his body, all bunged UP.
What do you think one O.
the big shots in his mob went
an done? He goes to the same
liv'ry stable, hires that same
horse, rides him out to a lonely
spot in the park, gets down,
pulls a gat an shoots the morse
In the forehead!
That's gang law"
"But-why do you tell me all
this?"
Because love you, you damn
handsome fool"
She ran to him and knelt at
his feet and turned up her fas-
cinating face.
kiss me, boy" she breathed.
And the hot blood of youth and
manhood burnt out all other
considerations - doubts, tea1s,
even self -preservat tion-When he
answered the call of her Grim
son lips with his own.
Freeman Must Die"
Tommy, lover" gaSped
Anne. you don't know how I
love you. But you will. I must
show you. I must prove it to
you. as long as Silk Freeman
lives your death sentence hangs
over you. So there's only one
way out-Freeman is got to
die!"
Tommy looked down at her
in amazement. How hotly this
strange girl could talk of love
and how coldIy she could talk
of death.
He wondered at himself, too
for a fortnight back of him
he would have shuddered at the
idea of asSaSsinating a human
being. He had seen and heard
much since thon He didn't
Shudder now. He was about
to let her continue-but a few
flashes passed through his
brain. He held up his hand.
"Anne," he said, I'm crazy
about you. That I know. You
say you are about me. I want
to, believe you."
L You WANT to believe me?
My God! Lemme finish"
MOT just yet. Freeman is
as rich as he is rotten. He
can pay high. What assur