The Washington times., 1931-04-23

Tied up on a job" Hank an
swered curtly.
kinda grouchy today. How
Gomez"
Say, Carl" rejoined Hank,
sincere regret in his voice. i
heard Scorpio gave YOU
watch"
Confidence Shaken Badly
Sure. Here it is. Amt it a
beaut? Look what it says
From your old pal Scorpio.'
Hank looked at his friend
earnestly for q second.
"And you used to be such a
swell egg, too," he muttered.
"A credit to the newspaper
game"
He turned on his heel and left
the office.
Carl moved as though to start
after his friend-to explain.
Then he bit his lip. and mus
tered up a grin.
But there was that in his
eyes which showed that the dis
trust Of his friend was the
hardest part of the strange
assignment he had been fol
lowing for four years.
Hank, in the corridor, reach.
ed into his pocket and with
drew a Sheaf of report blanks.
Then he walked hurriedly around
the corner, pausing before a
door far down the hall. He
consulted the sign.
"Ballistics expert" it read.
He entered.
Hello, Hank-what's on
your mind?" greeted the be-
spectacled man behind an ar
ray of microscopes, racks and
scientific instruments.
Have you got the bullets
that killed Johnny FranKs?"
"sure-here in the specimen
cases."
Can I look at 'em under
the microscope?"
The ballisticS expert deftly
adjusted the apparatus.
The Murder Traced
TAKE a good peek" he III
vited, You know how the
ridges made by the riflings
are. No two guns make 'em
alike. It's sure as fingerprints."
Hank peered for a moment at
the enlarged hills and valleys
of lead as they appeared under
the magic lens.
Now" he requested, Can I
see the bullets that killed Co.
limo?"
Again the expert adjusted the
microscope.
"You look" suggested Hank.
The ballisticS expert peeped
into the microscope-changed
the bullets. He whistled in
sharp surprise.
What do you make Of it?"
demanded Hank.
The same thing you did"
cody answered the expert. The
same gun killed them both"
Hank nodded.
And 1 think" he softly an
swered, Il know where to locate
that gum"
Sixteen people sat in the
lounge of Scorpio's penthouse
that night.
Ice tinkled in glasses. Buffers
served refreshments, and gay
conversation resounded. Gay
evening dresses Of women and
white-Shirted dress suits Of men
mingled about bridge tables.
Scorpio was "going society"
It was his first attempt at
bridge.
Anne was there, seated oppo-
site the gang leader. Carl, inn
maculately dressed as Scorpio
himself, sat opposite another
girl Gardenia, the guard, looked
like faShion-plate. Metz, elab-
orately dressed as the rest,
blinked through his thick glasses
at the scene of merriment.
Newton was not playing. He
sat back, slipping drinks, and
watching cynically.
And some guy told me this
bridge racket was tough-any
bimbo could do it," Scorpio re-
marked expansiVely.
A Real Treat
"Yes," remarked his partner.
"You play a remarkable game
but it would have helped a
little If you hadn't played your
ace on your partners king"
els that an original Remb-
randt?" asked a guest.
"I'lI tell the cockeyed world it
isl paid 800 bucks for it.
Some day I'm going to give you
birds a real treat. Coin to show
you my collection of diamond
studs. I keep 'em in safe, so
no porch-climbin' prowler can
glom 'em."
Carl turned his face to hide
a laugh and went on playing.
The tinkle Of a bell sounded
and the butler crossed the room
and passed down the hall.
What is it?" he demanded at
the entrance door to the pent-
house.
Telegram for Mr.. Scorpio."
Does Hank succeed in find.
ing the gun $Aat killed COlimO?
Read tOmorrOw's exciting in
StaIIment.
Copyright, 1881. by Cosmopolitan