Evening star., 1931-12-23

steps Quickened by mlSglVmgS, sue
turned and haStened toward her Stuolo
She burst in breathlessly, to find Joy
curled up in chair by the window,
and standing beside joys chair, light
ing a cigarett with all the nonchalance
of a Young man who had nothing on
his mind but the pleasure OF the mo-
ment, was Danny Carroll!
why the hot haste, Julie?" JOY
asked, seeing her sister stop snort ana
stare at Danny. JON the IolseiTtS. ~
you're a time thief JOY" Danny
said LOOKING down at the bright head.
Il came here an hour ago, Julie, to tell
JOY must keep an appointment down.
town. I've slipped my appointment
Malice aforethought," Joy said her
ewes smiling into his. 1T was with
Neil Nielsen. 1 don't want you 10 meet
him. He's annoying and-cruoe;
Danny handed his clgaretle W ooy
and lit a fresh one.
That settles that" and took cnalr
Julia still stared at him in astonish-
ment. ,.
her two hands on his shoulders, olo
YOU send Kit a message from forty-
sixth street? Did you ask her lof
help?"
ment that he had not.
Il ask Kits help? What for?
"Then something very mysterious Is
happening," said Julia. Il just came
from Kits room. She received mes
sage signed with your name. 1t SAID
she was to come to an address on Forty
sixth street at once, that you were IN
trouble and needed her help"
The bewildered look on Danny's race
rhanped to one of purpose.
Il didn't send the note. We've got
to find out who did
He was already at the studio door,
Julia and Joy at his heels.
Dan, you're not going alonel" JOY
declared. you've got to take me with
what was the address," Danny
asked Julia.
oh, Dan-I've forgotten it." Julia
was the picture Of distress. 1t was
Julia was trying to squeeze the number
from her reluctant memory. 1T began
with p"
Never mind the rest" Danny made
for the outer door. Il know. Joy, you
stay here with julia
II can't, Dan! WON'T I've got to
go with you'll" Joy shrilled, cltnging to
his arm.
Her plea won him. He ran to the
street and collided with a man just
turning into the studio.
Pardon me-" said the stranger. I'm
looking for Miss Cathleen Carroll. I
was sent here to find her"
shes not in," Danny snapped and
signaled a taxi.
I'm a reporter from the Express.
Where can I find her? It's important"
Please take him with us, Dan,' Joy
begged. We may need him"
No. JOY To the reporter: Miss
Carroll will be here later"
Dan" Joy pleaded again, "please let
him go-for my sake. Im-frightened."
Danny slipped his arm around joys
waist. bundled her into the taxi. Julia
and the reporter climbed in after them.
No word was spoken on the careening
ride up to Forty-siXth street. The re-
porter knew he was present on suffer-
ance and was taking no chances on
losing his advantage.
when we go into this place" Danny
instructed as they neared their desti-
nation, "act as If We were going up
stairs to a party"
His lips were tight. His resentment
against Cathleen had been wiped out.
No trace of it remained. She was his
sister. She had been lured, under pre-
tense of his need, into Neil Neilsens
trap.
The cab drew up before the Forty
sixth street address. They climbed out,
and Danny made straight for the en-
trance.
peered out at them through the hole in
the inner door. Step on it, will you,
Nick? The girls are thirsty"
The door was opened at once. Danny
led the way up the dark stairs, two
steps at time. He hastened along the
corridor. There were sounds of dis
turbance behind the second door on the
loft CYO1iy Of r1o
woman's stif1ed scream.
open the door!" Danny was twist
Ing at the knob. ITS Dan Carrollh"
Danny" Cathleens voice calling.
"Open up, Neil! Make it snappy!"
Danny's shoulder was against the door.
The reporter was a little way behind
him, ready to hurl his weight, too,
Go to blazes!" came the hoarse def
ance from within.
Danny's shoulder and the reporters
hit the door simultaneously. There was
the creaking of wood, ripping cracking
Get back from that door or I'll plug
It'll" warned the hoarse voice.
The answer was a second crash, an
other cracking and ripping of wood.
Then third, and the door fell inward.
Cathleen Carroll stood by the table,
an empty bottle in her upraised hand.
Fury made a blaze of her eyes. Desper-
alton was written In every line of her.
Between Cathleen and the door Neil
Nielsen crouched, snarling. Blood
showed along cut at one side of his
face
Swiftly, Danny was upon the crouch
ing Neil. His fingers closed around his
throat. The two men fell to the floor,
rolled over, rose and fell in the fury of
their struggle.
Meanwhile, patrons of the speakeasy
downstairs, hearing the sounds of bat
tie above, fearful of being caught in
what they believed was a raid, were
swarming toward escape The lookout
below scaled the stairs in bounds, only
to be met by the reporter, who planted
a foot accurately in the pit Of his
stomach and sent him topping to the
bottom again.
Leave quietly now," the reporter
called to the excited crowd downstairs
"Single file! Outside! You won't be
held If you take it easy"
They melted away, grateful for the
1oophole which an understanding police,
30 they thought had afforded them.
Inside the room upstairs the struggle
between the two men neared its finish
Danny's knee was crushing into Neil
Neilsen'S chest, his fingers were closing
tighter and yet tighter around Nel's
throat. Suddenly Neil's body relaxed
lay inertly on the floor. But Danny's
fingers continued to tighten about his
throat. Then fluttering white hands
caught at Danny's wrists, and Joy Cald-
well, crying Historically. pushed him
away from Neils PROSTATE figure.