Evening star., 1932-09-11

"It isn't" answered Sharp. Il swear it isn't.
And for Gods sake hurry. Helen win be wait
ing for you. And be careful going out. Give
them a good chance to see who it is. They
may mistake you for me-"
That's all right" answered Shalton They're
expecting me to come out. Remember that
phone call giving me half an hour to get away
from here?"
Sharp. watching from behind the shade, saw
one of the windows on the second floor Of the
house opposite go up little Shalton opened
the door and stepped out.
Sharp held his breath In dread anticipation.
But nothing happened He saw Shalton, walk
ing slowly, past his line of vision and dis
appear down the street Shalton did not look
back. Neither did he look at the house across
the street.
Now Sharp was alone. He realized it
keenly. His heart began to beat faster. He
Lit cigarette and then threw it away after
a few puffs. Nervously he started toward the
window again and then stopped.
Any minute it might happen They knew
that he was now alone and Mazzoni had prob
ably told them that he was unarmed, that he
never carried gun. There was nothing to
stop them from charging into the house Moth
ing except fimsy lock that would soon yield
to battering shoulder.
He muttered a half-formed prayer for time.
Then he went out into the hall, followed turn,
opened door and went down into the base
nlent.
The light was dim down there. He had to
search for several moments before he found
what he was looking for, the large, battered
trunk left by the former occupants of the
house Helen had noticed it when he and she
had explored the house several weeks before
as prospective purchasers
The trunk was under the stairs. Sharp
dragged it out, raising a cloud of dust. But
that didn't matter.
He tried to get it on his back, but it was too
unwieldy Slowly, tread at time, he
dragged it up the narrow stairway. He was
painting when he reached the top and had to
stop for a rest before dragging it along the
hallway to a position near the front door.
The trunk wasn't locked Sharp threw back
the lid and looked in, mentally measuring its
capacity. Yes it was large enough to hold a
mans body.
Then, to make sure, he got in and tried it.
BY doubling up his legs and lying on his. side
he could do It, He got out again, slammed
down the lid and sat on it, His fingers shook
as he lit a cigarette. He waited.
Half an hour later an express truck stopped
In front Of the house. The driver got down
from his seat Shalton, who had been sitting
beside him, also got down.
'I1l help you handle it," he said to the
driver.
As the two went up the front steps a window
In the house opposite was thrust upward with
out any attempt at concealment. The head
and shoulders Of man appeared at the open
ing He called out.
"Just asking for it, aren't you, Shalton?"
Shalton, half way up the steps, turned.
Take it easy, Conger," he said I'm not
mixing in. I came out when got your mes
sage and I'm staying out. I'm just going to
bring out a few things that Sharp's girl wants.
They were furnishing this place, see, and she
doesn't want them broken"
The man at the window turned his head
and apparently spoke to some one in the room.
"An right he then called to Shalton. And
while you're at it ask Sharp when he's coming
out We're not going to wait much longer"
Whats he talking about?" the expressman
asked Shalton.
oh that's just one of the neighbors kidding
me-" Shalton answered