Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1932-03-17

studying the road ahead Suddenly
he swerved into thick woods. which
yielded suddenly to an open space,
and semicircular driveway. Then
the car halted before the hgh-pillared
veranda OF a rambling frame house.
WELL" said Fullhouse. "A guy
couldn't ask for nicer lay than this.
En-, keed7"
There was no need for Joe to an
swer. Fullhouse had left the wheel
and swung out of the car, to skirt
the house in quick. familiar fashion.
For moment Joe could hear the
rustlng OF foliage as Fullhouse
plunged through it. evidently on his
way to silence the 'telltales" Joe
was alone with himself-with his
realizations. This was some ones
home. He was about to enter It. TO
steal that some ones possessions.
Whether they would be missed or not,
he realized now, made little difference.
1t WAS the crime which counted and
not the extent OF 1t. Ten cents or ten
thousand dollars. he would be a thief.
nevertheless. The word had cheap.
sneaking quality. destructive to self
respect.
Ten minutes passed. so many hours
to Joe Barry Then Fullhouse came
briskly back.
Reach In the tool box and get that
pinch bar" he commanded, Joe was
slow In complying, fumbling and clat-
tering tools In the darkness. Full
house came beside him.
"Lemme see there" he commanded.
pushing the other man aside. x
know where 1t is." drawing forth a
bent piece OF steel. sharpened at one
end. "All right now. men you. This
under the window and our shoulders
to it--we'll be inside But at the
veranda, he halted and called over his
shoulder. well, come on What the
hi you stalling for?"
Joe followed him with tagging feet.
There was a moment Of activity and
In Carefully. Fullhouse pulled down
the window. and walking to the wall.
touched snap light.
This joints right" Fullhouse ex-
planned. city power and everything.
Pipe the dump. Amt 1t n knockout?'
Joe Barry looked about him with
dazed eyes. He had never been in
such surroundings as this. The rugs
were deep and soft beneath his feet;
this was the dining room. paneled and
furnished with richness which Joe
Barry had seen only in pictures Cut
crystal cleaned. Silver service shone
from the heavy, hunting style buffet.
Fullhouse looked about appraisingly
Wen grab some OF that stuff
solid Just what we can carry with
out 1t being too heavy. What we want
Is the jack out of that match box.
Come on"
Again. with the familiarity he had
shown ever since he had turned of
the main road. FuIlhouse moved from
the dining room into larger cham
Der. A cabinet stood against the wall.
Fullhouse glanced In its direction.
then with an afterthought. smeared
palm against his forehead.
.'Hotter'n hi in here" he said
"Ill open window" He threw
lock and raised the heavy pane. The
air from without was refreshing. Full
house breathed it deeply. "A hense
sure gets sizzling, shut up like this"
He nodded then to a large painting
on the wall. tits behind that he
said.
Wed better pull the curtains." nm
swered Joe nervously. Gee, Full
house, we can't work right out in the
open this way"
"Why can't we?" He nodded.
There's the light switch right be-
hind you. Switch it out and come
here" Joe Barry obeyed, feeling his
way across the room in the dark
ness. "See anything?"
mo, the woods come almost up to
the house. don't they?"
"Yeh and it's that way for fifty
acres. Turn on the lights again. Then
90 get your keister."
Joe obeyed. From behind him as
he went through the big hall to the
front door, he could hear Fullhouse
mumbling at the cabinet against the
wall. He was still there when Joe
returned. thumblng curiously at dials.
Mt last to gain a response.
THAT amt so bad" he said. turn
ing nonchalantly away. From the
concealed loudspeaker, a jungle band
squawked It's jagged melody
Fullhouse glanced professionally at
the oil painting on the wall Guess
we got to yank this thing down. Never
mind trying to lift 1t on its hook
get that corner and give 1t yank."
The fastening broke. A small. round.
metal appliance was revealed in the
wall. Fullhouse stepped forward and
gave professional twist to the knob.
"Humph |" he said and walking
away, merely stood. his hands behind
his back and his hips showed forward.
THE lousy bum. he's switched that
combination" He pursed his lips and
rolled his eyes to the sweating Joe.
Whats wrong with the safer" Joe