Evening star., 1932-09-11

- HALTON pushed back the window shade
and peered through the small opening
into the street Then without allowing
the shade to quiver he dropped it back
\ into place. He turned and swore softly.
Sharp was sitting with his head in his
hands
They've got the car at the corner said
Shalton. Looks like they're getting ready to
crash U.s."
Sharp didn't answer
Shalton hunched his coat closer about him.
It was cold in the long, almost bare room with
the drawn shades. Once it had been the draw
ing room of a pretentious home, but strips Of
dusty wall paper now hung from the walls like
pouches of skin from the face of a wrinkled hag.
chair scraped as Shalton sat down. He looked
at Sharp.
"Well?" he said
Before Sharp could answer telephone rang
in the hall outside. Both men jumped slightly.
I'll answer it." said Shalton.
mo, let me-" said Sharp. "Its probably
Helen"
He got up and left the room, closing the
door behind him. Shalton lit cigarette and
then warmed his hands about the tiny flame
before dropping the blackened match to the
floor. He ground it under his heel.
Sharp came back Shalton looked up.
zoui He says nothing doing. Told her he
doesn't dare show. The dirty rat. He got me
in this.
Helen says he probably tipped off Conger
where I was holed up. To save his own hide,
see. If they get me they'll be satisfied.
They'd have gotten me before this if hadn't
known about this place. was thinking of buy
ing it and fixing it over when Helen and got
married. So I beat it here when heard
xuich had oEona oh OE1
of town."
CHALTON got to his feet. Il know" he said.
- "But you're in a jam now and thinking
what you should have done isn't going to do
any good. The big question Is what are you
going to do?"
What can do?" asked Sharp They've got
a couple of Tommy guns planted in that house
across the street. I'll bet Conger is there him.
self. And you saw the car at the corner. What
chance have got in trying break? They'd
nail me before got down the steps,"
Shalton walked to the window and peered out
again.
Damn Mazzoni" he said. Helen was right.
He knew what he was doing when he put you
on that truck. He knew Conger's mob was 60
ing to try to hi-jack it and that somebody
would get hurt And he didn't care much who
8 was. Do you understand"
SHaTp SHOOK nlS neaQ L oOnt quite get
you," he said.
why, it was Helen all along" said Shelton.
"He wanted her, see. And you stood in the
way. So he sent you out on that truck when
your regular job was collecting. Why? Be-
cause he knew thered be shooting.
"1f you got it, all the better. If one of Con-
gers mob got it they'd be after the man who
did it, So what happens? Patsy Fellone gets
his when the boys open up on Conger's crowd.
And you without even rod in your mitt. And
then Conger steams up for action
so what does Mazzoni do? He sends him
word that you're the bird who put the heat on
Patsy and that Conger can blast you and call
1t even. Either way he wins Conger's salts
fed, you're dead and Mazzoni gets Helen. Now
do you get it?"
Sharp cursed in hot blazing anger.
Take it easy" interrupted Shalton. II know
how you feel, but that isn't going to do any
good"
Il should have known it." said Sharp. Helen
was after me to get out Of the racket. But
what could I do? A mans got to live and
Mazzoni offered me collecting job. I had to
have a grubstake before I got married And
all along he was making this play to spot me.
II ever get out of this"
you'll never get out Of it that way" broke
IN Shalton.
Again the phone rang
NO" said Sharp when Shalton started TO-
ward the door. Let me answer it."
He returned in a moment. His attitude had
changed. Shalton noticed it Immediately
whats the matter?" he asked
CHARP hesitated moment before he replied
- Then he said, do me favor, will you?"
"Sure" said Shalton. What is it?"