Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1932-07-06

onYu'tou MS lump figure TO
pillow under his head. He walked TO
The dresser, opened several drawers
then. with an exclamation OF salts,
faction, took out a double handful OF
cartridge clips ana slowed them in his
pocket. ~
See you in the morning. Mr.. Ham
ilton.' he said quietly. He switched
off the light and followed Jerry into
the hall. carefully locking the door
behind him. Come on, kid. We got
a gun, now"
The living room was still deserted.
Ihey stepped out on the porch. look
ing toward the north where. near the
enG OF the long. narrow island, the
hangar nestled beside the inlet. From
The direction of the hangar came a
dark figure, making no effort at con-
cealment.
The sound OF voices could be heard
from the westerly corner of the por-
ch. The footsteps OF two men crun-
ched thru the sawgrass and the sand.
Those would be Ashwood ana Emory.
Jerry decided, returning from their
stroll. The flyer crunched n little,
sensing an approaching crisis. The
three walking men would reach the
porch steps simultaneously He felt
stevens arm brush against his side
and heard the faint METALLIC click of
a safety catch. He could see the Grip
pies white hair, now, almost within
reach from the porch rail. Suddenly
the two strollers stopped. The white
head turned toward the oncoming
figure.
who is that" Ashwood inquired,
iuly curious.
It's me, Lucci."
Have you forgotten that | told you
to remain in your room at night?''
stevens. on hands and knees, crept
toward fha rail larry o1poa az III,
side.
''Ah. to hell with you and your or
ders. snarled Lucci. Stick EN- up,
quick! I'm covering you and aching
TO drill you both!'
You are indisereet, Lucci," the
cripple told him colby. Have you
forgotten my guards with their mach
inc guns?"
Not by a damn sight" retorted
the gangster. They're my guards
nowl Since you're fading outa the
picture they're joining my mob. start
ing now. Listen, Limpy, either you're
Joining up with me-, or I'm going to
bump you off, here and now. see?"
His voice was malignant.
Jerry had no doubt that he would
carry out his threat.
Drop your gun, O~ne-shot!"
Stevens did not raise his voice but
the effect Of his words was almost
magical. Ashwood and Emory Jumped
in surprise. There was q crimson
squirt from Lucei's automatic. The
bullet spatted between the two crou-
ehtng men on the porch. The gang
ster, with a curse, turned and ran at
full speed toward the hangar, zigzag-
ging and lodging behind the slender
trunks of the palms as he continued
his precipitate flight thru the dark
ness, Ashwood's gun famed once,
twice.
Better cut it, Limpy." said the
detective calmly. You'll need all
your cartridges. Wish you could get
my old revolver from the Teller who
frisked me. These new-fangled auto
MATES are always tanning at the
wrong time"
His voice was mildly regretful as
he fused with the instrument in his
hand. The cripple gazed wonderingly
at the porch.
And they say there's no Sanity
Claus" he marvelled.
Better come up here and let's talk
it over suggested the old man cas-
ually.
The screen door squeaked on it's
hinges. jerry spun around, his mus
Giles quivering, tensed for sudden
action. Then he relaxed. 1t was AL
fred, the steward. He glanced at the
two vigilant men.
80 I&t NRAhf III ~ u al
anxious frown on his usually express
sionless forehead. Il was looking for
Mr.. Ashwood, sir
Here l am, Alfred called the Grip
pie, limping up the steps. What is
Sir, / must tell you that the other
servants have all gone down to the
hangar. I'm afraid there is trouble,
sir. Here is a revolver. You will need
it soon, | think"
Good boy, Alfred. Better keep the
gun. Any more of them around?"
NO, sir. / had this one hidden UNI
der my mattress"
S the whole outfit has deserted,
eh2' The leaders voice held a tinge
loyal"
'They were, sir" the steward as
sured him, until Lucci told them they
would be arrested as soon as you left.
Since they knew | would not join
them, they did not trust me. / do not
know their plans but | think they
are going to steal the planes and fly
away"
Ashwood turned to the others.
Alfred was my batman during the
war" he explained simply. we can
count on him."
There came a series Of s~taccato
swapping noises, as tho an ox-driver
We're flicking his whip about their
ears. The five dived unceremOniously
for the shelter Of the living room.
From the easterly corner of the
house the knife-like flashes of a ma
chine gun stabbed the darkness.
That's the guard on the inshore
beach, said the cripple. Seem to
be pretty we'll surrounded, don't we?"