Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1932-06-29

ID you know where that gun is,
SteveY' Ashwood's lac was set in
deer lines as he studied the I'M
troubled countenance OF the other.
N not yet, beyond the fact that
the murderer has cached il away
where we can't find it and he can
"All right then, who is the murder
er? Mallory? Lucci?"
The cripple's thin fingers drummed
restlessly against the frosted tumbler.
Stevens shook his glass TO cool the
highball more swiftly.
That's up to both of us to find
out he said after a satisfying taste
Of the excellent whisky. 81 got a
hunch that II we don't find out pretty
soon he's going right on enjoying
his killing jag. Besides, l want that
gun and so do you. Finders keepers"
Lets try to find him together"
suggested Ashwood grimly. we both
W that much to the others. So far
as the guns concerned, 1t would do
you no good If you did find it. II l
even suspect you have IL, I'll have
you searched, hide and hair, every
twenty minutes, day n night, un-
I'll you leave this island with my per-
killer, there's likely to be more hell
let loose on this island than l had
Dreams
You should have thot of that"
the other reproved gently, before
you brought them all down in this
heat, five men and one girl. You re-
mind me of the kid who didn't know
1t was loaded"
do you think | care one single
damn about those two who have had
their threats cut?" demanded the
cripple s%cornfully. Not a snap Of my
fingers. But | will not have my plans
ruined. DO you understand"
Stevens raised his glass and slipped
slowly, contemplatively. Ashwood re-
filled his own tumbler and watched
the old man with moody eyes. At
last, tired of the silence, he shrugged
and pushed himself out of his chair.
Steve, it's mighty refreshing, once
In a while, TO see a man who sticks
to his ideals" He ooh a turn or two
across the room, his ~extention sole
giving forth a hollow sound as he
walked. But I'm certainly afraid that
I'm going to have to kill you before
this affair Is over"
Now don't go getting yourself all
upset about that" advised the little
man placidly. Fact is, l been shot
at SO many times I've sort of come
to the conclusion that when l die
itll be with my best nightie on and a
hot water bottle at my feet"
He leaned over and selected a cigar
aiA& R0h ~ AA& Akot&s Il ~ n
II and put half Of 1t in his mouth.
His jaws moved violently for a mo-
ment. Then a bulge appeared under
his left cheek.
you know, Limpy," he said with
some difficulty as he settled back in
the deep chair, 'if it wasn't for a
couple OF little wrinkles that run the
wrong way in your brain, you'd be
a right nice Teller to know. What hap
pened. did somebody drop you on
your head when you were a baby?'
Were all crooks IN a greater or
lesser degree, Steve" replied Ash
wood. 1.-The only reason you think
| am just a little crazy is that l use
my head and select crimes that appeal
to me instead of those that woul bore
me. Why are a few spectacular, in
telligent crimes more dreadful than
many small dreary onesY'
He rose and hobbled restlessly back
and forth across the room.
rs 1t because / break laws that you
IS me if I'm a little crazy, or is 1t
because ! don't break those particular
laws that are disregarded by every
body? In a generally lawless society,
/ break laws. Right-ol But / do so
vilege Of picking the laws ] wish to
disregard as do those who break the
laws of the Constitution OF the traffic
laws, or what not"
Stevens sighed pensively.
IF ! was a judge, Limpy, / bet
you could talk me into giving you
a room and bath at the funny house
instead of a chair in the death house.
It's right comforting to know that
you aren't the kind of a Teller who'd
shoot me in the back when I'm not
looking. And for hat very reason I'm
going to send a swell bunch of flow
ers to your funeral. If I'm not retired
and in California nv that finq I'll
come and walk in your procession"
Their eyes met squarely M they
both grinned. On opposite sides of
society's fence, these two, yet each
knew and respected the others meas
ure as q man.
Zone more drink, Steve" suggested
the cripple. Then to bed. / have
much to do tomorrow"
Fair enough" smiled the older
man. mo water in mine"
Soon after breakfast, Ashwood's
great amphibian nosed out of it's
island with the full-throated oar of
its mighty engine and, after a splash
ing race across the water, scared
away in a purring flight toward the
north.
Lets get a little breath Of air
before the heat closes in" suggested
the detective as he, Jerry and Emory
looked away from the dot in the sky
which was the fast-vanishing plane.
Maybe a little stroll in the air now
will help us to stand the heat later"
There was an undertone of urgency
in the old mans voice which caused
the two flyers to follow him down the
porch steps and out among the palms.
we've got to crash this place
pretty soon, now" he declared, as
the three sat in the little circular
patch of shade beneath a palm.
There's hell to pay"