Evening star., 1932-09-11

want you to go, understand. Don't be a sap
and try to pull the hero stuff There's nothing
you can do"
IT never ran out on a friend yet and I'm
not going to start now" answered Shalton.
Sharps arguments and pleadings did no
good.
80 long there's a chance I'm sticking
with you," said Shalton. It'll take those
birds some time to get up nerve enough to rush
U.s. Something may turn up"
The cops?" asked Shalton. There was an
edge of sarcasm in his tone
TITS an idea, anyway" replied Shalton.
Sharp laughed Remember Zuta?" he
asked. He was riding in a coppers car
for protection when they cut loose on him and
how about Little Augie. back in New York?
They knocked him of. in front of the court
house when the place was filled with cops"
"Yes," answered Shalton, "1 guess there isn't
any out that way"
He walked over to the window Sharp fol-
lowed him. Carefully they lifted back the
shades and peered through They had to be
careful about moving those shades. There
wasn't much chance that slight movement
would be seen from the house across the street.
But then, it might And that would mean
taps.
Each could visualize the scene in the house
across the street. 1t would probably be the
second-floor front room, where the windows
the shades drawn down to meet them.
Three men, possibly four, would be in the
room, smoking, eating, sitting or walking about.
But at least one of them would be on watch.
There would never be a moment when all their
eyes would be taken from the doorway of the
house which sheltered Sharp and Shalton.
Near the window, on a table probably would
be a submachine gun, possibly two, trained ON
the door across the street.
1t was a waiting game, the cat and the
mouse. And there could be but one end. This
time the mouse had to come out Of his hole
and there was only one exit.
Hunger would drive him out if nothing
else. He could come walking or running or
crnged in bundled fear. 1t didn't make any
difference. The end would be the same.
The street would reverberate with rattling
roar. Then running feet, the whine and crash
Of automobile gears. Then silence for a mo-
ment, silence and stiffness about the sprawled
form which would lie on the street.
Sharp shivered and allowed the curtain to
drop back. The phone rang.
This time Shalton answered it. He re-
turned in moment.
Its Helen again." he said to Sharp. "She
wants to talk to you. She's pretty much ex-
cited. Says she's got some sort Of an idea"
Sharp went to the phone in the hall
Hello DEAR" he said into the mouthpiece.
'I wish you would stop worrying. This thing
will come out all right" But even as he spoke
he realized that there could be only one end
ing. If he didn't come out they would come
and get him.
Sharp listened to the girls voice which came
to him across the wire, their only contact he
faced certain death.
But that won't do any good" he said after
listening for q few moments. They'd see
through that In minute. I couldn't pull any
thing like that and get away with it."
Again he listened, answering only ut In
tervals.
"An right dear" he said at last "In send
Shalton. You be waiting for him. He'll at
tend to the details Youn have to work fast"
HARP hung up the receiver and went back
- to the waiting Shalton. In a few quick
sentences he explained. Shalton listened in
silence. When Sharp was through he spoke.
"Just one more thing" he said. This isn't
fast to get me out of here, is it?"