The Coolidge examiner., 1932-02-19

|
ley shooting each others heads off.
They would grin and yell at each
other just that way. CHASTITY pair
of crooks. | never knew Blair TO
have the slightest compunction in
anything he ever did. Nor Ashley
either. Something they did to Tur-
ner got US in this mess"
Meaning sixty thousand dollars
year for you?"
Il need the money because I've
got it, if you can figure that out.
I'd be well off if I'd never heard Of
it. What do you want to do, smoke
cigar in the lobby or turn in? l
feel restless"
''Tll smoke a cigar with you, but
I'm not restless and I'm about ready
for Sleep"
Lucky cuss you are, Stanton. Got
nothing to make you nervous or
restless"
1--WE got you"
81 said lucky cuss. You might
have Blair. l once saw him strangle
black boy in Haiti who tried to
slice him. Did it slowly, as If 1t
were a pleasure"
"What did you. the six of you, do
to Turner?" the lieutenant asked.
"I'm going to make you come clean
on that sooner or later"
II don't know anything about 1t,
whatever it was. swear | don't"
"All right. 1t will be later, then"
Did l tell you I've telegraphed
for a drawing room or compartment
when we pick up the train at
Albany? I'll not trust an open Pull
man. I'll get a magazine and go
up to the room with you now If you
want to-"
He went to the cigar and maya
zine counter and came back with
several periodicals. He looked
about as they stepped into the ele-
vatOr and glanced each way in the
traverse hall on their room floor.
When their door was locked he
seemed relieved.
The lieutenant made ready for
|, bed.
III only keep this reading lamp
|, on" said Roberts. THAT won't dis
turb you, will it?"
"No, nothing will disturb me-"
said the lieutenant, stretching out
Later he was awakened by Rob.
erts who was shaking him. When
he opened his eyes in a daze Rob-
erts signaled him to be silent.
Listen" he said.
Stanton raised himself and saw
that Roberts had a pistol in his
hand.
"The door," said Roberts. He
spoke in a whisper.
For a second or two Stanton did
not hear anything. Then there was
the sound Enthusiastically of a key
touching the lock outside. Appar-
emily some one was trying to put
it in the keyhole blocked by the key
inside. AS soon as this was be-
yond doubt the lieutenant got out Of
bed
what are you doing?' Roberts
asked nervously.
''See who it is" said Stanton.
wait, where's your gun?"
Il don't need a gum" said STAN
ton as he turned the key and pulled
the door back.
Roberts instantly stepped behind
him. The door opened on a Whit
of liquor and a fat man who
blinked. Stanton looked at him and
smiled.
wrong room, brother" he said.
: The fat mans expression seemed
to contradict that statement. He
said nothing, but he stood his
: ground and blinked.
Wrong room," the lieutenant re-
peated.
The fat man then looked at the
metal disk attached to his key.
"Six-ten," he said to prove he was
| right.
''Five-ten. Wrong floor"
wrong floor? Not possible. That
e is six"
go to the elevator and begin all
over"
''All right. I'll be back here. Six
j ten."
you come back here, and I'll
!. pinch you. I'm a copper. On your
: way, brother. Take some advice
l Of the elevator boy"
Stanton closed and locked the
door.
DO you think that fellow was
drunk" Roberts asked.
Il wouldn't be so sure he was"
: said Stanton as he got into bed.
I'D say he wasn't"
!. He probably was. Touch of act
ing about him, but probably he had
made mistake in his floor and was
trying to cover by seeming more
i stupid than he was"
You're good old DOgberry
yourself, Stanton. That fellow had
:, a purpose. He may have been only
q bird dog never saw him before