Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1932-03-24

was locked. He raised his clenched
left fist, pounding rapidly. Blurred
voices came from the other side. Joe
pounded again, The lock clicked.
There was the jerk Of the lock, the
turn OF the knob. The door opened
narrowly. Instantly Joe was against
It, his weight throwing Off balance
the man on the other side. They
sprawled together through the entry
way a stocky form tumbed over
them and slammed the door. Then
strengthening. Joe Barry stared with
dazed eyes ut the men about him.
Fullhouse had drawn back with
shrug Of his shoulders and IN ac-
quiescins nod of his narrow head.
"All right. Louie" he said "You
win Id We swore it was Greer" He
pressed his lips. .''But it's HMM
person |"
As for Joe. he could only stand
breathlessly. his hand still clutched
upon that piece of steel In his coat
pocket, his eyes striving to orientate
themselves to the unbelievable things
he saw: the short-armed Louie Ber-
tolIni, coming from his chair across
the room. hoggish-appearing man
who stared with magnified eyes
through thick-lensed glasses from the
bathroom door. washed-ont type
of blond woman. Then there was
heavy-shouldered person in chauf-
feurs clothes. and lastly. trim, quiet
ly dressed man, light OF hair and blue
OF eyes, who sat at table with cards
scattered upon 1t. his thin fingers
ceaselessly rafting stack OF chips.
We'll, Joe he said at last. You're
back, / see?'
There was no sound for moment.
except the blare of the radio, jang-
ling every nerve in Joe Barry's body.
He tensed his hold on the gun. Des-
perately lie took stock Of those about
him Fuilhouse. the chauffeur, Louie
Bertolini alternately pushing his cuffs
back from his thick wrists. then jam
ming them down again. Big Friday
Joe had known he was Big Friday at
the first glance-the woman. shakily
lighting cigarette. Joe wished that
there was no woman in this. AS swift
1y, he forgot her.
Yes. Mr.. Martin, I'm back" he said
prosalcally
THAT amt no Mr.. Martin" Full
In Jtu Yp,
How's that for little joke. Ell keedy'
The name doesn't make any differ
ence." Joe was wavering now. His
lower lip dropped. His shoulders
1erked, awkwardly. The lids Of his
eyes seemed to roll back until they
were lost. queer, chattering cry
came from his throat, resolving itself
at last into words, high-pitched.
the radio. what do l care what your
name Is? You tried to send me to the
chair and when you didn't get away
with that. you framed this up-you
and your Big Friday here that
would double-cross man TO death to
join up with you That's what counts
what you've done. And you're not
going to do anything more" Vaguely
he wondered why they did not leap
for protection. why the woman only
sucked at her cigarette. why the poker
chips still ratified In those swift-mov-
ing fingers. Only Louie there. striv-
n hn ~
an open wardrobe trunk. Only the
stocky man in chauffeur's uniform
gliding along the wall well, your
crooked schemes didn't work You
tried to kill me- It's my turn now"
The queer cry echoed in his throat
again. The slick black of an auto
matte shone for an instant; straighten-
ing instinctiyely. A horrible blur
passed over him. His finger was
pressing the trigger, pressing the trig-
ger
The reason that gat won't work"
said Fulllhouse laconically, lis because
the hammer springs busted You
didn't think I'd slip you real rod,
did your"
For an instant longer Joe Barry's
finger twitched at the loose, response
less trigger. Jamison leaned back
from his poker chips.
CLOSE in" he said quietly. The
chauffeur edged behind Joe. Full
house shifted step nearer. Big Fri
day came, almost saunteringly from
the bathroom door, his uncanny eyes
glowing behind the heavy lenses. But
suddenly they halted. Silence had
literally shouted through the room.
The radio. blasting. only moment
before, had died, instantly, completely.
what you Think" Louie Bertoinf
asked nervously. The radio shut of II
Don't shout about IT," snapped
Jamison.
But ! don't like 1t. All the time
today l don't like 1t. Why wouldn't
they give us that next room?"
"Oh, 60 on about that next room"
growled Big Friday. you saw who
was In the next ROOM"
Louie wants a whole floor by him
SELF" drawled Fullhouse, cycling the
silent, sweating Barry. "What the
HI, some old lady with white hair"
i don't like nobody in no next
room," said Louie paving Mt q leather