Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1932-06-29
Chapter &c
A THOUSAND DEVILS

napier 20
A THOUSAND DEVILS
THE three stared at Jerry as tho
Il he had lost his mind. He sifted
loose sand thru his fingers, not lok-
ing up
you understand that the marriage
would be in name only. II we ever
get back to civilization we could all
work together and have II quietly
annulled. Steve and Emory could be
witnesses to prove hat It had been
done as the lesser of two evils"
A thousand devils were grinning
from Emory's dancing eyes as he
glanced from the sober-faced flushed
Nancy TO the embarrassed Jerry.
Fine scheme, II you ask me-" Stew
ems said hastily. You probably won't
have to worry about a divorce, or an
annulment, either, because il you
aren't a widow by the time you leave
here 1t won't be Jerry's fault. He's
more anxious to go and get himself
killed than any Teller I ever saw-un-
less it's his ddle-headed running
mate, here"
Jerry's ears burned as he saw the
girl survey him thotfully. He had
never been much of a ladies' man.
But he diG feel foolish, somehow.
Talking about even this kim of mar
riage as tho they were discussing a
missing engine or a spawned horse.
A small hand suddenly rested upon
his knee. He looked up TO see Nancy
smiling at him thru tear-washed eyes.
You are a dear boy, Jerry. and |
trust you,'' she said, simply. an
leave all the details to you three"
She rose and walked rapidly toward
the house. Emory broke into a
chuekle. Jerry glared at him.
What are you laughing at. you
sap I've got a good MIND to poke
you In the nose!'
I'm laughing out of pure relief"
gasped Emory. that / wasn't the
fs,r-haired laddie who thot of thai
wonderful scheme! Oh boy! Our little
Jerry, restless wanderer Of the air
trails, married."
shut up!" gowled Jerry morosely.
'Didnt you hear the conversation"
Sure. heard It," Emory's grin
was maddening.
Didn't you hear me say that the
marriage would be in name only?"
Sure, oh sure, we heard 1t, didn't
we, Steve?"
The detectives eyes were twinkling,
but his face was impassive.
Wen, then don't be an asst" NUT
tered jerry
II heard you say it," gibed Emory,
but ii didn't mean anything. You
wait"
IT'S just because I nave a wonder
full control yer my temper" obser-
we'd Jerry witheringly, that / don't
beat you up. I'd do 1t right now IL
we had any privacy"
He rose and strobe toward the
house, very much on his dignity. The
majestic hauteur of his retreat was
not made easier by the sound of EN-
ory's raucous laughter which followed
him all the way to the porch steps.
An almost ~unbearable aura OF UNI
easinesS prevailed everything within
the house, blended with the heat
waves that rose in shimmering layers
from the parched sane outside, made
an atmosphere surcharged with elect
ricity. jerry felt that If a door were
to be slammed, each man within thai
huge, darkened living room would
leap for his neighbours throat.
Nancy was the only one who, after
dinner that evening, braved the torrid
heat OF her W room. The others in
the living had settled down to
wait, as patiently as might be, thru
the endless hours until bedtime.
Jerry, Emory and Stevens sat close
together, the flyers attempting to
read, the old man mildly watching
the others with eyes that scarcely
seemed to see what they were looking
at. Hamilton was placidly shuffling
his cards and placing them in neat
rows and columns upon the green
baize table top. Mallory, a highball
on the arm of his chair, was alter
nately drinking and doing. Lucci,
sitting bolt upright in a straight chair
was finding the inactivity almost in
supportable. He strobe to the door
with irritating regularity, peering out
to see II the hoped-for evening breeze
haG risen. Then he returned to the
chair to sit, chatting and sweating,
waiting for something to happen.
| Marin nnnhtrnGiNa un fIQtnl NO
~half-hidden in a dark corner. He
shuffled his feet necessarily, uncons-
ciouSly. Jerry found the noise irrita-
ting. Even Ashwood, stretched out in
a chaise Tongue of Philippine wicker,
seemed moody and dispirited.
Good Cod" snarled Mallory harsh
ly. Why doesn't somebody say
something's
Lucci snapped out of his chair and
faced him, his dark eyes beady with
hate, his mouth a crimson rack in
his swarthy face Then he began to
advance upon the stockbroker, tread
ing lightly, swiftly. Mallory pushed
himself out of his armchair, grinning
horribly. Hamilton swiftly moved his
table away from the area of the i'm
pending crash.
"Lucci!" Stevens voice snapped like
a bullet. Lucci paused uncertainty.
'Sit down, both of youi"
The tension was suddenly broken.
The gangster, surly, returned to his
chair. Mallory seated himself and
drank greedily.
Ashwood had not moved a muscle.
He sat there, watching, an amused
CLEAN in his deep-set eyes, a faint
smile on his lips.
"Thotful Of you, Steve" the white
haired cripple acknowledged drily, ito
break up that little bout, but you
must admit that it would have liven-
ed up the evening"
"Uh, huh" grunted the other short
ly. But at my age, killing isn't
funny. Sometimes it's necessary, but
it's not funny"
"Oh, l don't know" yawned Ash
wood, Once in a while it may be
amusing, either in its cause or eff
feet" He looked about the room,
cycling each Of the men speculatively.
Il doubt, however, that it amused
any of us last night. Without wishing
to seem critical, l might remind you
gentlemen that one of you has com
mitted two rather cold blooded muir
ders."
Stevens watched Jerry who. with a