The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-07-28
CHAPTER Iv-Continued

Morton relaxed, his relief patent In
his more genuine amiability.
swell, Nick will be glad to help you
II he can, Tommy. Just who is this
guy you want to know about?"
'sThe friend who came here with
Mr.. Palmer yesterday evening at eight
O'Clock, for a couple of drinks" Ran
kin elaborated. "His name is Buck
ley. He left first, alone; and Mr.. Pal
mer was too much under the weather
to remember what time he went. AS
Nick served them, 1 thought he could
tell me-"
The proprietor glanced about the
large chamber. perhaps we had bet
ter talk this over where it's more
private" he suggested.
Rankin acquiesced, and Morton led
them back into the long corridor, en-
tering one of the rooms lining it; he
shut the door and all took chairs but
the waiter. The fairly audible muir
muir of voices came from the adjoin-
ing chamber, though the words spoken
were NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Morton modulated his voice. "We'll
have to talk quietly" He shrugged
toward the wall. "The partitions
aren't as thick as they should be; and
some of the boys are having little
game next door," He turned to the
waiter. "Do you remember Mr. Pal
mer and his friend being here last
night, Nick?"
The walters positive and verbose
reply was accompanied by numerous
gestures.
IT sure do, boss; desc Meester Buck
ley, he's-a here before" he said, in
his broken English. San Meester Pal
mieri, he's-a da boy what I toll you
dese-a morning give me all dat troub'
last-a night" He made grimace of
distaste at the student. when his-a
friend go off, he's-a sleep an i no
bot'er him till maybe 'leven clock and
is lots-a busy. Den l wake him up,
but he's-a drink too much for going
way hisself; so Signor Cassidy an me,
we gotta carry him an put-a him out
da door, almost"
u "Had you noticed either Mr.. Pal
mer or his friend particularly, before
that?' Rankin asked the next ques-
ton himself. "That is, beside wait
ing on them?"
Nick pondered it seriously. "Well,
/ c0me-a in every five-a minute, may
be dey want something else" he re-
sponded. IAN I see dese-a Buckley
talking to Meester Palmieri an bend
ing close, lax he's-a whispering. He's-a
got arm round hes-a shoulder. Desc
boy here, he's-a no say nut'ing."
Undoubtedly, Rankin reflected, Nick
had observed Buckley searching his al
ready drugged victim for his keys: he
screened the act by pretense of an
intimate colloquy.
"And then, Nick, what happenedT
Noting" the waiter answered.
"Dey look-a busy an go into back-a
room again. An. in five-a minute, 1
come in an Meester Palmieri he's-a
all alone, sleeping. Desc Buckley, he's-a
gone, no say nut1ng.
''Five minutes later, you say?" Ran
kin queried. 'Then he went between
eight-twenty and eight-twenty-fve%
"Dat's-a right, Meester Rankin"
Nick affirmed. "He's-a no more here,
twenty-five-a minute past"
The detective nodded his satisfac-
ton, for the twenty minutes between
eight-twenty-five and eight-forty- five
was ample to allow Buckley to reach
the fraternity house. He had easily
time to call at his rooms for a costume
similar to those worn at the initiation
and still enter the chapter room as
the second late conner.
When Rankin established that the
waiter had told all he knew, he thanked
him and dismissed him.
It may have been because Nick left
the door open that the conversation
on the other side of the wall suddenly
became audible. Or perhaps the occu-
pants behind 1t spoke more loudly
than before. But, as the waiter quit
the room, the harsh sound of deep
tones lifted in anger came through
the separating partitions; and the
words held an unmistakable menace
On it, kid, you can't pull that
stuff on me again! l want that money
in a hurry; you lost 1t in straight
open game Of blackjack with me and
Lew Meyer. If you come here to gam
BILE and get burnt, you've got to pay
for it, understand? This is no child's
play!"
A younger voice replied, more high
ly pitched and hesitant, but also dis
tinct.
But don't have it tonight" it said
insistently. IT just wasn't able to get
it! swear I'll bring it to you to-
morrow, though"
Nothing doing, kid" The first
speakers wrath increased noticeably.
-'You promised that before; let you
off Monday if you agreed to have the
money in my hands yesterday at the
latest. And last night, you didn't even
show upi Well, get this, kid" his
voice rang with cold fury mo more
chances; you aren't going to get away
with any more stalling.