Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1933-09-28


have to talk quietly" He shrugge1
toward the wall. "The partitioe1
aren't as thick as they should he 90
some of the boys are having q rt+,"
game next door" He turned 70 the
waiter. do you remember Mr. paI
mer and his friend being here last
night, Nick?' '
The walters positive and verbose
reply was accompanied by numerous
gestures.
II sure do, boss; desc Meeste& oro,
ley, he's-a here before" he said n
his broken English. "An' Meester Dol
mieri, he's-a da boy what I TOP vo,,
dese-a morning give me all dat trouh,
last-a night" He made q grfmace ~
distaste at the student. when hiss
friend 60 off. he's-a sleep an I mo-
boter him till maybe Ieven clock and
is lots-a busy. Den / wake him nm
but he's-a drink too much for goinr
way hisself; SO Signor Cassidy an me
we gotta carry him an put-a him out
da door, almost"
Had you noticed either Mr.. Pal.
mer or his friend particularly, before
thatr Rankin asked the next cues.
ton himself. 'That IL, beside wait.
ing on themT'
Nick pondered 1t seriously. "Wen.
come-a in every five-a minute, NAV.
be dey want something else" he re.
sponded. "An, I see dese-a Buckley
talking to Meester Palmieri an bend.
ing close, lax he's-a whispering. He'ss
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 a pretense Of an
intimate colloquy.
"And then, Nick. what happenedr'
Noting" the waiter answered
'Dey look-a busy an I go into back.a
room again. An in Ave-a minute, I
come in an Meester Palmieri he's-a
all alone, sleeping. Desc Buckley, he'sa
gone, no say nut'ing."
Five minutes later, you sayr' Ran
kin queried. "Then he went between
eight-twenty and eight-twenty-fve1"
"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-flve and efght-fOrty-fve
was ample to allow Buckley to reach
the fraternity house. he had easily
time to call at his rooms for 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 it 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 1t, 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 ret burnt, you've got to pay
for it, understand This is no child's
play!"
A younger voice replied, more high
~ pitched and hesitant, but also dis
tinct.
But don't have 1t tonight" it said
insistently. II just wasn't able to get
it / swear I'll bring 1t to you to-
morrow, though"
Nothing doing, kidw The first
speakers wrath increased noticeably
"You promised that before; l 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 up! Well. get this. KID" his
voice rang with cold fury: mo more
chances; you aren't going to get away
with any more stalling"
The desperate tones of the younger
man echoed a note of apprehension, II
not fear.
Honestly, I'm not trying to do that
Only I need little more time. I've
always paid you before. haven't I?
And you can trust me this time. too,
If you'll wait :"
Rankin glanced significantly across
the table at the proprietor. "There
might be serious trouble" he OBJ
served. you ought to step in and
see what it's about, Gussie. Better
not let it go too far"
"It's Carl Walton in there with some
body" Morton growled; he rose, his
face red with displeasure.
AS he left the room. the detective
felt Larry Palmer's hand grasp his
arm. The boys eyes blazed in a coun-
tenance gone suddenly as white as
chalk.
''Mr. Rankin" he whispered hoarse-
ly, that second fellow the one
this chap Is threatening. It's
Ned-Ned Patterson
Rankin was as startled as the boy.
Patterson? Are you sure Of THAR
he demanded.
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