Evening star., 1934-10-09
AEATHofs THE
'IAMOND
NJ 81 By CORTLAND FiTZSlffMCNSNW

near the door, Pietro, and keep cry
ing, cry harder, so he can hear you"
The chair leg loosened.
How much of it was real or pre-
tended, Terry could not know, but
Pietro was doing a magnificent Job
Of weeping. He kept it up for several
minutes and then there was q sound
outside the door.
What's eating you?" q voice asked.
Terry thought he recognized the
voice. 1t sounded like one Of the men
who had come to his apartment.
Tell him you are SICK" Terry whis-
pered. Get over on your bed"
I'm SICK" Pietro said between sobs.
"Aw, hell" There was q sound Of
bolt slipping and then q key was
turned in the lock. Terry stood back,
so he would be hidden by the door
as 1t swung open.
The door opened.
Where are you?" the voice asked.
Here" Pietro sobbed.
The man moved toward Pietro'S
voice. The little light coming through
the door made Terry blink. As the
man bent over Pietro, Terry moved
across the room with the chair leg In
his hand. He brought the improvised
club down on the mans skull just as
he turned to look behind him. There
was dull crack that sickened Terry
and with grunt the man rolled over.
"Quick, Pietro, get the ropesl"
Terry knelt beside the man and was
astounded to find an arm swing up
and grip him. Terry had put the
club on the floor and he hoped to find
it with his loose hand as he struggled
to free himself from the viselike grip.
His free hand was cropping on the
floor and suddenly he felt the end of
the club thrust into his fingers. Good
Pietro! Terry wriggled his arm around
until he could swing. The club crashed
against the mans nose. There was
surprised howl, an oath and the grip
on Terry relaxed.
"The rope!" Terry mumbled TO
Pietro.
Quickly he bound the man hand
and foot.
you can't leave me like this! I'll
bleed to DEATH" the man cried hys-
terically, the blood oozing from his
nose.
Cant I, though?" Terry was work.
ing fast finishing up the binding.
Don't leave me TO die" the man
begged. "Dont"
If you die here, you'll cheat the
electric chair" Terry said grimly.
Terry was surprised to feel himself
shaking as he and Pietro groped their
way into the kitchen, but sight Of the
clock on the wall made him pull him.
self together. 1t was o'clock. Terry
looked out of the windows. There
wasn't a house in sight anywhere.
Where were they? He unfastened the
kitchen door and dragged Pietro with
him. At the side of the house, they
found an old car.
Keep a sharp lookout" Terry
warned Pietro. "I'll search him for
the keys"
Terry was back in a minute and
into the car with the motor going.
There was dirt road in front of the
house, but which way to turn? There
seemed to be no more signs Of trafnc
toward the left. Terry took the turn
and raced down the road. The road
grew worse and there were no houses.
He had to get to telephone He
came to crossroad and turned right,
hoping it would lead him somewhere.
In the distance he heard a locomotive
whistle and over some tree tops he
saw puH OF smoke. He drove the
car as fast as 1t would go. In a few
minutes he came out on the main
highway and tore down it. Where
were they? Why such God d-forsaken
country? Where was it?
A gas station loomed up ahead and
he was going to stop. but he realized
there was no telephone wire running
into it. He raced on. Pietro. with
his eyes shut, gripped the side of the
car.
(To be continued)