Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1934-06-22


ed at the Club of Cards?"
81 haven't it with me-" said Niles
coolly. "But I know where it is" 1t
could be not four feet away from him.
hidden in the band of the light
Bangkok straw that rode on Benton's
head. 1t had been out of the house
for half an hour, but now it had re-
turned. Then he stiffened with sur
prise and horror. There was no hat
on Benton's head. The gunman was
passing his hand across moist brow.
Oh hot in here" he announced.
He began to mop his face with silk
handkerchief. "And this dicks cloth
es amt so comfortable for me. His
hat was so small I had to sling it
away when we were coming home."
"Silencew snarled Doctor Weston.
His lips were thin, malignant line.
"What do / care about your personal
comfort at time like this? Get your
own clothes from Tracy. He brought
them in here. Now, Mr.. Miles," he
stepped forward, lean, sinister, fig
ure in his white smock-"you will
either tell me where that ace is-the
real one-or die"
Not for moment since he had been
trapped in the next house had Niles
believed that he would be allowed to
leave alive. Long ago he had steeled
himself to the realization that his
duty might bring him to destruction
in New York's unremitting war
against the criminal world. But he
did not want to go out with mystery
still unsolved. Out in the street
somewhere, a prey for the first pass
er-by, lay the Bangkok hat with the
ace of spades in it's band. The key
to everything was in some gutter.
"That was decoy ace as you have
guessed" he said. His mind was rae
ing, sparring for time. "Do you
think I would have brought the real
card with me?"
"You might have" rasped the doc
tor. "Or perhaps you have hidden
it in your flat. Wait, who is that ?"
The buzzer was sounding again, this
time in three quick rings followed by
longer one.
"That's Gimpy," said Benton. "It's
about time he showed up. Shall let
him in?" He went out the far door
and another figure slipped into the
room. Niles saw swarthy face that
grinned venemously when it was turn
ed to him. Gimpy was rubbing at
his wrists. what took you so long 2"
said Benton.
"That guy there" spat out Gimpy.
81 come on him up on the roof O. his
flat and he laid me out and tied me
up. l only got loose little while
ago"
1t was the gangster who had leaped
on him from the roof wall and whom
Niles had knocked out "An' them"
went on Gimpy leering, II takes
look at his rooms. l don't believe in
passin' up nothin', not in my line"
He began to empty his pockets on the
table. Scarf-pins, a watch, small
change, cuff-links and other petty val
uables Uttered the boards. Here was
a sneakthief who was thoroughness
itself He had been through every
drawer in Niles flat and taken what
ever he found.
"You have searched everywhere in
this detectives apartment" demand
ed the doctor.
II sure have" answered Gimpy. 81
amt left nothin' but the paper on
the wall"
"And you found no sign of the ace
of spades?"
"Nary a one"
Doctor Weston's gaze came back
to Nies-implacably dangerous and
compelling. $50" he said. you
have hidden it somewhere else"
Exactly" said Niles. Even if he
had wanted to hand over the myster-
ious card he could not have done So.
But he knew, deep within him, that
he would not bargain for his life with
any such means. The ace of spades
was gone. His finish was close at
hand. Gimpy was snarling at him.
Thought you'd tucked me away,
didn't you? Well, come back" He
nodded at Benton and Ramos. 81
seen you two down the street, head
in fer here, when l crossed the Ave
moo just now on the way over. So
strung along to this house instead o
the other. Why didn't you wait fel
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