Evening star., 1934-09-24
INSTALLMENT XIII.

@EhR1 lelL helly anu IIlc otllci
in Pops office and walked to-
ward the telephone booth with
Il mingled feelings. He had an
other scoop, but what would
It mean to him personally? The news
of Pietros disappearance would Startle
the world and would bring new honorS
on his head. but what else would it
mean to him? Would the gang oper-
ating know that this knowledge of
his had come from the police and was
not due to any special information
he had? He called in to the paper
and then proceeded toward the door.
His first surprise was to see Doyle
standing near the doorway obviously
watching for him Terry squared off.
He wasn't going to take a second beat
ing from Doyle.
Instead of a fist Doyle extended a
hand. I'm sorry about that scrap
the other night, Burke. I'd like to
talk to you if you have a moment.
Will you shake?"
Terry took Doyles hand 81 guess
I deserved all l got" he said en-
barrassedly.
I'm too hot-headed I shouldn't
have done it" Doyle was shy
And I didn't think about how YOU
would feel-on account of the girl,
mean" Terry explained
Il know. It's your Job to get news.
the way base ball is mine Can you
spare little time?'
Have you had your dinner?" Terry
asked.
No but I won't go downtown"
Doyle hastened to add with a grin
I've learned my lesson How about
place on 125th street,"
They left the building and walked
toward the avenue
What's on your mind?" Terry
asked
Have you seen the evening papers?"
Doyle stopped under a lamp post.
Here, read this. Doyle pulled an
extra out of his pocket.
Burke of the Star Held Under Sus-
picion. Implicated in Second
Blues Tragedy.
The young reporter on the Star
who has been scooping all the news
on the recent base ball tragedies is
being held under suspicion by the
ponce.
Burke scooped the town again today
with the first story of the second
murder at Blues Field Burke al
though he was in the press box at the
time of the tragedy, was able to get
information to his paper about the
murder before it was known to the
police. While young Burkes part in
the Boston affair was spectacular and
on the side of law and order, the
police want TO know how 1t is possible
for him to have news, if not before
j. happens. at least simultaneously.
1t was Reynolds Brooklyn paper
and Terry crumpled it in a rage
why" he exploded, the dirty.
low. rotten
Doyle laughed Il don't blame you.
but now you can understand how
felt. And there is more you didn't
read. I'm in the paper again with
rehash of the old story. They
knew Kelly questioned me and they
made quite a point of my looking
over the bats. What have the bats to
Go with it. anyhow"
The Butchers have a regular bat
boy. named Pietro a little hunch-
back. a young lad. not more than 16
or II. who has been with them for
several years. You know how super
stitious men on team become? Well,
Pletro was their mascot. too.
But what has all this to do with
the bats?" Doyle asked
'Pietro came from Chicago with
the team. When they arrived, he
went up to Jerome avenue to stay
with his uncle. who has fruit and
vegetable store. Just before the game
started today, Rawlins received a note
from Pietro saying he was sick and
sending a substitute. RawIins didn't
have time to bother about the thing
and just took the new boy on Kelly
thinks it possible that Dirkin was
poisoned through the bats. That's
why he questioned you. They can't
find Dirkin's favorite bat. and what
is worse, Pietro is not at his uncle's;
he was not sick. and the substitute
boy has vanished It's too bad you
went near the bats this afternoon"
Il don't like it" Doyle said. Il
guess it's my finish on the Blues"
Why should it be?'
why shouldn't it? Pop won't stand
for me being under suspicion. We're
both in the same boat" Doyle said
seriously. You've got to watch your
step just as I must watch mine
Kelly's up a tree and he'll do anything
to save his face Well be watched
from now on and think We ought to
work together"
Doing WHAT"
Getting at the bottom OF this
thing. These deaths can't be called
accidents any longer Streams death
proved that. There's something sin
lister behind them. If it gets out that
we are suspected, what's to prevent
our being framed?"
Why should We be framed?"
why was Stream killed? If these
people can keep the police off the real
scent, it all becomes that much easier
for them. We could be framed easily"
Framed" The word struck terror
to Terry's heart. Perhaps that ex-
planned why he had not been troubled
since his warning after the Boston
affair. What an easy way to get rid
of him; frame him and he would be
thrown in Jail and out of the way.
How was Dirkin poisoned" Doyle's
question cut into Terry's thoughts.
They don't know. but since the
bat is gone, they think it was done
that way. The substitute bat boy
knows the solution, but they don't
find him"
Il don't like it." Doyle said. Il
don't like it bit You'd better watch
YOUR step from now on"
Don't worry. 1 WILL" Terry said
with real sincerity.
The two youngsters had dinner to-
gether and what they chose to call a
common danger cemented lasting
friendship.
Terry went back to the Office and
had to explain the situation which
had aroused the suspicious Of Kelly.
The kidnapping or worse of Pietro was
causing a terrific furor. Papers that
received the story later than the Star
speculated on Burke's ability to get