The Washington times., 1934-12-08
CHAPTER XIX

Red OLeary was glad to do it.
She left him a block or two from
her city house. She told him her
name was Nancy Regan. He prob.
ably doubted it, but he never
asked her any questions, pried
into her affairs. In spite of the
difference in their worlds, genu-
inc companionship had grown up
between them. She liked him.
They met often. He took her
to all the rowdy holes in the bay
district, introduced her to yeggs,
gunner, swindlers, told her wild
tales of criminal adventures. She
knew he was a crook, knew he
was tied up in the Seamen's Ma
tional and Golden Gate Trust
jobs when they broke. But she
saw it all as sort of theatrical
spectacle. She didn't see it as
it was.
She woke up the night they
were in Larrouy's and were
jumped by the crooks that Red
had helped Papadopoulos and the
others doublecroSs. But it was too
late then for her to wriggle clear.
She was blown along with Red
to Papadopoulos' hangout after I
had shot the big lad. She saw
then what her romantic figures
really Were-What she had mixed
herself with.
When Papadopoulos escaped,
taking her with him, she was wide
awake, cured, through forever
with her dangerous trifling with
outlaws. So she thought. She
thought Papadopoulos was the
little, scary old man he seemed to
be-Flora's slave, harmless old
duffer too near the grave to have
any evil in him. He had been
whining and terrified. He begged
her not to forsake him, pleaded
with her while tears ran down his
withered cheeks, begging her to
hide him from Flora. She took
him to her country house and let
him fool around in the garden,
safe from prying eyes. She had no
idea that he had known who she
was all along, had guided her into
suggesting this arrangement.
The Trap
Then her fathers death in
Mexico had come and grief had
occupied her mind to the ex.
clusion of most other things until
this day, when Big Flora and an
other girl-probably Angel Grace
Cardigan-had come to the house.
She had been deathly afraid Of
Big Flora when she had seen her
before. She was more afraid now.
And she soon learned that Papa
dopoulos was not Flora's slave but
her master. She saw the old buzz
zard as ne really was. But that
wasn't the end of her awakening.
Angel Grace had suddenly tried
to kill Papadopoulos. Flora had
overpowered her. Grace, defiant,
had told them she was Paddy's
girl. Then she had screamed at
Ann NeWhall:
And you, you little fool, don't
you know they killed your father?
Don't you know"
Big Flora's fingers, around
Angel Grace's throat, stopped
her words. Flora tied up the
Angel and turned to the New
hall girl.
You're in it," she said
brusquely. you're in it up to
your neck. You'll play along with
US, or elSe-Here'S how it stands,
dearie. The old man and I are
both due to step off if we're
caught. And you'll do the dance
with US. I'll see to that. Do
what you're told, and Well all
come through all right. Get
funny, and I'll beat the life out
of you"
The girl didn't remember much
after that. She had a dim recol-
lection OF going to the door and
telling Andy she didn't want
his services. She did this me-
chanically, not even needing to
be prompted by the big blonde
woman who stood close behind
her. Later, in the same fearful
daze, she had gone out her bed.
room window, down the vine.
covered side of the porch, and
away from the house, running
along the road, not going any
where, just escaping.
That was what 1 learned from
the girl. She didn't tell me all
of it. She told me very little Of
it in those words. But that Is
the story I got by combining her
words, her manner of telling
them, her facial expressions, with
what 1 already knew, and what
could guess.
How about your Servants?" I
asked.
There aren't any there now"
"Papadopoulos persuaded you
to get rid of them?"
"Yes-Several days ago."
Then PapadopouloS, Flora and
Angel Grace are alone in the
house now?"
Eyes"
"They know you ducked?"
II don't know. I don't think
they do. I had been in my room
some time. 1 don't think they
suspected I'd dare do anything
but what thew told me-"