The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-05-05
CHAPTER xxxv

Win the nose OF MIS- own gun
digging into his back the gunman
stood cowed and speeches., while
Maurice with his free hand skill.
fully went through his pockets. He
found but one other weapon, aside
from m ordinary pen-knife-a
snub-nosed automatic, small enough
to cuddle in the palm Of ones hand,
although scarcely less deadly than
its fellow Of the holster.
"Now you can turn back and wipe
your face, if you like. But watch
yourself-don't make me nervous u
"Oh, yeah?" This was . muted
snarl: the gunman, while profiting
by permission to mop the spilled
whisky from his features, was seek
ing, il . thought too obviously, to
reassert something Of his forfeit
ascendancy. Hell, nothin' I could
think Of would make you any more
nervous than you ought to be. Say,
who do you think you are-and
where? Where do you think you're
goin' to get of, after this, in . hotel
owned and manned and run by
mobsmen? This amt Paris, fella,
where you've got only frog cops to
look out for, and . smart punk like
You can get away with murder"
mo? Yet MURDER" Maurice In
his most silken manner pointed out,
murder in the full sense Of the
word is precisely what I shall get
away with, my friend, if you put me
to it. # you imagine ! do not know
I have taken my life In my hands,
or hatter yourself that ] haven't
taken yours into them a well, you
arc the victim Of suicidal delusion.
What do you think-that ] fought
my way to the top Of the heap across
the water to be browbeaten and
bullyragged by caxaills like your
self Of this shoddy American UNDER
world7 Il is possible that, q you
hint and hope, ! shall not leave this
place alive, but if I do not, it won't
b for want Of your best efforts to
get mo out unscratched. For where
! 20, you 60 too-bear that in mind:
and everywhere you 60 before me,
and ! come after with my finger on
the trigger. And now that we quite
understand each other-you do un-
derstand me now. don't You. mon
sieur?"
The gunman, sullenly eying the
pistol. gave . sullen nod.
"Let "a get on, then. But remem.
Der that your life hangs on your
giving mo straight answers. Whore
q Miss Croxier?"
A jerk Of the head indicated the
vacant hedchamber. I'm the room
beyond that one"
IA prisoner? That II to ray,
locked up-I mean, is she alone?"
fought to be by now. The only
idea was 70 keep her folks hands
tied til this JOB was all wrapped up
and delivered"
"And how guarded"
"Just locked in-and tho room
telephone dead"
"There Is no guard set?"
"Ah, the floor clerks . wise moll
put there on purpose to keep her
In or out without she's been told to. !"
"But there Is . communicating
door from that bedchamber-l re-
member seeing it."
"Yeah-that's how they took her
through"
"But you have ! pass-key?"
The gunman with . curt laugh,
shook his head: "Not any, fella.
You're al wet this time. and don't
let nobody tell you dif'runt."
think again."
"Ah-h! They amt . chanc't on
earth Of your bulgin' in on that
dame without the whole house
KNOWN It."
"Think again, / tell you. I shall
be with Miss Crozier within Ave
minutes if ! have to break the door
down."
.Ye.h1 And what will ! be
"You viii be . pathetic spectacle,
monsieur, Il IN unsightly one-a
moro heap on the floor, and taking
no interest whatever In the proceed
ings. Make no mistake" Maurice
snapped, II will not be hindered.
Think Of Z way-think quickly"
The lowering stare bent on Maui
rice must have persuaded the gum
man that he would not wisely risk
the issue. The punk was not mere
II ut b have his way. not merely