Evening star., 1934-12-23
Back to the Shdroad
rossed Sesrry Gslivan
thnstioe for revenge
but he met a girl and
he heard a song. -.

coat The man was Benny santer. He was
talking.
TN through kiddin'" Benny said crunch
ing out the words like bits of glass. Get into
your raglan baby. Well eat at Boratt's. and
Butch himself can inform you what will happen
II you don't play pretty"
Il WON'T" the girls voice shrilled. Il won't.
won't. wont!"
Il told you to cut the squawiin'." Benny
Santer darted . bony hand across the soft col
ored glow of the tree and hooked the girls arm.
She gasped with pain. Gives you . thrill hey.
baby9" Benny grinned. well, that amt
nothin at all"
Benny whipped around rs the door bolt
clicked. Gallivan had closed the door quietly
With the click he was ready his right hand
ominously bulging mackinaw pocket. Benny
Santer was still his lean face waxen in the dim
glow. sudden gsten of sweat on his forehead
THE girl moved slowly out toward Gallivan
He halted half way down the room, watch
ing her. She was small and slender delicate
and dark against the soft color of the little
lights and the sparkling tree.
We're closed" she said steadily. what do
you want?"
Why" drawled Gallivan, "a Christmas hair
cut. I'm timber beast a curly wolf with bark
on him instead of hair. Hey Benny?"
"Who-who tipped-you?" Benny choked out
each word.
What could you mean. Benny?" Gallvan's
easy speech was rich with innocent wonder.
why, just needed me a Christmas haircut,
I only dropped in here. lucky like and you seem
so surprised. Why, Benny, you even seem to
be mad at the sight of me. You make me
feel hurt"
Whats in your craw?" Benny snarled
Spit it out. Scary"
Have you got any hay around. lady bar
ber?" drawed Gallivan to the girl. "You know,
eat hay, if it's got whisky it."
He was moving. slowly but inexorably.
Benny Santer. Nora Doran was forced to step
back. cast Of the tree glow struck full in
Gallivans eyes. In them she saw the heat of
murder Benny cringed behind her
"Don't-oh. pleased" she cried to him plead
ingly. Don't make trouble here, logger-Tye
already had SO much-and you heard what
Benny threatened The cops will ruin me at a
word from Boratt.'
Gallivan halted. II didn't figure to make
trouble here" he said Il only want to make
sure Benny has no hot iron on him, and then
well take walk. water front walk" CALI
van grimly added.
The girl still stood in his way. "Ah, listen!"
she breathed.
Fresh sounds were surging in with the traffic
roar The mellow piping of an organ from q
old songs of the season. The melody came
nearer on the cold night air.
"All about peace and good will" said Nora
Doran eagerly. "You can't mean-what see
in your eyes, Not tonight"
why. miss said Gallivan innocently. What
could you be talkin' about?"
"Ah let Benny CO." she begged please be q
good egg. Come on. logger" she coaxed LET
him go. and then I'll give you Christmas hair
cut-free."
She was drifting close. too close. Gallivan
stood Like pine, coldly considering what he
had to do. He had promised to protect Boratt.
he wanted Benny to believe that he had come
into the shop by accident And he was sud-
denly curious to know what grip Boratt and
Benny Santer had on this slip of q girl.
I'll have that haircut" Gallivan said.
Take a seat, Benny, front of the chair, where
I can look at YOU
DENNY SANTER made no argument, seeming
= satisfied with his reprieve. Obeying CALI
vans order, he made weak -kneed walk toward
the front of the shop and sagged down in one
of of chairs. Scarry sat down. keeping
ar eye fixed on Benny Santer.
A switch clicked. White light flooded the
mackinawed logger. blotted out the glow Of the
small tree Nora Doran moved between CALI
van and the window. She ga0ed at the blank
blind but her eyes were rapt as she listened to
the organ and the carol. boys voice was