The Washington times., 1934-12-15


stood in his way. I cursed and
got between the Swarthy man and
the boy. Jack went around my
back and hurried away across the
too.bright space between us and
the house.
Keep your feet on the ground"
I told Carey. There are a lot
Of things to this game you don t
know anything about"
"Too damned many!" he snarled
but he let the boy go.
There was no open second-Story
window on our side Of the build
ing. Jack rounded the rear Of the
house and went out Of sight.
A faint rustling sounded behind
us. Carey and I spun together
His guns went up. stretched out
an arm across them, pushing them
down.
"Don't have a hemorrhage," I
cautioned him. This is just an
other Of the things you don't
know about"
The ruStling had stopped.
"All right" called softly.
Mickey Linehan and Andy Mac
Elroy came out Of the tree.
shadows.
Cross Purposes
Tom-Tom Carey stuck his face
SO close to mine that I'd have
been scratched If he had forgot
ten to shave that day.
"You double-crossing-"
Behave! Behave! A man OF
your age!" admonished him
None Of these boys want any Of
your blood money"
II don't like this gang stuff"
he snarled. we"
Were going to need all the
help we can get" I interrupted.
looking at my watch. I told the
two operatives: Were going to
close in on the house now. -Four
Of us ought to be able to wrap
it up snug. You know Papadopu'
los, Big Flora and Angel Grace
by description. They're in there.
Don't take any chances with
them-Flora and Papadopoulos
are dynamite. Jack Counihan is
trying to ease inside now. You
two look after the back of the
joint. Carey and I will take the
front. Well make the play. You
see that nobody leaks out on US.
Forward march"
The swarthy man and
headed for the front porch-a
wide porch, grown over with
vines on the side. yellowly illum,
mated now by the light that
came through four curtained
French windows.
We hadn't taken our first steps
across the porch when one of
these tall windows moved
opened.
The first thing I saw was Jack
Counihan's back.
He was pushing the easement
open with a hand and foot, not
turning his head.
Beyond the boy-facing him
across the brightly lighted room
stood a man and a woman.
The man was old, small, scraWny,
wrinkled. pitifully frightened
Papadopoulos. saw he had
again shaved off his straggly
white mustache. The woman
was tall, full-bodied. pink-fleshed
and yellow-haired-a she-athlete
of 40 with clear gray eyes set
deep in handsome brutal face
Big Flora Brace. They stood
very still side by side, watching
the muzzle of Jack Counihan's s
gun.
While I stood in front of the
window looking at this scene,
Tom-Tom Carey, his two guns up,
stepped past me, going through
the tall window to the boys side.
did not follow him into the
room.
Papadopoulos' scary brown eyes
darted to the sWarthy mans face.
Flora'S gray ones moved there de-
!iberately, and then looked past
him to me.
Hold it, everybody" I Or
dered, and moved away from the
window, to the side of the porch
where the vines were thinnest.
Leaning out between the vines.
so my face was clear in the
moonlight, I looked down the
side of the building. A shadow of
the garage could have been a
man. I put an arm out in the
moonlight and beckoned. The
shadow came toward me-Mickey
Linehan. Andy MacElroy's head
peeped around the back of the
house. I beckoned again and he
followed Mickey.
I returned to the open window.
Papadopoulos and Flora-a rap-
bit and a uoness-stood looking
at the guns Of Carey and Jack.
They looked again at me when
I appeared, and a smile began
to curve the Woman'S full lips.
Mickey and Andy came up and
stood beside me. The WomanS
smile died gromly.
Carey" I said, you and Jack
stay as is. Mickey, Andy, go IN
and take hold Of our. -"
When the two operatives
stepped through the window
things happened.
Flora Fumbles