Evening star., 1934-02-16
EOHoTNATE1R92|s1I1 81
- PY YPqEM P.qM2PfHR2YS7EE, RSE ~

estly.
Packy started. "a safe blowerP Do
you mean you know how to open
satesP"
do I know how TO open ssfes2 Do
know how to open safes. Why, is
there any little job in that line you
want doing2" asked Mr.. Slsttery, not
ing the oddness Of his companions
suppression. "If there Is, say the
word"
Packy groaned in spirit Lies
dreadful irony was saddeninR him
What he had wanted from the very
start Of this expedition Of his was a
kindly friend who knew how to open
safes, and now that he had found
him it was too late. He .mourned
once more over that. foolish pride
which had caused him TO sever rela-
tions with Mr.. Gedge and so render
an invitation to the chateau inpos-
sible.
NO" he sighed. Not at the mo-
ment, I'm afraid"
He crushed down these fruitless
repinings over what might have been.
Tell me-" he said. What happened
to the others?"
boy. you missed somethin'l A cir
Gus. No less" said Soup.
Get this. Me, back at the table.
see? And here's this Gedge bird,
acting kind Of ugly"
He was that way when left"
well, he hadn't gotten no SUMMER,
believe me. After awhile he turns to
rk- H.. q,
the plumbing at this chatty-o place
terrible"
"Leaky cisterns2"
"That and a raft Of other things
And he's Just beginnin' to 60 good
when this D. Bhssac guy comes back
to the table for a snootful. And just
as he pulls in here's this Gedge bird
shoutin' about the plumbing Of tht;
chatty.o and not saying it with
flowers neither"
Good situation" agreed Packy
Dramatic"
"Well, sir, this here now Blissac he
sort Of draws himself up and calls
him. What's that?' he says. What's
what?' says the Gedge bird, What's
that you're saying about our plumb
ing?' says this BlisSac, very high hat
It's rotten says the Gedge bird
Say that again. says D. Blissac. And
this Gedge he says it again, and the
next thing you know they're rolling
on the floor, and me acting as referee
and telling them to break. Boy, it
was a couple Of minutes before /
could get 'em unstuck."
Packs sympathies were entirely
pro-victome. No man Of spirit will
lightly endure structures on the
plumbing Of his boyhood home. He
| said as much.
Me. too," agreed Mr.. slattery.
"And that's what I tell this Gedge
when I'd unsorted him. Is It nice,
say, giving the razz to q fellows
home plumbing? Is that a system?'
He seen it, too, because he started
/ crying into some fruit salad. And
/ then argue with this Blissac, trying
to make him take the big, broad view
1 And soon we're all hotsy-totsy again.
/ and from then till they suddenly
passed out cold on me you wouldn't
/ have wanted to see a happier little
/ bunch than the three Of US"
Pausing at this point. Mr.. Slattery
regarded Packy with surprise and not
q little pique. He had been telling 9
| good story we'll. Yet here was his COM
| panion apparently in a trance He
was standing rigid, gazing out into the
night.
"of course, If you amt inter
ested. :"
Packy turned. His eyes cleaned
strangely. you say they passed out.
What became Of the bodies?"
Il attended TO that. I put D. Bills
sac in a cab and shipped him of tc
the hotel"
"And Gedge?"
'I put him in another and sent him
up to the Chatty-o I told the chauf-
feur to ring the front door bell. hand
In the corpse and come away"
Mr.. Slattery paused a little compla-
Gently. He seemed to be feeling that
he had acquitted himself well.
Once more he perceived that his au-
dience's attention had wandered
Maybe you don't think that was
smooth he said, aggrieved.
Packey Sarted apologetically. "I'm
sorry. was thinking. I've Just had
an idea and I don't often get them
When 1 do, they knock me endways.
What sort Of an idea?"
"Oh, just an idea. Just something
that had been bothering me a gooc
deal, and now I think I see my way
A bright light has shone upon me
Look here, are you feeling equal tc
making the trip ashore9 Because Il
so, Ill row you in. I would rather
like to have word with the vicomte
Would there be any chance Of his hav.
ing come to life yet?"
Maybe. What do you want to SEE
him about2"
"oh just something. Just some.
thing that happened to occur to me
while you were talking. Lets start al
once. BY the way, that offer Of your,
to crack safe for me, If desired, still
holds good?"
Brother" said Mr.. Slattery with
fervor, after what you done for me
tonight, I'd bust the National City
Bank for you"
(To be continued.)