Evening star., 1934-07-28


Il and soon his tactful pity had
kindled that benumbed mind
to faint glow Of understanding
II was Galbraith ali right. Apart
from his voice. that snub nose With
the scar on the right nostril identified
him beyond the shadow of a doubt.
Gray remembered well the polo match
at which the accident had happened.
Stripping from the blind man the
filthy rags IN which he was clad. he
massaged the skeleton-like body with
the oil brought by the jailer, all the
while taking soothingly. as one who
treasures a frightened child.
Nice, being together again like this,
isn't it! :. Do without that, think!
g. Feeling miles better, old man.
aren't you? F.. Good! Rotten
food in this place E. Enough to upset
anybody Now for the other arm
So! Hurts, does IL? Damn
them) {. :"
Then. taking of his own outer gar
ment, Gray slipped it over the tangled
mass of gray hair and guided the
srimed, skinny hands through the
sleeves.
Now we'll have dinner" he said
cheerfully, and began to set out the
contents of the small basket.
Galbraith reached out a hand and
patted one OF Grays.
Their dinner" as Colin Gray had
called IL, was patheticslly slow busi-
ness. for II was necessary to break
off special morsels and put them
gently into the mouth from which the
teeth had been knocked out-or broken
off-with a hammer and chisel. Alan
Khan was ingenious in his tortures
At last the menu" was exhausted
Remained only the small bottle con-
tanning the yellow colored liquor.
Tasting it warily, Gray found it
contained synthetic whiskey. Fire
water" Ordinarily, he would have
thrown It away. But tonight the
brutal stimulus it could give had a
certain value. It would stimulate the
brain of the blind Galbraith. Make
him talk.
Now well have peg, shall
we9 For Auld Lang Syne's sake.
EN-? =. Ever sing now? Damn them
damn themD =. Run out OF soda,
Galbraith. old boy You used to
like your whiSkey neat. Took chasers,
d'you remember? =. Open! =. So!
Taste good?"
The effect OF the raw spirit was as
that Of a hot bath on a half frozen
man. The lips that had never ceased
to work, steadied themselves. Words
were no longer uttered with difficulty.
Short disjointed sentences were re-
placed BY quick. logical answers, the
strange accuracy with which the words
were chosen making them terribly
vivid
They killed the others-Dudley.
Ferrers, Boileau and the rest-vou
knew them Gray He keeps
us till the next fellow comes d.
You'll see me done in as l saw
Curtis Torn 10 bits by wild beasts
With his head in an iron case
Il heard q good story the other
day, Gigsl" interpolated Gray, breeE-
ily. (Over stimulation means delir-
iumD "A fellow was walking down
iccadilly-renember Piccadilly, don't
ycu?''-
Albany -. The Albany -.
Ferrers had rooms there .. Sh'd
think I do -. know lots of things
&c.. You old say your name WAS Gray.
didn't you? ... I'm gray now, aren't
l? Always hated punsi -"
You're looking far better than
, thought you would" Gray gulped,
and cleared his throat
Galbraith started to laugh
The crazy ring OF il caused his
fellow prisoner to put an arm about
him.
Steady, old boy! ... II Is all
/ rather amusing. of course! In q week
or two well be able to laugh at it
together, YOU Seel ..,
See I'll never see anything
again Only the face of that black
bearded swine! -. Gray, Gray ...
Ny Cod You won't let them do it
again, viii you?"
Gray'S heart contracted. The pitt
| fulneSs Of II all was almost more than
he could bear without exploding into
! q furious denunciation Of that devil
! In q giants body-Alam Khan
You and I are going TO set out Of
this rotten hole Gissl That's vhy
I've tonne 70 see you. The jailer-
fellow Is pal OF mine"