Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-01-24
Chivalry
By MADELINE KOHLER
g. Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service.
INEFFECTIVE GEORGE MARTIN.

NEIECIlNE GEOhGE LIN
II off duty, had been sitting in at
quiet little game in the neighbOrhood.
The evening had been most profitable
and his pockets bulged pleasantly as
he strobe homeward through the 81
lent streets.
The detective was a personable
young man in the early thirties.
Martin lived alone in small and
rather shabby apartment house In the
West Sixties The building boosted
q central court with tiny fountain,
and as he entered the paved square
he glanced up at his own windows on
the fourth floor.
He stopped suddenly then, with a
stified exclamation, and remained
rooted his eyes straining incredulOus-
ly upward. Between his windows and
those of the next apartment ran
narrow ornamental ledge or coping.
and moving slowly and carefully along
this shelf, in the direction Of his win
dows. was the figure Of woman!
He watched, fascinated, as the wOm-
an moved, step by step, across the
twelve-foOt space. 1t was apparent
that she had emerged from the win
dow of his neighbor, Harry Crashaw.
Martin scowled. From their first
encounter he had disliked and dis
trusted the sleek and dapper Crashaw-
gambler, Broadway hanger-On and
thrower of late and noisy parties.
III hoy
Some poor girl risking her life to get
away from that bird He'd have it out
with Crashaw and ask him what the
devil he meant. :. The girl had al
most reached his window, and she
faltered uncertainty at the sill.
Like a flash Martin bounded across
the court This was walk-up and
there was no elevator. He took the
dimly lit stairs two at time.
In his apartment he found the girl
In a crumpled heap under the open
window. She did not move when he
snapped on the lights.
Stripping himself of coat and hat.
the detective stopped to pick her up.
Laying her gently on the couch, he
went swiftly into the adjoining room
and returned with bottle of brandy.
But even as he shook it, he remem-
bered the boys from across the hall
had killed it last night. Swearing
softly, he sped out into the hall, clos
ing the door behind him.
Better go into Crashaw's room. It
was nearest, and he would be sure to
have some spirits. He'd tell the
smooth crook thing or two while he
was about it.
He was surprised to find Crashaw's
apartment brilliantly lighted and ap-
parently half full of people. Crashaw,
himself, lay in large armchair, his
sleek hair rumpled and q new white
bandage on his shoulder.
Jackson, the superintendent Of the
building, came forward eXcitedly.
'Just the man we want, Mr.. Martin"
he said MIR. Crashaw here was
robbed and half murdered this eve
Ming"
Martins jaw dropped. He came in
quickly and shut the door.
yeah" snarled Crashaw, land you
dicks better get busy on this. 1t was
a girl, see? One of these apartment
her at the wall safe, and she cleaned
it out while she held a gun on me. l
was mad and l tried to rush her.
did get the gun away, but in the rum
pus it went off" He glanced ruefully
at his shoulder. 1T must have stunned
me; anyway crumpled up, and the
girl made her getaway.
what l can't understand" he add
ed irritably, us how she got out, with
you fellows out there pounding on the
door,"
Martin, his head in a whirl, had
momentary flashback of a terrified
small figure clinging to a wall. But
his eyes betrayed nothing as he fixed
them on Crashaw. Just what did she
take?" he asked levelly.
"Six hundred dollars in cash."
snapped Crashaw. 1T seems to me
you're damned cool about it. Martin"
"What do you expect me to do,
burst out crying? I'll go and report
It," Martin turned on his heel.
He knew very well what he had to
do Duty was duty. But she was q
game kid all right Oh. well, what
the HI?
He went swiftly down the hall and
entered his own apartment The girl
was standing in the center of the room,
her hands thrust deep In the pockets
OF her worn leather coat Her wide
eyes met his challengingly. but he
sensed the mute appeal behind them.
She did not speak.
'Scram. kid" he said quietly. "Out
the window. You can make 1t to the
fire-escape and down into the court
Step on it, because they're out for
your blood" He gestured toward the
other room.
Put the Crashaw loot on the table
as you go by" he ordered. without
looking at her. ITS all right. I'll give
1t back"
He waited till he heard her eau
tiously descending the fire-escape,
then. relaxing. reached out for his coat
which still hung on the chair near the
bathroom. He needed cigarette
badly.
Regarding the coat. his mind went