Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1935-06-28
CHAPTER w

! Tom Austin would not, naturally
look on the floor behind the big desk,
and his one thought was that Winfield
might have lured Molly into his apart
ment at the rear.
That was why, in his sudden frenzy
of fear, he had shouted that he would
kill Winfield if he harmed Molly.
It was unfortunate for Tom that
he shouted this threat, for at this
moment John Walker came into Win
fields studio.
Flo Parker had tried to telephone
him, but he was out. She feared
trouble and wanted to ask him to go
into Winfield's studio and help pre-
vent trouble.
Flo telephoned again, from pay
station, after she went out, and this
time she got Walker who promised
to go right up.
Tom was rushing into the big "of-
flee" when Walker entered and heard
him shout, but did not hear much ex-
cept the "kill."
And then he caught sight of Win
field, huddled on the floor, his head
blood-stained, the heavy war club be-
side him.
"God!" he cried, "Austin's killed
him!"
He knelt and tried to arouse Win
field.
"Dead!" he muttered.
He leaped up and ran back. He
believed that Tom was trying to es-
cape. But before he did this he took
Winfield's revolver from his desk
drawer.
Tom was rushing from one room to
another now and the moment Walker
got to him he covered him with the
gun.
'You crazy FOOL" Walker cried ,"you
had no call to kill him-and I'll see
that you get the limit"
Tom eyed him in surprise.
"Where is Molly?" he asked, sud-
denly, "and put down that gun
what's all this talk about killing?"
"The innocence stuff doesn't go,
Austin, march out there ahead of me.
If you try to get away I'll plug you"
Tom wondered if Walker had gone
crazy. He wondered if Winfield was
there somewhere with Molly and Wal
ker was trying to get him away. And
then he saw Winfield. There was no
acting in his start of surprise or his
exclamation of horror, but Walker
didn't believe it.
"You made good" Walker said, cold
ly, "you threatened to kill him at Flo's
place because he was dancing with
your girl. All right, but you'll get
the chair for it."
Toms mind was clearer now. Per-
haps Winfield had tried to attack Mol
ly-perhaps she had killed him with
the club. At any rate, she had es-
capped. Tom didn't want to face it.
He could help Molly better if he got
away first and planned things.
He turned to Walker. Cali right"
he said.
Naturally you couldn't deny it,,
when 1 caught you red-handed. My
testimony will send you to"
Walker did not notice that Tom had
advanced few steps. Before he had
time to make a move Tom knocked the
gun from his hand and then he smash
ed him on the chin with a powerful
blow, Walker went down in a heap.
Tom picked up the gun, slipped it in
to Walkers pocket and left the place
as calmly as he could.
He went directly to the office of
his lawyer.
Fanny Lang's descent down the fire
escape seemed to her to have been sue
cessful. She swung the bottom hing
ed steps into position and got into the
court.
Across the areaway porter was
at work in a hall. He had seen her
coming down and believed that she had
been robbing someone. Before he
could get down in the basement and
out, Mrs. Lang had walked up thru
the little alley to the street. The
porter ran up and caught sight OF
her in taxi. The taxi was just NOV
ing. away. Being an intelligent chap
he took the number of this taxi and
wrote it down.
Molly, unable to find Flo or to COM
municate with Mrs. Lang did some
shopping, determined to see Flo as
soon as she could.