The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-11-28
CHAPTER ONE
xTHEN the guard brought Jean

making it impossible for her either
to think or to feel any longer.
She moved her legs automatically,
duly conscious Of extreme weari-
ness but unable, somehow, to feel
that IL mattered very much.
She knew the worst, now. She
was in the hands Of the Red Jack
son gang-the most notorious, dan
gerous and vicious gang of man
killers on the continent-she, Jean
Dunn, who had thought it wick
edly exciting lark to poke her nose
inside The Golden Feather night
club She was in their power, and
the man she had promised to marry
was one Of the gang, and there
was no possible chance that she
could ever get away
She stumbled along, until at last
they came out of the woods into
the clearing.
The old house doomed up, dark
insanely designed shadow against
the star-fecked sky, the few lights
in its rooms cleaning dimly through
the night. Beyond it the surface of
the lake was a black pool, lit here
and there by a touch of reflected
star-shine. A breeze was rising
and there was a gentle rustling of
leaves in the trees, silky wash of
Wavelets on the beach.
The man conducted her straight
to the house and marched her up
the steps and into the hall. He
stood there with her, his gun under
mis- arm, and waited. A door opened
somewhere and Red Jackson came
toward them.
He looked at the guard coldly.
"What're you dom in here?" he
asked. Il thought you wee supposed
to be lookout up the road. What's
the idea coming in here?"
The man hastily gestured toward
Jean
Honest, chief, had to come in"
he said. She was takin' it on the
lam up through the woods, and I
figured"
"Oh, you figured" said Jackson.
IF can ever get some of you pin
heads to remember that I'm sup
posed to do the figuring around
here well, let it go. Go on
back there now, lunkhead, and the
next time you find anybody wan
dering around loose, give us a call
don't come in yourself"
The guard departed obviously re-
lieved to get away with no worse
rebuke than this Jean was left
alone facing Americas No. / Public
Enemy
He eyed her coldly, his washed
out eyes seeming more lifelesS than
ever in the dim lamplight.
\ Just where was you going?" he
asked her.
She gestured helplessly with one
hand.
"Back-to town." she said.
Back to town? What town."
oh" again she moved one
hand in meaningless gesture. ANY
town. I don't know. 1 just wanted
to get away"
He looked at her silently for
moment. "Why?"
II didn't know what I'd got
into. she said
"Oh! And now YOU do know, you
don't like it. Is that it?"
CHE nodded. Standing under his
~ inhuman stare, she felt that she
knew just how a bird felt when it
looked. helpless, into the hypnotic
ing eye of a snake.
What's the matter with us, any,
howe" said Jackson. why don't
you like us? We're nice people"
His voice was edged with clumsy
sarcasm. She made no reply.
You like that boy friend of
yours first rate, don't you?" he con-
tinued You went for him plenty
l understand, before this"
Her heart sank, as she realized
: that this, indeed, was the very
worst thing about it; that she had
let herself in for all of it by Civ
ing way to senseless infatuation
for Sandy Harkins.
She had discarded the honest and
loyal affection of youth like Bobby
Wallace to cast her fortunes with
an outlaw!
She found herself nodding miser-
ably
We'll, what's the matter, them"
asked Jackson. Hes just as nice
now as he was before. Still brushes
his hair the same way and wears
the same kind of clothes. Looks
Just the same and talks Just the
same, You'll get along with him
fine. . And with the rest of us,
too. You just got to get used to
us, that's all"
She shook her head. Il can't, "
she whispered. He looked her over
from head to foot with slow, curious
deliberation.
oh, yes, you can" he said I'll
tell you this, sister. When you put
in with him, you put in with all Of
lis. And putin ms a lot easier
than pullin' out again You're stick
in, now-for always. And don't for
get it."
A door opened, and Sandy HIM
self came into the hall. He looked
from Jean to Jackson in unspoken
inquiry.
Your girl friend" said Jackson,
thinks she wants to go home. You
talk her out of it. You're kind of
gifted. that way"
He turned to go. and added in a
rasping voice, Or kick the day
lights out of her, if that's easier.
don't care"
LIE went away and left her in the
Il Il cavernous old hallway. with its
dark woodwork. its old-fashioned
chandelier and it's dim light. Sandy
came over and put hand on her
shoulder.
What's the matter, KIDD" he
asked. She felt drained of all emo