Evening star., 1935-04-07


ing of the room. No use wearing
himself out this way nerves were
u ~ on edge. he guessed. That was bad ;
he'd have to calm down. He lit a cigarette,
and his face relaxed with the second deep pull.
He began walking again - up and down. up
and down.
He was safe here, as safe as he'd ever be,
as safe as he needed to be. Nice, conservative
hotel. big enough to lose himself in. Big bed
where he could get some sleep. ound-proof
walls; running ice water; radio in every room.
Two windows looking out over the Avenue -
eight stories up. Clothes hung in the closets -
those respectable, travelling man clothes he
; had acquired; sample cases ranged against
the wall. For all anybody knew he was exactly
what he wanted them to think he was - a
travelling salesman of the better sort.
The bell-boy had looked at him rather
queerly, he remembered. But he guessed that
was because he had given the kid dollar bill.
He shouldn't have done that; it wasn't in
character: and besides. people weren't being
50 free and easy handing out dollar bills these
days.
He'd have to 60 slow for awhile. But
after that - boy. was he going to live high.
wide and handsome! After all the hullaballoo
died down. of course. and he could come out
from under cover. Those sample cases were
good idea. He had the cash right where he
could keep his eye on it. No stocks or bonds
for him. Eighty thousand in cold cash. much
of it in small bills. He was clever guy, if he
did say 50 himself.
He stopped and looked in the mirror. Not
a mistake anywhere. Dyed hair - and it was
a darn good job: eyebrows changed; horn
trimmed spectacles; neat gray suit. He pulled
down his vest and turned away. Damned
funny. the way it almost gave him turn to
look at himself he was 80 changed.
But it was working out - just the way he
thought it would. Nobody could say he
hadn't planned this job. The master mind.
all right. He'd always said he ought to
work alone: when he was alone he could make
the thing come out right. Last time he'd
worked with a partner, and look where it had
landed him.
This room was little too sound proof
for him. He'd like some noise. All he could
hear was himself walking up and down. :.
The radio! What was the matter with the
radio? He walked over to the wall. pulled
the switch. A little light went on, and after
a moment. music swelled into the room. An
orchestra playing Wagon Wheels" Wagon
wheels. Well, hed be travelling.
OF course it wasn't so good having to
shoot that old flat-foot that was acting as
night watchman But if the damn fool hadn't
snooped up on him that way and startled
him, he wouldn't have got it in the neck.
1t was queer the way the fellow had crumpled
up without making sound. But so much the
better. He'd gone right on. cool as you please,
slowing the stuff away, and when he had
finished he walked out of the building. The
fine and handsome Rveredge Trust Company
that thought it had all its money safely
hidden away! Yep, he'd walked right out.
never hurried step. and got in his car
parked half way down the block and driven
away. Hadn't met soul.
Not a soul, except Benny Dugan. Funny,
how he'd almost run into Benny. just after
he had turned the corner from the Trust
Company. Benny walking so fast he was run
ming. Wonder where he was going 50 fast1
Benny was in such hurry he hadn't even
seen him - him, his old pal, Reynolds. Well
pal while they were both in stir. anyhow.
Benny was dumb-bell; he hadn't wanted to
meet up with him too much afterwards. He
had an idea Benny was the kind who'd always
be getting in trouble.
Whereas. with him. he'd got in trouble