The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-05-01

TINE mechanic brought the radio
Il car around from the repair
shop in the rear of the state troop
ers' barracks, parked it, banged the
door and went off whistling.
Capt. Liscomb called, Barnett"
Tom Barnett, six feet of black
puttees, olive green uniform and
titled cap, all of it adorned with
the badges and buttons of a state
trooper, answered, "Sir?"
Listen" said his commanding
officer. "Try to get this straight.
Keep your fingers off that RADIO
He emphasized each word, spacing
them.
Tom said, eyes, sir"
Because If you DON'T" continued
Captain Liscomb, you won't get
another chance. That's the third
car you've had in the shop. The
mechanics tell me you've been put
ting some sort of a gadget on the
radio to get regular broadcasts and
then tinker with them until you
break them. You've broken your
last one. That's ALL"
A GAIN Tom said, yes, SIR" sa-
IA luted and walked out. He got
into the car and drove off on a
regular tour of duty. Two troopers
were usually assigned to each car,
but an epidemic of sickness had
forced single assignments in some
cases.
Tom turned on the radio, which
was set for the headquarters broad
casting station. The announcer S
voice came in, calling numbers for
a test. Tom groaned inwardly. He
hated the sound of that voice. For
months he had listened to it, calling
the license numbers of stolen au-
tomobiles, describing men and wom-
en- wanted for reasons seldom given
and--the only times it was well
comed-calling for a quick dash to
action.
But he had to listen to it. Later,
maybe, he might be able to tinker
bit and tune in on station
WHRN'S hot jazz band for while.
Then he remembered. 1t was his
last chance. He wished he knew
more about radios, how they oper-
ated and how q man could tune
them without breaking them. Other
troopers did it. They knew how. He
had Just had tough luck.
Shut up" he said aloud as the
dispatchers voice began counting
again.
TINE car rolled along at q
l. steady 80 miles an hour cruis-
ing speed. Tt went through small
towns and villages, probed back
roads, caused other cars suddenly to
begin crawling along as their driv-
ers sighted 1t and cause a young
man with itching fingers TO twist a
dial.
The road sloped in a long descent
into Ridgeville, took an abrupt turn
and became the main street of the
town.
The radio car came down the
sloping road, took the turn and al
most ran down a man running
swiftly with canvas bag dangling
from one hand. Ahead of him ran
another man, both of them toward
a slowly-moving automobile whose
doors were open.
A voice shouted and third man
skidded to stop on the sidewalk
in front of the Ridgeville Bank.
The running men turned, the car
stopped and for a brief moment it
was like tableau, all of them in
arrested motion.
THE first shot struck the wind
4 shield of Toms car. fattened
and dropped to the hood. Behind
the hullet-proof glass his owr ac-
tlons were automatic. The muzzle
of his pistol banged against the
steering wheel as he threw his arm
across his body and fired at the
man on the bank steps.
Metal shrieked as bullets tore
through tho thin sheathing of the
car The man on the bank steps
sgreyed and fell into a twitching
hudole. Two more splotched scars
appeared on the windshield and the
sea. shook as bullets pounded into
the seat beside him. They were COM
rig at an angle.