The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-04-03

north of this little dump here. We
get out. There1l be an automobile
waiting for us. You go ahead with
the sirplane, but be sure you get the
hell away from there"
What am I to do with the ship"
'You keep it. That's your cut"
What? For one load of booze?"
Booze? This amt booze. This is
pay roll job at a mine"
DH1LL1P almost knocked over the
l. lantern. Then listen, Tony, you
got me wrong. Count me out of
this kind of stuff. I'll fly booze,
but"
"Oh, YEAH" said Tony, slowly and
evenly. mo, we amt got you wrong.
We got you right. And you're not
out, you're in, see? In up to here"
He drew finger across his throat.
Il am like hell" said Phillip. I'll
put this up to the boss. /"
Listen: We're dealing the boss
out of this. He's been getting his
long enough. We're taking this little
haul for ourselves, see?"
And if there's slipup any,
where" resumed Tony, you're on
the spot right there, see? Now, how
about gas for that airplane? You
got enough?"
There's about 10 gallons in the
ship and 20 more in this drum, but
we'll need some more Maybe there's
enough in the Standard. I'll
look"
Hold i'll" The command, uttered
in quiet, tense voice, came from
the open end Of the shed. Nobody
novel"
OUTLINED against the blackness
~ of the night beyond were the
boss, Nick and two other men. Nick
and the other two held Tommy guns
in their arms.
"You dirty, double crossing rats"
said the boss. Without turning his
head he gave the order: LET 'em
have it!"
Phillip ducked behind the engine
of the Standard as the sharp
Staccatto ratified in the shed, which
was pitched momentarily into dark
ness as the first burst of gunfre
shattered the lantern. Phillip
dropped to the ground and crept
along behind the ship to the rear
of the shed where he knew there
were some loose boards.
AS he slipped out, the stream of
bullets were chinking on the engine
block of the old Standard, Kidding
its gas, tank and drilling through
the gas drum where Tony and Solly
had been cut down.
Streams of high-test gasoline
squirted from the drum and poured
in rivulet toward the smoldering
lantern wick. Eerie flames soon
began to light up the shed.
Phillip crawled through the weeds
to the fence. He reached the road
and hailed car headed toward the
city. The driver consented to take
him to the end of the street car line.
Scarcely breathing, Phillip sat in
rigid silence until they were mile
or so down the road. Then he
looked back. Above the trees border
ing the field there was red glow.
Phillip heard soft boom" The gas
tank OF the Valencia.
DHILLIP took car into town and
Il went to the speakeasy he had
been visiting. He had two straight
ryes then switched to a highball. His
hand began to shake. He wiped his
face and started to sip the highball.
A hand fell heavily on his shoulder.
What you jumping for, pal?" It
was Barney. "JuSt look at that
You've spilled your drink. Hey, Bill,
set up two more here. Well, how the
hell you been, kid. I just got in
just this minute come from the rail-
road station. Well, why don't you
SPSoh uP, L Illlt Ody lit lOWeT6Q
his made any connections?"
Phillip picked up the drink and
shook his head
"Okay. Just leave it to me, boy.
I'm the little guy that can steer you
right in this town. I'll put you in
the big dough-"
mo soap" said Phillip. 'I don't
like your town, Barney. I'm going
far away from it. I'm going back
transforming. I'm going to barn
storm hell out of this country,
Barney-cheerio, and here's wishing
you tail winds, kid. You'll need 'em
in this town. S'long"
Barney watched in amazement as
the pilot walked to the door and
went out.
THAT friend of yours an aviator,
too?" asked the bartender.
yeah" said Barney. But he'll
never get anywhere. Just hick-
hell, he was born to be a barn
stormer."
THE END.