The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-08-25


! And if YOU suddenly decided you
weren't so fond of my com
pany-"
Took here" Brent broke in,
you don't think I'm a darn 1901
What's a fist when you have your
/ gun in one of your pockets and
mine in the other? >. .,0,
"Steel talks loud, doesn't it"
Louis spoke thoughtfully,
ut does with me-" Brent said
'Pd be a sap to risk getting shot
! when your friend Black will he
coming back before long, apollo
giving because he didn't believe
me-"
Yes I'd like to play poker
until he gets here. Pm a good
PLAYER if | do say so myself"
Think a lot of YOUR game
don't you?"
you can't help but know when
you're good"
mo Shark ever trimmed me at
poker yet" Louis said slowly. =.
II don't claim to be a shark. y
Brent replied modestly, but
But WHAT >.
Brent smiled. We'll, | don't
want to be Dragging.
There's a pack of cards on the
r,ortoI - Touis said. "Get 'em"
"Shall | shove that table clos
err" Brent asked.
"Okay. Watch your step. NJ"
funny tricks. I've got a trigger
FINGER on a poker hand"
Elaborately careful, Brent
pushed the table closer and seated
himself across from Louis.
Brent won the deal, shuffled,
dealt. and the game began. he
won the first hand and was openly
boastful. Louis swarthy face red
dened slightly, and his eyes
rIinted. He shuffled the cards
rather clumsily with his thick,
awkward hands.
GLOW about letting me shuttle
the cards again." Brent asked IN
a loud, irritating tone. =,
"'What was that" Louis asked
angrily. his eyes concentrating IN
amazement.
He was not to receive an an
swer. There was a crash, an en-
ragged below, as glass shattered
on the gangSter's head and kero-
sene poured into his eyes and
mouth. ,
The next moment Brent had
pinned both of Louis arms on the
table in a viSe4ike grip. Get the
guns, Molly he called. There
is one in each pocket"
But Molly, anticipating his or
der, had one of the guns, and
now was taking the other ugly
weapon from the helpless Louis.
Stand guard, Molly. First,
though, get a sheet. Pm going to
tie this fellow up so tight he'll
think he can never get loose.
Molly flew to do Brent's bid
ding. 1t was all nightmare. The
same nightmare she had been IN
for ages, it seemed. But the hoIN
ror was lifting. Somehow, she
was following Brent's commands
with swiftness and precision.
While Brent worked, Louis
glared at him through redeemed
eyes. Occasionally his gaze shift
ed to the slim, golden-haired girl
who steadily leveled a gun at his
head. His eyes were like burning
Goals, but the physical pain he
suffered was negligible in COM
parison to his mental condition.
Rage-fearful, frustrated rage
seethed within.
"There," Brent said finally. "He
ran sit there and think about
about what a bad game of poker
he plays. Molly"-his voice broke
-"give me the guns and then let
me- look at YOU"
He dropped a gun in each
pocket, and then took both of her
hands IN his, staring deeply, nun
grily into her eyes.
Tears rolled down Molly's face.
Brent, Brent! l knew you'd
come, but when 1 realized you
were in danger nearly died"
Don't cry, darling. Not here
where l can't comfort you. We'd
better get started"
"You thought of that a little
too late" a voice from the door
way interrupted. :,
Brent dropped Molly's hands
and reached toward his pocket.
"You thought of that too late
too" came the voice. There.
that's better! Your span of life is
heightened a little by being sensl,
Bile, though l don't think it vii
matter in the long run"