Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1936-11-27
SECOND INSTALMENT

SECOND lNSIALMENI
Whatever they talked about:
Mcdonald was not pleased. He
kept launching his coat collar:
:scowling, answering in short, sharp
syllables. The pug's bushy brows
wriggled until they met across his
bnt and twisted nose. The other
newcomer talked on suavely but
Dan knew he was laying down the
law.
Unable to linger at the CASHIER
desk any longer, Colwell stepped
out of the Waverly Club bar. As
he emerged On the sunlit street well
filled with business people hurry
ing to or from lunch, the three he
watched made for the curb. Nc
Donald signalled a taxi. They
climbed in. Mcdonald in the mid
IDLE, and the hack rolled away.
Dan gestured another cab. "I'm
going where that green hack goes.
But leave a little space between"
He gave the driver a keen look.
mo sir, mister, l need money
but"
The driver left off and accepted
the bill Colwell poked at him.
StOkay," he grinned. "FIop in!"
The ride was down Red Street
to the corner of Prospect Boule-
ward, one Of the principal shopping
streets of the city. There the taxi
cab in front turned north, COL
wells driver following. Dan guess
ed his quarry headed for the Law
yers and Doctors Building where
Arthur Mcdonald maintained his
law office. He could see the mans
head and shoulders through the
rear window of his cab and catch
occasional glimpses of his compan-
ions, one on either side. Colwell
settled back to smoke a cigarette.
At the intersection with Broad
way half the pavement was torn
away for repairs and the resultant
bottle neck caused a sweet traffic
tieup. Colwell's cab halted imme-
diately behind that of Mcdonald.
On Dams left was the gaping hole
of the street foundation with picks
and shovels lying about and the tar
cooker boiling over a wood fire.
Workmen squatted on the distant
curb munching sandwiches.
On Dams right was a big dou-
ble-deck bus. He smoked, peace
fully oblivious to the honking as
impatient drivers began to prod the
traffic cop who already must be
perspiring through his uniform.
The tieup grew worse and the
honking grew louder, more insist
ent. Somebody's big lir-ousine up
there had lost a wheel, that was the
trouble now.
Colwell bestirred himself when
he saw two men pile out of Nc
Donald's cab. He could not help his
pulse picking up sped. 1t was the
striped suit gent and his smoother
partner who got out. Dan blinked
thoughtfully-then shrugged.
Mcdonald still was visible as to
head and shoulders through the rear
window of the taxi. There was
nothing Colwell needed to tele-
phone Macs beautiful wife yet.
His thoughts swung to her, and he
grinned. Mcdonald was lucky, if
he only knew it.
The meter licked busily. Colwell
saw the two men who alighted
from the taxi ahead separate and
start cerelessly for the sidewalk. He
squinted after them, hen at Nc
Donald. Dan muttered a curse,
climbed to the street, and thrust a
half dollar at the driver.
II can walk Eastern this" he
growled.
He was not the only disguised
citizen in the traffic knot at Broad
way and Prospect. Eight OF nine
Others, indignant and abusive, had
forsaken cars in which they had
been riding, OF the big yellow dou-
.ble-deck bus. Dan waited until no
one afoot was near; then he saun-
tered alongside McDonald's cab and
shot a straight, quick look in.
His Adams apple jerked. But
for the raucous, impatient honking