The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-04-18


night and turned the key to open
the door.
"Oh, be careful, darlingl" she
pleaded. They're after you. And
they're smart"
Forgot it," he barked. "a lot of
other smart guys have started after
me in the last ten years. And what's
the answer? I'm still here and they
amt"
"DUT you mustn't take any
ID chances!" she insisted. Sweet
heart, why don't you get out of
town for while? Until this blows
over"
Till the heat dies down, you
mean he grinned. "All right. /
take it on the lam. And what hap
pens? Lucky Louey and his rats
get the credit for chasing me. And
what does that make me? 1t makes
me yellow. And you know what
happens to a Big Shot that turns
yellow? His own mob puts him in
the grease, rubs him out. They
have to. He's their only protection
and if he runs out on them, they
have to blast him to prove to the
other torpedoes that they don't
want any part of guy like that"
ooh T1o cf - ch rryI,i tho
tears yelling in her eyes, why can't
you get out of this kind of life?
Why can't you forget your pride?
You and could go away. We could
go to California or Europe-any
place but here. We could change
our names and live without being
afraid all the time that some one
would-would kill YOU"
"Uh-uh," he grunted after long
pause and his voice now was visit
full. "The only way to get out of
the rackets is to die out. What
good do you think changing our
names would do? Why, no matter
where we went, we'd meet some
body who knew us. And he'd pass
the word. And some day I'd get
mine. Maybe you would, too. A
Big Shot on the lam is just hard
luck. Listen, Baby. Don't you
worry. I've been in tougher spots
than this and I'll ride this one out"
"DUT suppose they find out where
- you are?"
Look" he said, taking her hands
in his and gazing down on her.
Quit worrying, will you? Now. in
the first place, they'll never find me-
Unless" he added struck with a
sudden thought, "they tailed you.
Why, sure, maybe they did, at that"
NO." she smiled. II saw to that.
took four taXicabs to get here. And
left the last one five blocks from
here. There isn't chance"
You're smart" he praised her.
"All right, then. They'll never
find me. And if you think I sit
here day and night like cornered
rat, you're crazy. get out every
once in a while. If didn't, I'd go
nuts. I'm going out in half an
hour. I'm giving you that much
time to get away from here"
Where are you going?" she said,
family. "Oh, no, Blast! Please
don't! Pleased"
Listen" he grinned. I'm going
down to Pete's all-night restaurant:
That's four doors from here. I'm
going to grab me a steak and
French fries. I'm so hungry could
eat a wolf"
mo, Blastl" she pleaded. Prom
Use me you won't leave this room!"
NO" he said, with complete
finality. I'm going. Now beat it."
oh, darling!" she whispered.
Goodnight. Oh, I wish you would
not go!"
Her kiss on his lips. The door
closing and changing behind her.
THE halt-hour licked leadenly
Il past in slow, dragging way
which made it seem like an eter-
nifty. When the last minute of it
drew itself across his wrist watch.
he put on his overcoat and knocked
on the door. He stepped through
it and his two gorillas closed in on
either side of him. When he
reached the elevator he pressed the
button and the others gath
cred around him. When he
went through the lobby, he walked
alone, but there were men all
around him, moving in his direc-
ton. Thus, they covered the short
distance to Peters and swung in
and took their places at the tables.
And thus they sat until $40 that
morning, until the splitting bark of
tommy-gun was heard in the
night and the plate glass of Pete's
front shattered and Blast Schlagg.
New York's Public Enemy No. l saw
death leaping luridly at him from a
gun-nlouth.
Death didn't hurt. His body
cringed and writhed but there was
no pain. He never even thought of
it. He thought of Helen.
"Darling!' he smiled. And died.
A T dawn, four hours later, Lucky
L n Louey Spinozza, Blasts. smart,
slim, dark, deadly rival, watched the
slow opening Of his room door in the
Bandbox Hotel. Helen, clad in mink
and silk, came in and toward him,
smiling softly. He got up.
We got Blast" he grinned. IAN |
hour and half after you spotted |
him for u.s."
She didn't answer. Just stood |
there, lax, her half CLOSED eyes
drawing him. He took her In his
arms and her heavy mouth turned |
upward. seeking. He bent to her