Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1937-01-15

~
give Irita another ring. See what's
her angle on all this. She'll know
something, maybe" Colwell's bruis-
ed and scratched face relaxed as
mentally he pictured her. He shook
his head admiringly. 'Plucky kidd"
The angular, hawk-nosed man
who stood alone in the hallway was
known to Colwell. The man
knocked again, the four staccato
raps which were the prearranged
signal. Colwell withdrew his head
from the square milk door above
! the icebox in the kitchenette. He
had taken this tiny apartment
hurriedly as a hideout in which to
recover from his mauling. He went
across the living room and remov-
ed the chain before opening the
door.
"Step in Vael," he invited Grab
er's partner in the detective agency
The grey haired mar grinned and
showed his hat back on his bullet
head. "Have a chair. Cigarette?"
"Thanks, Dan" There was a
momentary silence while they light
ed up. Vael sat down and Colwell
lowered himself in a comfortable
chair. As he did so his cheek
twinged with pain which Vael no
ticed. Get hurt?"
Had a little fracas, nothing
much. What do you hear from
Otto-is he still hunting?"
Vael nodded. saw in the paper
yesterday a note that Otto shot a
buck" A l~ynx-eyed chap with
quiet manners and the air of a
family man and home lover, Vael
tried a smoke ring. Guess you're
still on that case, for Mrs. McDon-
aid, Ell? Funny they haven't got
the two mugs that killed him.
Prominent lawyer and all. One OF
them was found in an alley, you
know"
As Colwell merely shrugged the
visitor hunched forward. "Say,
what did you want me here for,
Dan? You've something up your
sleeve. l haven't much time, so
spring it."
There was a short silence. All
right, I'll put it plainly for you.
Mcdonald you know, was the boss
of a snow smuggling ring.
No Arthur Mcdonald? Vael
whistled. What do you think Of
that?
And Otto Graber was-is-mix-
ed up in this ring. You too, Vael'
Don't he! he charged as the mar
started to protest. Don't let's
waste words. I've got something to
help you, so there's no use getting
tough! You're in it, Vaa-you're
one of the smaller fry. GRADER
treats you like dirt, always has, al
ways will.
The greying complexion Of Va
els face was ample proof that he
knew it to be true.
I've seen it and filed it away for
reference. Now, you aren't a bad
sort. I like you a heap better than
Graber. He's-Dan raised a hanc
to his head and ruefully rubbed a
spot there still tender. You're al
right, Vael, but there making a
sucker out of you. Had it planned
before Mcdonald kicked the ghost
Now they're making new plan:
and leaving you out just like be-
fore. And more han that; they'll
likely make you the goat if any
thing goes wrong.
You must have suspected this:
Vael, he appealed with a gesture,
Shucks, I'm not telling you any
thing, am |?
The visitor struggled with con-
flicting emotions. How do you
know? You're not in the deal!
Colwell admitted this with a
shake of his head. Happened on to
it from working for the agency
you and Otto run. From this Nc
Donald case. Anyhow, l know it,
And like you Vael. Enough to ask
you here SO l can give you the low
down and a warning. So you can
protect yourself.
Vael considered carefully. The
ash on his cigarette grew very long
and finally tumbled to the carpet
unheeded. It's-true, he said with
a sigh. with Mcdonald gone
nobody trusts anybody else. It's
dog eat dog. What are you after
DAMP"