Evening star., 1937-06-27
Magazine Section

when he heard the voice OF his office clerk
loudly protesting. Then the door of his
sanctum jerked open and tall young man
with a suitcase appeared on the threshold,
ushering in girl whose beauty revised the
editors opinion of women on the spot.
The tall man said: I'm John Middleton.
This is Alison Lewis. And you're Editor
Henry Purvis, who's been sharpening an ak
for Jimmy Major and the racketeers."
You seem to know everything said
Purvis Before you sit down and make your
self at home. tell me what you want"
I've brought you a new ak, said Middle
ton, and putting the suitcase on the desk,
he glanced uneasily over his shoulder at the
door, do you know Tony Galliano?"
Are you one of his friends?"
The last saw, car full of his pet bad
names was taking a corner with racing skid.
If you've got any spare sub-machine guns you
might trot them out"
They won't bother US here" declared
Purvis This isn't their Promised Land, you
know. What's in this suitcase?"
Records to play on your dictaphone,"
answered Middleton. And let me ring the
district attorney while you're starting. No,
he'll put more stock in your voice"
Two minutes later the scowl of doubt had
vanished from the forehead of Henry Pnvis.
What he was hearing brought to his face
smile of incredulous JOY. In moment he was
at his telephone, shouting to the district
attorney: TON, dyou hear? There's been
an answer to our prayers. Galliano, Bunny,
Mo;o not o11t 1o
it. Drop everything and come. Hurry"
Tell him to bring along some spare cops"
put in Middleton. Tin going to be too pop
ular and l don't want to be killed in the
crush"
Half an hour later Thomas Pickering sat
at dictaphone with the headphones at his
ears. The district attorney was big man
with the wrinkles of fifty fighting years carved
into his face which was as red as battle flag,
And as he listened his great body began to
swing from side to side His JOY was almost
greater than he could endure. Sometimes he
shook his fist high above his head. Sometimes
tilted back his face, contorted into monstrous
laughter. Another machine had been wheeled
into the room and Henry Purvis sat in front
of it without gesticulation, but with long
shudderings of JOY.
The district attorney at last could endure
it no longer. He switched off the spinning
record and jumped to his feet where's the
pair of hands that got this stuff for you,
Henry" he shouted.
There" said Pwvis. pointing but never
turning his head from the music that was
singing into his brain. James Major - in the
soup and US for cooks! BY Cad, New York
never saw a scoop like this since Hudson
loaned his name to the river!''
"You got it? Where did you get it," thun-
dered Pickering, looming above Middleton.
"Out of Galliano's hands," said Middleton.
Without being gated by one of his thugs?"
asked the district attorney.
Miss Lewis is handy with car" said
Middleton.
What are you anyway" asked Pickering.
"A lawyer out of work. l had to have
something to do"
Lawyer? Lawyer?" roared Pickering do
you mean to tell me that I'm looking my new
assistant district attorney in the face?"
Hold on" said Middleton. I'm not the
champion lawyer of the world"
Damn the law; l want the mani" beloved
Pickering. "You understand. There's no for
tune in it, but there's chance to lay your
hands on confounded rascals and give our