Evening star., 1937-06-27
June ~, 1887

30, QellDe1dtely ne WalteO tnlrty long MIN
utes. No doubt the bank would be able and
glad to place at the disposal of the two die
taphone on which Galliano could try over the
records that Thompson had made surrepti-
tiously, so that Tony could be sure he was
retaining every scrap Of evidence that con-
cerned him. A half hour ought to accomplish
that purpose if each record were merely
tested to find the voice speaking
Vaguely picture grew in Middleton's mind
of some comfortable room in Galliano's house.
and of Thompson with his fat grin of content
installing the orifice of his dictaphone in some
inconspiCuous place - hyper sensitive die
taphone connecting with recording instru-
ment in some other place - perhaps in the
cellar of the house where, day or night
Thompson must have waited with an atten-
tive ear to start recording any conversation
that might prove to be of value.
As for the mechanical skill necessary to
build up the voice over the dictaphone wire
into sound that could be recorded, for man
of Thompson's ingenuity there would be no
difficulty. If that we're safe place of meeting
not Galliano alone but many others of the
underworld must have been recorded in
damning detail by the dictaphone as they laid
their plans.
Nov. he said an instinct ringing bell in
his heart. Give me good luck, Alison"
She leaned forward suddenly and kissed
him with cold. trembling lips. And then he was
out of the car and across the street.
He went back slowly, keeping on the street
;Io of bo of automobiles tho<1i tho
curb and finally stopped in a gap between
two of them. There he lighted cigarette
missing repeatedly, as though some unlucky
current of wind were blowing out the fame;
and when at last it was alght, he saw Joe
Thompson coming out of the bank, closely
surrounded by three men. That they we're
friends the beaming smile of Thompson pro-
claimed. He was crossing the pavement to his
limousine when the slight figure of Galliano
stepped out from the bank with a small suit
case in his hand. He peered into the blaze
of misty sunshine in the adjoining avenue and
was signalling to figures waiting there when
Middleton came up to him.
Sorry. Galiano," he said, and struck him
behind the pink lobe of his ear with the full
weight of his fist.
Tony Gallano fell on his face Middleton
scooped up the suitcase and ran. He heard, as
he started, excited shouts from the limousine
of Joe Thompson, but Joe himself lay back
against the cushions and laughed heartily
The men in that car obviously did not matter
but as Middleton lodged across the street
he saw scurrying figures sprinting up the
pavement behind him, and two men lifting the
inert body of Galiano.
He had not intended to return straight to
the car of Alison Lewis, but as he swerved
between automobiles into the street he saw
her pulling out from the curb waving toward
him, the rear door of the sedan gaping open.
Into that shelter he plunged. Looking back,
he saw men stuffing Galliano into car that
jerked out instantly into the street and
started in pursuit with whine of accelerating
gears.
They're after US, Alison," he said.
Squeeze into that jam at the corner and try
to lose them.'
The red light at the next corner had piled
up traffic several ranks deep, but Alison
bumped wheel over the curb, and ran atilt
into Seventh Avenue. The first long pulse of
traffic already had been released on the
Avenue by the green light but a loose volley
of half dozen cars was shooting toward them
as Alison jumped the little automobile out in