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

er the table and with his other
hand held a deadly bead on his
victim. But Vael's triumph turned
slowly to suspicion. He fumbled
harder, more anxiously, seemingly
unable to find what hes ought.
Drop that gun!"
1t was a feminine voice from the
kitchenette. At first Vael paid
little heed. Dan watched hawk
like for an opening, a chance to
spring on him.
With a muffled oath Vael scarf
ed to crook his trigger finger. "I1l
kill"
Wham!
The small apartment rocked
with the explosion. There was a
yell of pain, the metallic clink of a
gun striking the hard composition
floor that helped make the place
sound-proof. Vael huddled with
his wrist between his knees and
blood trickled down his forearm
where the ripped sleeve exposed it.
Dan had out his own gun in a
flash. The wielder of the weapon
that had been fired did not appear.
The slender, white arm withdrew
into the kitchenette. Colwell
backed to Vael's gun. Getting it,
he kept his own levelled while he
got the cartridges out of it, and
tossed it to Vael.
Get out! And if you're wise
you'll get way out! Keep away
from those buzzards waiting for
you, Vael: take a train tonight,
and never, never come back. Don't
play with snow again, ever-that's
my best advice. Change your life,
mani"
Astonished that he was being
permitted to leave, the visitor
hurried whining with pain to the
door. Dan opened it and with an
appraised foot gave impetus to
Vael's flight. He closed and lock-
ed it again, quickly, then turned.
GOOD work, Irita! Saved my
bacon that's all. Came up here to
kill me. Sure. of himself, too. We've
got to get out quick and over to
the other place. They'll be up
here in ten minutes and break
down the door.
"You know" he muttered refle-
ctively, II think Vael told the
truth about it being brushes from
Holland. Anyhow, Pm sure going
to find out if there are any brushes
coming in from Holland, and if Sc
we'll have the whole story, time,
place, and ALT"
Colwell sat beside the driver Of
the black coupe admiring her pro-
file dimly seen. He smiled as he
reflected Irita was a good sport.
plucky and daring. She had to be
for the game they were in. She
was the kind who could hold her
own in a drawing room, a howell, OF
in a dangerous gamble like this
though Dan thought he preferred
having her in a drawing room.
1t was dark all around them, the
sky a murky mass of ominou.
clouds, the heavy trees an efficien,
camouflage for the car drawn off
the road with its radiator pointed
to the highway. Colwell held hi.
palm over the glowing stub of his
cigar. Irita beside him seemed list
ening and watching intently.
II hope they're coming" She
changed posture. "I'm tired of
waiting. And how do we know
there's all the money in it you
think? Just a guess, Dan. I almost
wish I had a soft job selling hosiery
over a counter, Or laundry soap
or something. Twenty a week
might be better than trying to col
lect thirty-five or forty grand
apiece from two men who maybe
haven't hat much anyhow"
Colwell grinned in the darkness
and squeezed her hand on the
wheel. "They've got it, all right.
They didn't set up in this game
just yesterday; they've made plen-
ty. UNI" he exclaimed at a sud-
den twinge in his shoulder. "It
takes more than three days to for
get how Graber and CULLEN can
play!"
She turned her own face to
study him. "I'm sorry it still hurts.
Pm surprised you're still alive.
You're so ambitious, Dan, that it
leads you from one Grape to an
other, doesn't it? OH" she broke