The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-23
CHAPTER XIV

Friday was the most peaceful day ehat the Pennington Parker Resta- torium had enjoyed since its foun- dation. The Great Pierre had risen from his bed or disgust and gone to New York on an early train. He had business there, he announced, which would keep him overnight. Bull Griffin and Mir. Spaldini set- tied down to their inevitable pin ochle. MT. Hardness worked furious Iy at his wiring. Mrs. Hardness and Miss Fenimore read novels on the front lawn.
 So the inmates of the house passed Friday gercnely, all un- aware that a presence was bear ing down upon them, like St. George upon the dragon.
 The Little Cheese, driven by MT. Red Scala. neared Winstock at about 10 o'clock in the evening. All during the journey the Little Cheese had been rcgretting that moment Of brayado when he had undertaken to rub out Bull Griffin single-handely. It was 20 long since he had personally rubbed out . guy that he felt a trifie susty. At one time he had been fine. fluent rubber-outer But in secent years he had depended upon beutenants for the execution of dirty work. He had, he freely ad- nitted to himsclf, grown soft, like a prize light champion who doesn't fight. And clecting to settle the hash of Bull Griffln all by his lonesome might, he WaS perceiving now. have been a rash thing to do. Still, he would have to go through with 1t. Otherwise nothing awaited him but a fall from grace and a large order of the bird.
 But there was one absolute pre- requisite. Before tackling such q formidable parsonage as Bull Grif- fin he would simply have to have q drink. Tn a surly tone he directed MT. Ecala to stop at 6 rOadhouse that now loomed on their right
 IL was not the Wisest course that he could have pursued For some time the Little Cheese had been abuGing the privilege of the grape. Tn fact, he had abused 1t to the point where his underworld phyg.- clan had issued dire prophecy. Un- less the Little Cheese climbed aboard the wagon in a big way, he would become a candidate for that inez- quigtte state of being known loosely as the D. ITS.
 Under the stress of the zero hour. however, he forgot the doc tors warning. The roadhouse was snug and slatternly, just the kind Of a roadhouse he felt at home in. He had drink. He had another. He had a third. He bought the bartender a drink He had one on the house. The result was that by the time he stood in the grounds of the darkened Resta- torium the Little Cheese was some what polluted
 IL was the Little Cheese's boas. that, drunk or sober, he could jimmy window to the queens taste. He approached the house on unsteady legs and inspected 1t with slightly glazed eyes. IL was as dark as the grave. The Little Cheese selected 4 likely looking window that opened on the porch. Taking out his Jimmy, he set o work.
 And at almost the same moment something unusual occurred with In the hoiEe. A door on the upper floor opened silently. An appari- tion in . flowing robe, that might have been Lady Macbeth in her sleep walking act but minus her candle, issued forth. This pres ence passed in ghogtly fashion down the stairs. vent uncrringly along a hallway and entered q large bedroom near the kitchen.
 The Little Cheese finished jimmy ing the window and climbed stealth ly into the living room. He felt well satisfied with himself All he had to do now was to find out where Bull Griffin slept and shoot hifn ln the head. The prospect pleased. With a fashlight in one hand, and hls auto matic in the other. he began mine ing across the living room.
 Had he taken long, powerful strides all might have been well. But he minced. And when one minces his ankles are close to- gether Tn fact, and of a sudden. the Little Cheese's ankles seemed stuck together Something soft. yet substantial. wcdged between them. The Little Cheese stumbled, uttered guttural imprecation and brought sharply up against a wall. As he struck it, the hashlight WaS larred from his fingers.
 Cursing yoiubly and feeling along the wall. his hand came in sudden contact with a wire. Hc felt along it . The wire ended in wooden knob which in turn ended in s button. Obviously light switch The Little Cheese decided to risk second of illumi- nation 10 get his bearings. Hf pressed the button.