The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1938-06-16

tered. 'They almost got me-
''Who almost got you, Mr.. Fleel?"
asked Vance.
Didn't you see it all?" he asked
! his voice high and unnatural i
was on my way to the corner, to get
taxicab, when car drove up from
behind me. l naturally paid no
attention to it until it suddenly
swerved toward the curb and stop
ped with a screeching of brakes,
just as I reached this street light.
AS I turned round to see what it was
a small machine-gun was thrust
over the ledge of the open window
of the car and the firing began.
instinctively grasped this iron post
and crouched down. After a num-
Der of shots the car jerked forward,
1 admit I was too frightened to- no
tice which way it turned"
"But at least you were not hit,
Mr.. Fleel."
.No thank Heaven for that he
muttered.
"And," Vance continued, "the car
couldn't have been over ten feet
away from you. A very poor shot,
I should say. You were lucky sir,
this time" He spun round quickly
to Quaggy, who had taken step or
two backward from the frightened
man. 81 don't understand your
being here, Mr.. Quaggy. Surely,
you've had more than ample time
to ensconce yourself safely in your
boudoir".
Quaggy stepped forward resent
fully.
II was in my apartment. AS you
can see," he pointed indignately
to his two open front windows in the
nearby hoteI-"ny lights are on.
When / got to my rooms I didn't 80
directly to bed hope it wasn't a
crime. l went to the front window
and stood there for few minutes,
trying to get breath of fresh air.
Then caught sight of Mr.. Fleel
coming up the street.-the had ap-
parently just left the Renting house
and behind him came car. And
when 1 heard the machine-gu gun and
saw the spits of fire coming through
the window, and also saw Mr.. Fleel
grasp the lampost and sink down, I
thought he had been shot. natur-
ally dashed down-so here am.
Anything illegal in that procedures"
"No-oh, no" smiled Vance
'Quite normal. Far more normal,
in act than if you had gone irnme-
| diate1y to bed without a. BIT of airin
by the open window" He glanced
at Quaggy with an enigmatical
smile. "By the by" he went on,
did you, by any chance, note what
type of car it was that attacked MIR.
Fleel?"
mo, I didn't get very good look
at it," Quaggy returned in a chilly
tone.
"And the color?" prompted Vance.
''It was dingy, nondescript coli
or"
Heath was watching Quaggy
shrewdly. 2
"Yeah?" he said specifically
(which way did it go?"
II really didn't notice. I caught
only a glimpse of it as it started
toward the park"
"a fine bunch of spectators, -
Heath snorted. ''I'll see about that
car myself" And he started run
ming toward Central Park West.
AS he neared the corner, a burly
figure in uniform turned suddenly
into Seth street from the south, and
almost collided with the Sergeant.
BY the bright corner light I could
see the newcomer was Mclaughlin.
what was it, Sergeant" His
breathless, excited query carried
down to us. II heard the shots, and
been trying to locate 'em. Did they
| come outa this street,"
you're damn tootin', McLaugh-
lin," replied Heath, and, grasping
the officer by the arm, he swung
him about, and the two started off
|
again.
my word, such energy!" sighed
Vance when Heath and the officer
were out of sight. 'The coupe could
be at 10th Street by this time
an thus the made search would end.
Heath is all action and no mentation.
Sad, sad ;. Vital ingredient of the
the police routin, imagine eh,
what, Markham"
Then he turned to Fleel. Feeling
better?" he asked pleasantly.
"I'm all right now" the lawyer
returned, taking a wobbly step or
! two forward
That's bully" Vance said consol-
ingly. 'Do you want an escort
homer"
mo, thanks" said Fleel, in a
| u0icn that WAS still daznd stTs11 Y1oako