The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1938-07-21

AS Vance stepped into the hall
way above, which was narrower and
dingier than the one downstairs, he
stood tensely still for moment,
looking about him. There was on
ly one small lighted gas jet at the
rear of the hall Suddenly the muf-
fled sound of voices came to- us,
but we could not distinguish any
words. Vance moved steadily to-
ward the front of the house and
stood before the only door on the
left Of the corridor. A line of faint
light outlined the threshold, and it
was now evident that the voices
came came from within that room.
After listening a moment Vance
tried the doorlnob with extreme
care. To our surprise the door was
not locked, but swung back easily
into long, narrow, squalid room in
the center of which stood plain
deal table. At one end of the table,
by the light of an oil lamp, two
dressed men sat playing casino.
judging by the distribution OF the
cards. 80
Though the room was filled with
cigarette smoke, I Immediately rec
ognized one of the men as the shah
by figure of the men I had seen lean
ing against the bench in Central
Park the night before.
The two men sprang to their feet
simultaneously, turning in our dl-
rection.
'Down, Van!' ordered Vance; and
his call was submerged under two
deafening detonations accompanied
by two flashes from revolver IN
the hands of the man nearest us.
The bullet must have gone over us,
for both Heath and I had dropped
quickly to the floor at Vance's order.
Almost immediate1y-so quickly as
to be practically simultaneous
there came two reports from Vance's
automatic, and I saw the man who
had shot at us pitch forward. The
thud of his body on the floor coincid-
ed with the crash of the lamp,
knocked over by the second man.
The room was plunged in complete
darkness.
"Stay down, Van!" came the COM
handing voice of Vance.
Almost as he spoke there was a
staccato exchanged of shots. All I
could see were the brilliant flashes
from the automatics. I lay flat on
my stomach across the door-sill, my
head spinning dizzily, my muscles
paralyzed with fear for Vance.
There was brief respite of black
silence, so poignant as to be almost
palpable, and then came the crash
of an upset chair and the dull heavy
sound of human body striking the
floor. was afraid to move. Heath's
labored breathing made a welcome
noise at my side.
Then I heard Vance's voice-the
cynicay nonchalant voice I knew so
well.
The ray from Heath's pocket flash
moved about the walls and ceiling,
but 1 could see neither him nor
Vance. Then the light came to a
halt, and Heath's triumphant voice
rang out.
"Here it is, sir, "a socket beside
the window" And as he spoke a
weak, yellowed bulb dimly lit up
the room.
On the floor lay two motionless
bodies,
pleasant evening Sergeant"
Vance spoke in his usual steady
whimsical voice. 'My earnest apol-
ogies, and that" Then he caught
sight of me, and his face sobered.
care you all right, Van?" he asked.
I assured him I had escaped the
melee unscathed, and added that !
had not used my automatic because
I was afraid I might have hit him
in the dark.
81 quite understand" he MUIR
INJURED and, nodding his head, he
went quickly to the two PROSTATE,
bodies. After a monetary inspec1
ton, he stood up and said: 2s
"Quite dead, Sergeant. Really, y
know, seem to be fairly accurate.
shot"
"I'n say!" breathed Heath with
admiration. 81 wasn't a hell of a.
lot of help, was I, Mr.. Vance?" he
added a bit shamefacedly.
Really nothing for you to do, Ser
geant."
The last word had been only half
completed when there came two
shots from the rear door. The slim,
crouching figure of man, some
what scholarly looking and well
dressed, had suddenly appeared
there.
Vance had swung about simulta-