Evening star., 1939-11-12


Rainey looked that way, too.
The parked car was coming slowly down
the line of the curb toward them. little moan
shivered from the mouse. and he crowded
close, keeping Rainey's bulk between him and
the moving car. Opposite them, the sedan
braked to silent stop. The street lamp gllt-
tered on its damp roof. The three men inside
were shadowy silhouettes.
The little fellow crowded close behind Officer
Rainey. Keep 'em off, Pop" he quavered.
They're after me - they think rated on
'em -"
Matthew Rainey's right hand sought his
coat pocket, and his big fingers closed around
the butt of the automatic he d taken from the
mouse. The skin prickled down his back as he
reached out and grpped the door handle OF
the car, jerked the door open.
Come out of there" he growled. Lets
have look at you birds -
They came fast - two of them - their hat
brims pulled low over vicious young faces.
gun jammed into Officer Rainey middle.
BE nice, Gran'pa," tough young voice :
snarled behind the gun. land you won't get
hurt.
! lie other fellow circled Rainey Two sharp
reports then another crashed behind him.
The mouse screamed once.
That's all we wanted. Gran'pa" sneered
the gunman in front of Matthew Rainey
Nov you can have the little rat.
The other fellow joined his buddy and the
A. ~, 81 ~ no
slammed behind them.
1t had all happened 50 quickly - then
Officer Matthew Rainey opened his mouth
and an outraged below roared out. He tore
his hand out of his coat pocket. the automatic
in it. A gunhash lit the interior OF the sedan.
Something ripped the air beside his ear. An
other bullet snatched at his sleeve.
The automatic talked back. Matthew
Rainey's heart leaped exultantly with every
jerk of the gun. This was what he wanted.
There was shot for Moriarity - another for
Clarke - for Walsh - Zimmerman - The
hammer clicked on the empty chamber. And
there was one for Matt Rainey. who was going
out tomorrow. anyway.
He braced himself for the sickening blow of
bullet, and he didn't care. This was the way
to 90 out - in blaze of action - him pitted
against the sort of men he d spent his life try .
ing to exterminate To hell with retiring! A
man wanted to go out with his boots on!
No shot crashed from the sedan. 1t stood
there, dark and silent.
Far down Center Street whined the wall of
police siren - that would be Callahan and
Breen - it shrilled high. grew Close and tires
skidded to stop. Two husky young cops
piled out of green radio coupe. Callahan
reached him first. Pop y are you hurt:?"
Officer Rainey shook his head dazedly, but
his old heart thumped like drum under his
shield, and the light of conflict sparkled in
his blue eyes.
Breen stopped for moment beside the
still figure of the mouse, then he went over
and flashed light into the sedan. He backed
away from it, and turned on Matthew Rainey.
Admiration was stamped on his freckled face.
"Whew!" he said to no one in particular.
Pops wiped out the Parker mob that pulled
that bank job last week. And we thought he
had a drunk ="
Matthew Rainey nodded, as if he had
known it all along, but he had scarcely heard.
Later his old legs would feel all weak and
shaky when the excitement wore off - but
nobody would ever know it. Right then.
warm glow burned behind his eathery cheeks.
He was thinking of that editorial writer on
The Evening Record - the word -juggler who'd