The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-04-17
CHAPTER XVIII

The man with the gun waved Val and Eddie forward. "Okay, keep go- ing just the way you're headed. I'm gonna stick this gat back in my pocket now but my fiiiger'll be on the trigger all the time if you get what I mean"
 He whitSled one shrill note and the four men ahead stopped and turned around.
 Look what I found tailing you guys" their captor said. He mo- toned his prisoners against the wall of warehouse. One of the others snapped a flashlight beam in their faces for a moment.
 Who are they?"
 "Ain't knowing but think they got ideas they shouldn't be hav- ing" he said significantly.
 The man with the f1ashlight, evidently the leader, nodded.
 People with ideas got to be watched. Get 'em inside here, Joe. and see they don't geS into mis- chief. No rough stuff - boss's or ders = but keep 'em game. Meet us at F. You know where"
 The man named Joe nodded. Lucky I came up just when I did. But you sure you won't need me?"
 Positive. They only got six, mebbe eight, men on board and"
 Suddenly he stopped short and looked at Val in the dim light Of the abandoned warehouse. "This dame here," he said slowly. T know who she is. She's the re- porter who shipped on with that outfit in Frisco. Her picture was in a lot of the papers this past week. That gives me an idea"
 Val held her breath, wondering what his idea was.
 "e-W get Johnny here to take a message to Steve Hansen that she's been hurt an for him to send a couple of men to get her back to the ship. That makes it just that much easier for us.'
 Quick" he said. we botta move fast" He sent one of his men away after brief instructions.
 Johnny was back in 15 minutes. Hansen swallowed the whole story" he reported.
 "Okay!" the leader said. Let's get going. Whatch 'em, Joe"
 Joe motioned for Eddie and Val to sit down.
 Look" Val said desperately. '"There's a hundred - five hundred dollars-in it for you if you let us go."
 He smirked. Save your breath, lady"
 Vals heart was in her stomach. Steve Hanson in his anxiety would never suspect anything. He'd send a couple maybe three-men into town. That would leave bare handful on board. Taken by sur- prise they wouldn't have chance.
 For moment she blamed Steve for allowing anyone to have shore leave that night, but it was too late now.
 But it mustn't be too late, she told herself f1ercely. They had to do something.
 Yet, the dread thought came to her. Why should Eddie Cavalier get himself involved in anything that might endanger his future, his very life. It would be awfully easy to get himself shot, or even break bone in his hand, or some thing like that.
 Eddie Cavalier at the moment, however, sat looking up at a stack of empty barrels piled high next to him. A fantastic hope grew with leaps and bounds when he noticed that the bottom barrel was resting on big piece of bur- lap. Eddie found that merely by letting his hand dangle at his side he could clutch that burlap firmly.
 As casually as possible he took hold. Suddenly he gave mighty jerk, with all his strength.
 With crash, the whole pile of barrels came tumbling down as Eddie pulled the bottom one from underneath.
 Their captor leaped up with a startled oath. For one brief sec- Ond he was off guard That was all Eddie needed. He catapulted himself forward, grabbed the gun mans wrist with one hand and swung terrific right to the chin with the other. Joe dropped with out a sound.