The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-12-04
Before The Blitzkrieg
by Rupert Grayson

Otto choked and grunted. and
then lay still.
Good work. boyw chuckled
Tommy, as Gun got onto his feet
But Gun was aot looking for APP
plause.
This is where we get very, very
busy" he gritted. from behind his
teeth. "Or Wen have the whole
gang swarming like bees"
He picked up the hat that Otto
had been wearing II was green,
and had distinctive shape.
Tommy take that handkerchief
off," he directed, and added, with
sudden grin: "Reversa Of the
usual process-house lights up.
and the show begins
\ He turned to Coral
I'm going to be Otto for a min
ute or two You 60 Down the path
in front OF me. and hurry. The
guard will take me for Otto-I
hope. The moment h opens the
gate, 60 right through-and leave
the rest 10 me.
Tommy had taken off the hand
kerchief, and the room was flooded
with light. A moment later the
guard at the gate. who was inter
ested, saw Coral hurry from the
house followed by one who, silhou-
cited against the bright light, he
took to be Otto. After that. his
eyes were on Coral.
He unlocked the gate as she hur-
ried toward it, with the man close
TO her heels. Coral went right
through, and as the man he took
to be Otto came to him he was
surprised to see him raise his right
hand as though in salute-an I'M
usual courtesy from the sullen
Otto.
On that feeling OF surprise he
faded out, for Gun brought the
pistol down on his head with sci
entitic precision, and he slumped
soundless to the ground.
Gun bent over him and secured
his short rifle and bandolier. Tom
my was standing in the lighted
doorway, staring into the dark
ness. There were clouds over the
faint moon at the moment, for
which Gun thanked the gods. He
also prayed that Tommy would
have savvy enough to stop where
he was for a few moments-it
would tend to allay any suspicious
the sentry might have.
Go and have a word with the
other guard" Gun whispered to
Coral. Hold his attention just for
a moment or two"
Coral turned and walked toward
the angle of the wire fence-and
as she went SIZE paused to light
cigaret. Gun feverently blessed
both her wit and her nerve, as he
turned outward and made a detour
through the shadows.
out of the darkness the butt of
the rife that was now Guns con-
nected with his occiput, and he also
fell and lay still.
Gun chuckled and whispered:
IT'S beginning TO look like the
stage during a performance of
Hamlet. Now go around and meet
the other one, at the back"
Coral made a face.
Il don't like this at all. It's
it's thuggish. somehow. And these
boys have been nice to me-"
ITS been said before" retorted
Gun, that necessity is the mother
of more children than invention.
Get to it time counts"
He melted into the shadow once
more.
In the doorway Tommy. peering
and straining his ears, suddenly
realized what an excellent mark he
made. He siGe-stepped, and then
walked through the darkness to-
ward the gate. where the form OF
the first guard lay--very still.
Coral hurried around to the
other side of the fence, and called
in a low voice:
"Slim-just moment, will
you?"
A nasal voice answered:
Coming, Miss"
along.
Say. Miss Coral, what's the
trouble? 1t anything wrong?"
We'll. l don't know. Slim, but !
wish you'd just"
At that moment a shadow ma
terialized behind the lanky form Of
Slim. and once more the rife butt
did its work. Slim went down like
a pole-axed bullock, with no more
than grunt. And. as though wait
ing for the signal. the faint moon
came out from behind the clouds.
ITO BE ContinucdO