The Wilmington morning star., 1940-06-13

CHAPIEK Id1ft1 1-N1IN6
I changed quickly in my oW
clothes, which were still a trifl
damp, but not enough to do m
any harm, I hoped. The barge wa
being made fast to the landln
with the mooring ropes.
The little cook was nervous
"Mebbe you oughtn't to 60. Mebb
I oughtn't to let you," he said.
'I'u take care of myself" I as
sured him. I tucked the gun, bar
rel down, into my lower right yes
pocket and held my coat Tight
over it with my elbow. 1t was we
hidden. Of course, if I had to us
that arm for anything else IN tn
next few minutes.
I didn't let my mind dwell o.
the possibilities of disaster.
The big man I was determines
to capture for the police was wait
ing for me by the gangplank
across which the hand trucks al
ready we're rolling. Pete stooe
three arguing. They fell silen
when | approached, and I won
dered if Pete had been trying tt
persuade Bill to let me go, telling
him that they had me completely
fooled.
you've got to hurry" Pete in
formed me. There amt as many
potatoes here as we thought.
been telling Bill he'd better JUS
90 to the top of the levee anc
point out the road to you, ther
come right back"
Hell get lost in this fog" big
Bill growled. Don't worry, I'll get
back quick. And it won't hurt
you to hold this barge ten in
utes."
I wondered why Bill wanted to
stay with the barge, now I knew
that he was not a member of the
crew. Perhaps, 1 told myself, he
wanted to catch an early morning
steamer out of San Francisco. If
his plan was to get out of the coun-
try, my plan to detain him must
not fail.
We followed the hand trucks
ashore and started up a steep path
bordered by bushes whose outlines
I saw dimly as the moon began to
break through the fog.
You lead and I'll follow"
told Bill.
He agreed, and I didn't see how
I could be in any great danger as
long as 1 could keep my eyes on
him. I kept the revolver pressed
tightly under my coat. I didn't
want to withdraw it yet, for fear
he might suddenly turn around. !
wanted to get him as far from the
boat as possible before I stuck il
into his ribs.
We walked a couple of hundred
yards. The farmhouse was at con-
siderable distance, apparently.
saw no lights. I grew uneasy. We
reached a road, but there was nc
sign of Belzer or an automobile. II
Bill was deliberately leading me to
a deserted spot.
Bill stopped. That's funny" he
remarked. II hear someone ahead
of us, but the house is off to our
right"
listened. A sound like the rum.
bling of an automobile engine came
out of the fog close at hand, then
stopped, as though it had been
shut off.
Were stuck" said Belzer, just
around the turn ahead Of us, 'but
it can't be far. Well walk" A car
door slammed. Hang that guy,
Strickland, anyway! Why didn't he
pick a decent road for us?"
HE wouldn't know the road" a
girls voice replied.
I was so startled by that voice
that I didn't notice that William
Gala had turned around. He
leaped, and before 1 could grab
my weapon he'd pinioned both
my arms in his vise-like grip. The
revolver fell to the ground.
$50, I was walking into a trap,
was T." snarled Gala. He gave me
a vicious shove backward. I tripped
and fell, and heard him crashing
through the brush.
This way I shouted to my
friends, and staggered to my feet.
A flashlight came lingering
through the fog, but Belzer was
too late. Gala had regained the
trail. His footsteps already were
muffled by distance. He was nearly
back to the levee.
"Quick" I told Belzer. my CUR
Bella LANAN-COURT R.