Evening star., 1940-02-28

think you're going to get anything
from us you have another guess
coming. There are. three Of us to
your one"
"And six slugs in here make
everything even," the thug said
menacingly, tapping the gun with
his left hand. His beady eyes
flickered impatiently at Elaine and
Eric who were standing rigid near
the piano. Come on. Dreamy Eyes,
he commanded Elaine. II amt got
all day to waste even If you are
kinda nice -lookin."
Elaine Is Unafraid.
She should feel afraid, should be
backing cautiously towards the
couch, but Elaine didn't move, her
body consumed by a fiery rage that
swept away all reason. With a
scornful, reckless laugh she took q
slow step in his direction. IF you
think I'm going to let miserable
coward like you order me around
you're sadly mistaken" she said
icily. "Now you get out of this
house before I call the police"
His eyes f1ickered nervously as
she took another step in his direc-
tion'and Elaine could see his finger
tense around the trigger. But he
wouldn't shoot. Somehow she was
sure he lacked the nerve.
go ahead, shoot!" she COM
manded scornfully. II dare you to
pull that trigger!"
Get back" he cried wildly. "Get
back or I'll let you have It'll" His
face was ashen and the pimples
stood out redly on his cheeks. He
raised his arm and pointed the gun
Squarely at Elaine. Get back Or
or I'll kill you'll"
Where was Eric? Why didn't
he come to help her? Elaine felt
her nerves draw taut as bowstrings
as she continued her slow advance.
She couldn't stop now! Even If she
wanted to she couldn't stop. Rage
had taken away her reason. Dreamy
Eyes! How-how dare he insult
any woman like that? Slowly, very
slowly, she took another step, then
another, and then suddenly, with a
wild cry Of fear, the thug hurled
the gun directly at her head. Elaine
ducked swiftly as 1t SKINNED past
her, but before she could move
again towards the crook he was
running through the kitchen door.
She followed him swiftly, but even
as she burst into the room she knew
she was too late. The crook had
leaped through the window and
Elaine stopped stock-still near the
stove as she heard him clatter his
way down the fire escape steps.
Gun Wasn't Loaded.
"You crazy dope!" Jane shouted,
drawing her into the living room.
Don't you want to live? For Pete's
sakes, what ever made you do such
an idiotic thing?"
Elaine felt nervous tears well in
her eyes and she sagged Imply
against Jane. It wasn't until that
moment that she realized that deep,
deep in her heart she had been
afraid, that subconsciously she had
been tensing her body in the expec-
tation of being shot. She passed
trembling hand over her eyes.
"He-he just made me angry!" she
told Jane; simply.
Jane shook her head as though
to imply that all this was far be-
yond her capacity to understand.
She led Elaine across the room and
seated her on the couch.
"Elaine!" Eric's face was taut
and pale as he sank to his knees
before her. "You scared me out of
years growth. You should have
had better sense. Why, he might
have shot you"
mot with this gun," Jane declared
IN an amazed voice, breaking open
the revolver. Tit isn't loaded!"
Elaine had half guessed this when
the crook hurled the revolver at
her and she smiled to hear her
guess confirmed. But the smile
fled from her lips as she caught the
peculiar expression that still re-
mained on Eric's face.
Eric, what's wrong?" she uueried
anxiously. "You act as though
you've never seen me before"
He stood up and turned away.
face still pale and drawn, eyes a
veritable pool of agony.
II never did see you this way be-
fore" he told her haltingly. "And
besides, II -
Hands Eric His Hat.
Before he could finish speaking
Jane walked over to him and
handed him his hat. Her eyes were
contemptuous, her lips drawn into
tight line. "You can tell her
some other time, Eric" she told
him coldly, showing him towards
the door. Right now you had bet
ter CO."
Elaine rose angrily from the
couch as Eric permitted himself to
be pushed out of the apartment.
She walked over to Jane as she
slammed the door shut, eyes blazing.
"Just where do you get the idea
you can put my friends out of this
apartments" she queried. Good
heavens, I don't know why you've
taken such dislike to Eric. Right
now you acted as though you hated
him."
"Despise is the better word" Jane
said shortly, calmly surveying her.
She moved slowly across the room.
Elaine, despite the animosity I
had for him I never thought of
Eric as coward. But he is. When
you were walking toward that thug
Eric almost ran out of the room, he
was so frightened"
Elaine laughed wildly. $50 what?
I was afraid, too, and so were you.
And incidentally, where were you
when all this was happening?"
Jane shrugged her shoulders.
eric was holding me in front of
him so that in case any bullets were
fired he wouldn't be hit!"
Eric q Coward.
In the stiffness of the room Elaine
| rna,1d hoar tho hoof of her hoorf oc