The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-28
Before The Blitzkrieg
by Rupert Grayson
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIvE

CORAL, IN the meantime, was
working energetically at the dou-
BILE task of finding out all she could
about the place, and Of ingratiat-
ing herself with the men. In the
latter, at least, she succeeded ad-
mirably-before the evening came
any of them would have eaten out
OF her hand. and several of them
would gladly have risked death for
her. She had way with her. had
Coral Merridew.
Later Otto explained their plans
in regard to the two prisoners.
Coral approved--or appeared to
and suggested that when the man
Gunston was brought across that
night she should meet him. Thus,
she suggested, she would be able
to size him up" and to establish
footing with him. She would. she
said, appear to be very sympa-
thetic. Otto, after some considera-
ton, agreed.
So Gun and Tommy got their
meal that evening. AS the day
wore on their excitement about it
increased and their mouths were
watering by The early evening.
Gun duly went through the farce
of bribing the guard as soon as
darkness fell, and in what was a
suspiciously short time Cor might
have seemed so. if Tommy had not
been lin the know') the. meal ar
rived. Trent had certainly done
them well. There was a dish of
broiled mutton, with potatoes.
some kind Of boiled greens, and
canned peas. Cheese and biscuits.
Two quart bottles of English beer,
and a bottle of whiskey Also 25
cigarets.
They ate, drank and were
merry. And presently Tommy went
to bed. Gun went down near the
gate and gave a low whistle. 1t
was answered, and then after a
long pause. came another whistle.
Gun went to the gate, which was
opened for him. This time it was
the guard. and not Trent, who con-
Quoted him across to the living
quarters.
A different room, this time. A
much larger room, furnished like
drawing room. Gun blinked in
the light. and saw that, besides
Trent. Otto (whom he thought of
as "Pullinger") and the girl were
there.
Gun wondered how deeply she
was in this business, and how
much sh' knew OF these villains
plans 1t struck him that, IL not
too much of either, she might yet
be useful
Trent performed introductions-
Of a kind:
Mr.. Gunston. This gentleman Is
our-er-command And this
lady is Miss Coral"
"A privilege" murmured Gun,
and bowed to the LADY Then, look
ing her very straight in the eye, he
said: II must apologize for my
very unkempt appearance, but, as
Mr. Trent may possibly explain to
you. 1t is not entirely my fault"
He had seen her before. She was
the girl he had seen coming from
Watson's house that evening in |
Grosvenor place.
She came to him. hand extended. |
why. that's all right. Mr.. Gun
ston. guess I'm pleased to meet
you anyhow. Besides, like a man |
to look a bit wild"
Gun was simultaneously struck |
by two things-the queer sort Of
pressure she gave his hand, and
the subtle change in her voice since
he had heard 1t before. That APP
piled to her manner. too, and Gun
wondered what II meant.
viii you have a drink. Mr..
Gunston ?" came the harsh voice Of
Otto. Evidently he was taking
charge. And a smoke ?"
Thank you-Just a little whls-
key. And a cigaret. II you don't
mind. After long abstention. a CT
gar might be too strong for me-"
AS you wish. Sit down. please,
Mr.. Gunston."
1t was an order rather than a