The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-06-19
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

CHAPTER NINE
If the floor beneath her had
suddenly opened and dropped her
into a deep pit. Madge couldn't
have been more astounded at the
mans command.
Face burning with shame at
being caught. she crawled out on
her hands and knees and faced
Mrs. Engle and her husband as
bravely as she could.
We'll, my little chickadee. :"
Engle growled, sarcastically. and
what might you be doing back o.
there ,"
Madge tried to speak, but words
refused to come.
What's your name ?" the man
demanded. The girl noticed that
the ugly black automatic in his
hand was pointed right at her
chest.
'M-Mary k-Kohler," she stutter-
ed; wildly uttering the first name
that came into her head. She had
remembered, however. even in
that split second that her initials.
in gold, were on the outside of
her bag and she realized she must
invent name on the spur of the
moment to match the initials.
'Kohler, is it?" the man grunt-
ed. We'll. Wen soon find out.
What are you doing in this house,
and how did you get in?"
A half dozen explanations
flashed through the girls mind,
but passing in swift review none
of them seemed adequate. 1t was
pretty hard to explain what she
was doing. So wisely, she kept
silent.
you won't talk, Ell ?" Engle
glared at her, his heavy, brutal
face thrust forward. Here, Cora
hold this gat on her and shoot
if she makes a move while l get
some stuff to tie her up with"
Mrs. Engle's fingers closed
about the grip of the weapon as
though it was nothing new in her
life. Her hand holding the gun
was as firm as her husbands had
been.
Just take it easy, dearie. and
you won't get hurt-yet," she
said.
What are you going to do with
me 2" Madge asked. She felt that
she had to say something, to as
sure herself that she still had
voice.
You'll find out soon enough"
1t was obvious to the girl that
the woman didn't know any more
than she did, and she thought for
a moment of haunting her with
the fact. Perhaps if she succeeded
in making her angry, she might
relax her hold on the gun for a
moment.
There might be a fraction of a
minute in which she could leap at
her and wrestle for the gun. But
on reflection, she decided it would
do no good. The woman was too
self-assured.
Say, dearie, I've seen you be-
for some place, haven't II" Madge
didn't answer, she stared straight
ahead as Mrs. Engle's eyes swept
her from head to foot and back
again.
Sure, knew Id seen you be-
fore. l never forget a face.
don't. You're the dame that came
to the door here yesterday and
tried to rent a room, aren't you?
Sure, l know you are.
Il didnt fall for your gag. so
you thought up new one. l gotta
give you credit, you We're doing
swell until George spotted you
hiding behind the sofa. He's got
quick eyes, that bird. Never misses
trick. You'd be that way, too,
if you had his education"
Madge suspected that Engle's
education had been obtained most
ly in institutions operated by the
state. Somehow his small, shifty
eyes which seemed to dart rap
idly about, taking in everything
at once, reminded her of a man
she had been on trial once. A no.
torious convict. who had spent
half his life behind bars.
"Who sent you here in the first
place ?" the woman demanded.
"You might as we'll save your