The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-29
Before The Blitzkrieg
by Rupert Grayson

I'll stay here and wait for you!
81 ess these two boys will look
after me-"
"Oh, rather!" cried Tommy, gal
lantly.
Very good, then. Let's 60" said
Otto, and the two men went out.
Gun felt a little excited. He had
already decided that he would
sound this girl as to what she
knew of the gangs plans. If, as he
suspected, she was not aware of
the full extent of their ruthless vii
lainy, she might yet, in her revul-
sion OF feeling. prove an invaluable
ally. She might be tough case, he
thought, but it was difficult to re-
gard her as a human monster
which she certainly would be if she
were party to this plot. the full
extent of which, he believed, only
he knew.
For few moments after the de-
parture of Trent and Otto silence
reigned. Then Coral spoke in a low
voice:
Now" she said-and she was
looking at Gun, and not Tommy.
Il want to talk to you two"
ITS not safe to talk here" put
in Gun, quickly. Il have notions of
concealed microphones. Let's walk
in the garden. You have a wrap,
haven't your"
She pointed to where it lay over
chaira and he got it for her Then
they went out into the family
moonlit garden, and walked on to
the lawn where they were safe
from eavesdroppers.
Gun was just thinking how to
frame his opening, when Coral
took the wind completely out of
his sails.
II suppose"-again sh, was ad-
dressing Gun-"you thi.k I'm a
pretty tough proposition"
Gun was conscious that her voice
had changed, and that she was
speaking once more in the soft,
low tones he had heard once be-
fore.
well, that's ratho a leading
question. isn't it?"
She laughed softly.
"Oh, / don't mind what you say,
because, you see, really I'm not so
tough-at least, not in the way
you think. Now, let me tell you
something -they call you Mr.. Gun
ston here, don't they? And they
think you are Commander Hazel
deane's assistant" But. really, you
are in quite a different business,
and your real name is Cotton, isn't
it?"
Gun was suddenly very much on
his guard SO, in some way, they
suspected his real identity and this
girl. was to trick him into admit
ting it?
You'll forgive me-" he said.
But l don't quite understand. Who
is Mr.. Cotton ?"
why you are. Of course. Now,
don't be silly about it-yo see,
I'm a friend. actually"
I'm glad to hear that" retorted
Gun. But ] feel th"t you must be
very clever at DISCUSSES, and dis
sembling, and all that sort Of
thing. AS for this Mr. Cotton
we'll, I'm sorry to disappoint you,
but I'm afraid I've never heard of
him"
The girl chuckled again. rather
surprisingly.
you do 1t very well. you know"
she said. But really, it's wasted
effort. You'll tell me next that you
have never heard OK"
Gun was becoming more and
more astonished. Assuredly these
people--this girl-knew quite a lot.
But he answered, in a semi-ban-
tering tone:
well, / can't say that. you
know. IT'S the twenty-fourth letter
of the alphabet-and useful
alias for gentlemen who get mixed
up in sticky blackmail cases"
"And IL Is also" said the girl,
quietly, "a useful alias for the man
who Is your chief-and mine"
Very interesting, I'm sure. F"
Gun countered. But still don
know what you're talking about,
I'm afraid"
The girl was grave now. for she
realized what was In Guns mind
81 assure you. Mr.. Cotton" she
said. seriously. that you're being
overcautious. am myself one of
KS people, officially known, by the
way. as No. %. And part Of my
business here is 20 find you, and TO
give you any possible assistance
you may need. But If you won't be-