The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-06-15
DANfiNG%DAN1ER

Continued FROM rage rem
She had been joined by the man 10
whom she had been shouting. as
his voice was palmer, too.
Looking about the room, she saw
there was A table. a couch and two
chairs. On the table were several
magazines in a neat pile and two
ash trays. Flashing her light up
the stairway. she saw closed door
above. and then quickly clicked
off the light when she heard the
woman exclaim in a loud voice:
There they are. They're on
again"
She must have been in the house
10 minutes as the electric current
had been as suddenly restored as
it had been cut off.
Wondering if she dared risk a
trip up the stairs. Madge finally
took her courage in her hands, and
first flashing the light to locate
the steps, made her way to them
in the darkness. One step at a
time. she crept upward and had
lust reached out to touch the door
when she heard the sound of a
subdued buzzer in the room above.
Someone must be coming. Swift
ly. Madge turned and retraced her
steps. When she was in the room
again, listening, she heard a key
turn. 1t was so close she knew it
must be in the door leading into
the basement, and she crowded
back of the couch and stretched
out on the floor. She was certain
that if she we're careful, no one
would see her.
She had no more than hidden
herself when the light in a desk
lamp on the table went on. 1t
operated from a switch by the up
stairs door. Then she heard steps
coming down the stairs. They were
the firm, flat sounds of mans
shoes, not the staccato click made
by woman's high heels.
The steps came steadily down.
ward. and into the room, and then
she heard someone sink down on
the couch, not foot away from
her. Light from the desk lamp.
reflected downward, made it pos
sible to see the mans shoes and
the cuffs of his trousers.
DAM" she thought. She was
certain she recognized his shoes,
and the material in the trousers
looked familiar, too. 1t looked like
a suit he often wore at the office.
A moment later, she was certain
it was Dan Nichols so close to her
as she heard his voice.
Hello. there, Jimmy" he said,
and glancing about her she saw
the short-haired cat she had seen
when she went to the front door of
the house seeking to rent a room.
The cats back was arched, and he
purred so loudly the sound seemed
to fill the small room as she saw
Dams hand scratching the animals
ears.
Wish they would hurry up" she
heard Dams voice again, as he
spoke his thoughts aloud to the cat.
I'm in luck" Madge told her.
self. There's going to be another
meeting, and I'm going to hear
what is said"
In a few minutes there were
more steps on the stairway, and
from her hiding place Madge made
out the feet of another man.
Thank goodness, cone
showed up Dan grumbled as he
addressed the man as Roland"
THE others ought to be here in
minute or two," the newcomer
answered, and took chair oppo-
site the couch. Madge heard a
match scrape, and then smelled
the fragrant odor of cigar.
A third man, greeted as Louie"
came little later. After a brief
greeting he too. sat down. Appar-
emily they all were waiting for
someone else.
Again there were feet descend
ing the stairway. and she heard
the couch creek as Dan got to his
feet.
Good" he said. Here comes
Avery now"