Evening star., 1940-04-21

of prison Then he cingng in terrible pan as Cam
grandes great hands cuced his shoulders bit INTO ms es
and bent the bones.
Camgrande spoke in fiat soft way his face inches from
Joe Bells What do you know about Eddie Meade?"
Joe was gasping with pain. He conscious that the
greasy and the with the derby were watching from
the truck body. Joe spoke as rapidly as possible
"I-everybody knows Eddie Meade is going to make
bust Eddes in for life third stretch and no chance for
parole And that last job of his - diamond ob-he
cached the stuff and it's worth half million And he your
man. You help spring him because you'll want cut of those
diamonds and Eddie won't tell where they are till he's out
Everybody knows
The man with the derby laughed abruptly. Grapevine,
Boss he said with relief Il know how it is been in stir
myself Grapevine knows everything.
Camgrande's great hands relaxed he expelled slow
BREATH then forced his great face to smile Sorry Joe my
boy thought there musa been some definite leak You
know what do Bring this ringer back here after your next
trip to the prison. and get your truck That's all.
YES" Joe admitted But you see I've been in two
years, and my paroles coming up -
Joe you know wouldn't ask you if there was any chance
of slip The big man gave confidential pressure on Joes
arm Il like you boy and like the way you can do what
you're told today for what you're going to be getting omor
row. Look Joe Camgrande lifted the alligator hood OF the
truck that looked exactly like the prison truck The lowet
engine was visible the wiring they concealed by
sheet metal fitted inside the hood and spot welded to
the Sides
The top of the hood buges up Camgrande said smiling
Plenty of room guy curl I'm showing you this
on there's slip and you'd have to let Eddie out
He open from the outside. hop in and pull shut over
him. and locks shut but he has to be let out But there
won't be any Slip Joe This job has been cased You'll drive
the truck into the delivery alley, and then Eddie will
There's guard in that alley Joe said
Sure Joe but for thousand bucks second guard
could look other way for ten seconds Good wages Joe
Five hundred down. put in the with the derby The
load had been switched to the ringer truck Imagine that
oIactfh Of
little began laugh but stopped at glance
you got it. Joe?"
Joe tried twice to speak. Finally he just nodded
Good boy Joe Think of it. Joe springng Eddie Meade!
say that's big stuff Joe But you're boy who can handle
big stuff Joe And don't worry I'm not forgetting Hop n
Joe You got the stuff Joe. Hop IN
When Joe had driven the truck out the with the derby
said to Camprande Boss you ought to of been politician
You sure TALK!
Il don't talk too much" Camgrande said shortly.
IHE clutch was bit sitter the ringer truck; otherwise
Ioe couldn't have told the difference himself The seat cushion
was worn the way There even scratches on the
steering column where he lighted matches for cigarettes
He drove to the freight office with his load and picked up
some Grated goods for the return trip then he drove out
through the hills to the prison. There the feeling as If
band constructing his chest But he was all right he was
all right He wasn't mpy The guards at the two gates were
just the They didn't seem grim and SUSPICIOUS 1t WASH
funny they didn't have anything to say as they checked
the truck Everything okay lhls was )oD or Dig
shot, and he equal the job 1t just that stl clutch
that made truck buck he cut around into the delivery
alley and stopped at the loading platform
Visitor guard saying With start Joe remembered
it was Thursday afternoon, and Lille would be calling
whats the matter? Don't you want to see your girl Big
Shot" the guard asking, and Joe conscious of
gawping blankly at the fellow.
'S-sure He all right. The guard wasn't suspicious
The way he narrowed his eyes didn't mean anything.
I'm get another man take the truck this last load, the
guard was saying You'll CAB with your sweetie.
(Continved on poee ~
All