Evening star., 1940-03-10

Both heels hit his enemy's shins. With howl
the fellow toppled into Ben's arms.
The battle-scarred Ben dragged the sub
dued youth to the fireplace, sat on his shoul-
der blades and shackled him with cord from
the wood bundle.
"You can't do this the fellow snarled.
Think you can swipe this stuff and lay it on
me-! You fool, I'm Miss Crandall's nephew.
l keep room here and key to the apart
ment. Aunt Nancy asked me to take her stuff
to safe deposit vault. Why, you can prove
who am by my picture on her dresser!'
Ben Reed suddenly felt as if he had been
kicked in the shins, himself. He rose slowly
and stared down at his prisoner, guessing
maybe he had Just made darn fool of HIM
SELF
He knew Miss Nancy's family pride and
loyalty. She would swear to anything a
nephew said, true or not. Inspection OF the
photograph gave him no comfort. On the back
was written, Your Aftectionate Nephew,
c. Hilton Crandal."
But why hadn't Miss Nancy mentioned his
visit this morning? She usually warned him
when she had guests, so he d be quiet when he
came in.
Herecalled now rumors about rich nephew.
but she had never spoken of him. :.
f1E recalled other things. What else you
got to prove your yarn" he demanded sud
denly, dipping into his prisoners pockets.
There were letters addressed to g. Hilton
Crandall, one in Miss Nancy's familiar fine
hand, and key to her apartment sure enough.
But he fingered thoughtfully over twenty
seven cents, c. Hilton's sole pocket money.
by golly, guess you're partly right.
Ben said and went to the phone. He asked for
Police Headquarters.
Captain Casey, please. E. Ben Reed. :.
Yeah friend of his. .. Heloo, Tom. Fine,
how re you? . Say. listen, can nephew
break into his aunt's apartment and rob her
and get away with it if he has room there
once in awhile. i. . No. She didn't know he
was in town. =.
lust regular burglary, huh? Aunt couldn't
get him Of by refusin' to make charge and
irwin to cover it by sayin' she told him to
take the stuff? . Thought not. =.
why, it's that no-good nephew of Miss
Nancy Crandall's; you know, the old Gran
dali house in the Square. Yeah, that's
the guy, G.. Hilton Crandall. High roller.
Claimed to be rich Nobody believed he was
her nephew but he is Hasn't cent. Been
bleedin' her for years remember now every
time she mentioned company bein' here, she'd
be broker'n ever for weeks after. He was the
company. .
Yeah, just caught him runnin' Of with
the family jewery an silver. .. Sure, broke
in while she was out, robbed the safe. .
Loot in suitcase now. Fingerprints all over it
and the safe Tried to murder me. Yeah,
got him roped up. He can get ten years, huh?
.. Swell, Well be waitin' for the wagon.
Bye"
G.. Hilton stormed, "You know damn we'll
didn't break in. I've got my key"
"You won't have when the cops come,
Ben told him, transferring it to his own pocket
and again adjusting G. Hiltons bonds care
fully. That rope will hold while | go and
make that outside door look tampered with -
and plenty
But Ben, out in the hall, worried as he
worked at the door, where he couldn't see his
prisoner He could hear him struggling like
horse cast in stall. Presently all was quiet.
In moment Ben peered in and grinned. No
body there now. The fire-escape window was
open.