Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-01-27
CHAPTER XII.

SNooo
above and behind them, the ugly
blackjack in his hand. Before he
united their hands and released
their gags he had warned that any
sound would be repaid with a rap
behind the ear.
Sherr ate in silence, pausing only
once to gaze sorrowfully at Kelly
Madigan. Her eyes were Swallowed
pools of despair. Kelly hoped that
she could see his heart in his eyes.
she could see his heart in his ewes.
John ODian smoked chain-fash-
ion and he paced the floor with
nervous strides. Kelly watched tire
leSsly. He wondered how O'Dian
was going to move four people. Evil
IDENTIFY the man was waiting for
some one. AS daylight waned and
the room darkened John ODian
stood quietly at the window, gazing
steadily toward the street.
John ODian started violently
when finally soft knock sounded
upon the door. He stepped quickly
across the room and said softly:
Yes"
Kelly heard a muffled. AL set"
John ODian swung about. He
stared at each of his prisoners in
turn. When he spoke his voice was
fatty ominous, his words clipped
This is where we say adieu for a
very short while. Each of you will
be taken from here separately. You
might as we'll know that any at
tempt at escape by one of you will
mean instant retaliation on the re-
naming thee people. If any of you
have ideas, think of the others. Mad
igan. I mean this for you. Since
you are most energetic at times,
with a fine disregard of your own
safety, perhaps you will be re-
strained by the thought that Sherr
will be the one to suffer if you de-
eide on any rash move
You think of everything. ODian, p"
Kelly said succinctly
A COwardly Blow.
IT have to- One of my men will
escort each of you separately to my
automobile, which. by the way is
standing IN plain view of yonder
window I have this timed. You
will arrive in the car in approx
mately one and One-half minutes.
If that does not happen. I will pre-
sumo that something has gone awry
I will be governed in my actions
by that assumption. l leave to your
imagination what I may be COM
PEELED to de-"
You aren't thinking of what will
happen to yourself if you resort to
violence?" Kelly barely emphasized
the last word. but that was lost
upon John ODian. The man was
completely, logically mad.
John ODian said, Il have pre-
pared means of combating that
possibility, Madigan." Kelly was
soon to learn what was meant by
those words.
ODian glanced from face to face.
Il presume that you all understand
what I reouire?' His eyes, in the
bright light of the room, were
slightly glazed; his hands were
hooked, like talons.
Then Madigan had his first good
glimpse of the man who had been
responsible for his first meeting with
Sherr ODian The short barrel
like body and the long arms were
still vivid in Kelly's mind. He saw
the face now.
Ready, Crouch?" ODian asked
sharply.
Sure. Where's the guy, the big
guy?" Crouch's voice rasped threat
eningly. He looked at Kelly Madl-
gan. All" he murmured softly. He
moved slitheringly toward Kelly. He
raised a clenched fist and Kelly
could see the black hairs upon the
back of the knuckles. The fist de-
cended swiftly.
Plot Well Oiled.
Kelly's head snapped back from
the blow. He was momentarily
stunned.
How dya like those apples,
chum?" Crouch chortled.
Kelly shook his head slowly.
you're a rat!" he grated.
The hairy fist was raised again,
but it stopped in midair.
Cut that Quit" John ODian's
voice cut in fatty. You can en-
joy the fun later. We've got much
to do now"
Crouch stepped back. Later,
chum," he said grimly.
Kelly gazed steadily at the man.
He smiled grimly to himself. This
was a taste of what was to come.
John O'Dian commanded, You
are first, Sherr."
He swiftly united her and when
she arose, Kelly saw the gun in
Crouch's hand. Sherr was staring
at the weapon. John ODian was
balancing his automatic in the palm
of his hand.
"You understand" he said quiet
1y. Sherr nodded. Kelly watched
her trim, 1.-the figure to the door.
She turned there.
Luck" she said to her compan-
ions. Her eyes shifted to Kelly.
I'm sorry"
Kelly nodded his head slowly.
John ODian closed the door, then
strobe swiftly toward the window.
The minute and a half seemed in
credibly long. But finally, John
ODian turned. cone" he said dryly.
James Crosley was next. He left
without a word or glance at John
ODian. Kelly wondered what
thoughts seethed within him.
Miss Mannon," John ODian said
after q while. He followed her to
the door.
John ODian said. Three" He
moved to Kelly. All right, Madi-
gan"
Crouch appeared at the door. He
covered Kelly with his gun, while
John ODian loosed the ropes. KEEL
ly's arms were cramped. He stood
up slowly, stretching himself. He
was watched warily. The three