Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-05-09

/ member when We were here this aft
ernoon? And I spilled my bag? Well,
I lost S85 somehow. must have, be-
cause it's gone. You didn't see 1t, did
. you?"
Miss Withers said it had been years
since she had seen that much money
all at one time. The inspector pushed
into the scene.
( You remember Miss Smith who gave
such a full description OF your bandit?'
/ said the school teacher. She and I
were looking for an apartment the
other day, and we met again today.
/ Our paths are always crossing
/ You haven't seen anybody hanging
around upstairs?' Piper demanded OF
| the girl.
II haven't been upstairs" the girl
admitted. ut was so dark and lone
some-I had just about decided I'd run
along home and come back and look
! for my money in the morning"
"A very good idea" agreed Miss
[ out. But, by the way'-she lowered
her voice-"theres a friend OF yours
in the car
! The inspector was already on his way
up the stair, and Miss Withers hurried
along after him. They approached the
/ top floor apartment on tlptoe. entered
softly in the wake of the round beam
! cast by Piper's flashlight. The big liv-
ing room was empty, except for the
smeared walls and the half-dried pud-
! dies OF paint not yet cleared away.
! The kitchen and service porch, the
bath, the bedroom and its closets-alI
were empty.
/ Maybe we're too late" Piper said.
Maybe he's been and gone, with the
emerald" But Miss Withers thought
not. They began to search. An empty
{ hi
+ Piper looked under the drain in each
bit of plumbing, knowing how easily
a jewel could be suspended there. He
! looked up the flue Of the fireplace, and
| behind the venetian blinds. He even
raised each window, making sure that
/ the emerald had not been hung out
/ side on a thread.
Finally they both admitted failure.
Il wonder" Miss Withers began, IF
we might get some information from
/ that girl. OF course she's outside talk
ing to your handsome sergeant"
/ OF course she waS-they could look
down from the window. But even as
Piper started to lead the way out OF
! the place. Miss Withers froze. My
ankleS!" she whispered. They feel a
draft"
/ Oscar Piper halted, looking dubious.
oscar, the back door! Somebody just
/ opened it. -
He nodded. Then, motoring her to
stay behind him, Oscar Piper went
softly back into the apartment. He
crossed the living room, cautiously
into the kitchen" The rear door was
/ closed and locked, but that didn't prove
anything. He started to turn
up" came a voice behind him. up
| high-higher than that" The bath
room door opened, and a man came
out, a smallish man, no more than 5
feet 6. He was about IS, and his mouth
was twisted in a curious smile. He held
an automatic pistol in his right hand.
Back up!" was the order. Now go
on-both of you'll" 1t was the mad
painter, only he wasn't really mad.
1t was the jewel thief, the murderer
Of Sam Bodley, the man in the tan
raincoat who had jumped so lightly
| to the waiting car.
Don't make any moves. "COPPER" he
said. through tight lips.
What do you think this will get
your" asked Inspector Piper slowly, as
he backed into the living room. why
don't you drop that gun and give your
self up! I know you. You're Joe Swim
that's tSa itl- S~n'n'ef''A' '"AAS''l'
There was a difficult pause. That's
too bad" said the man with the gun.
sorry you recognized me, copper. Be-
cause now I've got to knock you over,
and wasn't going to do that; y,
It's now or never, said Hildegarde
Withers to herself. and grasped the
cord of the venetian blind. 1t fell
with a most terrific clatter. Swinston.
caught off guard, turned and fired
blindly. At almost the same instant
he was kicked most deity in the
stomach by Oscar Piper.
mot exactly sporting, Oscar. but
we'll timed" observed the school teach
er, as the inspector slipped bracelets
on the writhing bandit.
| But what interested her most was
the sequence Of events down on the
Sidewalk. The inspector came up be-
side her, and they both stared down.