Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-03-07

Had she lied to herself about Ronnie's
being the only reason for her wanting
| to stay? Then she remembered the
dead wire and hurried on.
/ She hadn't seen Ronnie for years
/ and had never visited his flat, but
she knew the address and reaching
Jermyn street 1t took her only mo-
ment to locate the building. In the
narrow entrance she looked In vain
for a list Of tenants and the automatic
elevator could answer no questions. Its
cage was empty.
She pressed the call button and
/ listened for the sound of the descend
/ ing car. When nothing happened she
grew impatient and started up the
stairs, examining as she went the name
on each floor. On the third floor she
found the empty lift and whoever had
used it last had left the grating wide
open. The door opposite was ajar and
on 1t was card inscribed: Lieut.. Rom
aid Stane Gate. H. NJ. S. Gadfly. She
Ronnie was in, he was all right. In
a moment she would have to ex-
plain
A thud. sickening crunch and a
groan followed each other so fast they
telescoped into single sound. 1t tore
her ears and Numbered inside her
head. She tried to scream and choked.
She pushed the door so hard it
crashed against the wall and sent her
Keeling.
The little entry hall was a dark box
with an arch leading to the rest of
the flat. The left side was cluttered
with rubbers and porcelain stand
holding sticks and umbrellas. For
tunately she was flung to the right
where hung an array Of overcoats.
For an instant she had a terrified
sensation of being held, then the acrid
smell Of tweed cut her nostrils like
her senses. The coats were her saliva
ton. Half buried in them she turned
her head in time to see a massive
silhouette fill the arch. man with
fist appraised like a hammer.
The very threat of the pose made
her hold her breath as he rushed past
her into the hall, paused to glance
right and left. then plunged down the
stairs, rejecting the slow elevator.
something monstrous and unforgetable
"a boulder rolling without sound. 1t
laid the chill of fear on Katherine,
yet started her defensive reflexes to
working. Soundlessly and scarcely
conscious Of movement she stepped
to the door. shut and bolted 1t. That
done she drew sharp quivering
breath and ran to the arch. On her
right she caught glimpse of bed
and facing about entered a spacious
little sitting room. Apparently it was
empty but groan from the floor
led her behind the big desk. The next
instant she was on her knees beside
a writhing figure.
"Ronnie," she sobbed, "Ronnie!"
His eyes were screwed shut in agony
but at the sound of her voice they
opened. "Kate" he gasped. "Why-it's
you'll"
"Ronnie! Quick! Tell me what to
do"
Nothing. It's too late"
II don't mean that. I won't die,
worse luck. I mean I'm through,
cashiered. finished at the sweet age Of
Is. Get me drink"
She found a decanter on the side
board, raised his head to her lap and
fed him a hooker of brandy. What
happened?" she asked as soon as the
drink was down.
THAT butcher of an agent must have
been here when barged in to grab
my kit. What makes it bitter I was
actually on my way out when re-
membered you. That's. where they'll
have me. Kate-that,s what will hang
me higher than rotten grouse. I had
no right to stop to try to telephone
you but I did and I'm done. I sat on
the edge of the chair the way you
do when you're in a hurry, one foot
straight out. He sandbagged me from
behind and landed on my leg with
both feet My legs broken"
But you're SAFE" said katherine.
Thanks to the noise you made. II
you hadn't come he would have fin
ished me off and it would have been
better If he had"
"Ronnie. why do you talk like that?
Why make a bad thing worse? It's
it's childish
"Childish? Listen, Kate. Half an
hour ago we found out code l3B was
in possession Of the enemy and hac
to send out its cancellation. It's OBJ
solete and that cuts out telephone.
telegraph, wireless and even orders for
plane. was named code 13B for
a special message and II I'm not 100
miles from here by dark" His
shoulders heaved, he caught the edge
Of the desk and dragged himself into
the chair beside 1t. Get help!" he
whispered hoarsely. Nobody else can
deliver the message and be believed.
only me. I've got to get down to the
car"
"Ronnie. look on the floor" said
Katherine. her face gone white. She
knot above his knee. snatched a ruler
from the desk and in a moment had
twisted the tourniquet tight. Here.
hold IT,"
what FORT" said Ronnie, dumping
hopelsssly. Let the damn thing bleed. !"
"Ronnie." begged Katherine. there's
. q Vay out-IV0 tl1ot,Rht at 4 nav out