The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1942-10-29
CHAPTER XVI


er, put the figure between himself
and light, the light from the Co
mandancia not far distant. The out
line looked like Collins.
He called the name softly. No
answer. He tried again.
YES" came the low acknowledge
ment.
Curt approached. Looking around,
huh?"
No answer.
Find anything?"
Silence. Then, mo"
We'll, my friend, it's time for
you and me to have a talk. First,
your credentials. Let's see them"
No move from the other at first,
then an amiable "Sure," and Col
Inns reached into pocket. He hand
ed over leather card holder which
had three isinglassed partitions.
Curt squatted, played his fiashlight
on the exhibit, low against the
ground, then snapped off the light.
He Rosa and handed back the case.
That's better. Lieutenant, Ma
val Intelligence, eh? Glad to have
you. Shake"
It Was the handclasp that turned
the trick. Collins unbent. 81 need
a friend here" he confessed.
You armed?"
Eyes. Had my service pistol
cached
Good. It's nearly eleven. The
village will be asleep by midnight,
I expect. Go back to your room.
Unhook your rear window screen
to be sure you make no noise later"
II did. Got out that way"
Curt grunted. "Well, go back to
bed for a while. You've likely sized
up the place and know who's here?"
Sure"
''Then when they're all abed and
have had time to get to sleep, wake
up Monahan. He's in the last ROOM"
~ know"
Bring him out along the main
track to the motorcar shed, mid
die" Curt broke off, stared toward
the ness-haIl. Some groups were
breaking up for the night, judging
from the sounds. middle of the
yards. Got that? Enough for now.
Get back to your room, I'll see you
later"
Curt returned to his bungalow,
Collins disappeared into the night.
Outside the mess-hal Emilio was
having a few last words with his
erstwhile partners before heading
for the engineering bungalow. Curt
had barely time to climb in, hook
he
his clothes over chair as they
had been earlier, and stretch out
under the mosquito bar. He'd have
to leave the magazine against the
door and hope that Emilio would
give it no thought, or at worst sup
pose a freak burst of wind had
knocked it to the floor.
He heard Emilio tumble at the
lock, the slight scrape of the maya
zone as the door pushed it back over
the floor. A shadow blocked out the
light at his bedroom door. He SIM
ulated deep breathing and closed
his Eds until he could see only
through his lashes.
Emilio looked and listened, then
Withdrew. Presently the porch light
snapped off, the front door clicked
shut, and Curt heard the mans
steps headed for the bachelor quar-
tiers. They sounded sharp on the
asphalt walk.
The luminous dial of his watch
told Curt it was 11:30. Later than
he'd thought. He lay relaxed for
a few minutes, but dared not close
his eyes, afraid he would fall asleep
after his full day.
Soon he got up, dressed again,
this time taking his hat, and let
himself out the front way. He rec
onnoitered carefully. The lights that
lined the walks of the village were
on, would be all night. A light
burned at the rear of the mess
hall, the rest of the building was
now dark. The few lights still show
ing in various living-quarters were
being doused one by one. The Co.
mandancia remained lighted, but
there would be no patrolman on the
walks of Tempujo.
Avoiding the street lamps, Curt
made his way to the rendezvous
and waited impatiently until at last
two figures, little darker than the
background itself, came toward him.
He recognized Monahan's stride.
"Gsod man, Stats" he said when
they were close enough. "This will
do ysu out of your sleep, but it
can't be helped. Get yourself a
cudgel and keep alert. Collins and
I win be gone three or four hours.
We mustn't be longer, for the
placeH be stirring to life soon after
that. Hang out at my bungalow,
Stats. Anyone starts shopping
around, conk him. Tie him up, only
don't let anyone find out I'm miss
ing, and don't be recognized your
self. Got me?"
"Gst yuh."
''H we knew any way to protect
Collins from being missed, I'd take
if. But there are too many under
the sne roof at his lodging. Any
way, he's only solo here. If he
becomes suspected, he can skip. I've
my family"
"Swe, no questions, Curt You're
on the trail of what killed Mitch.
That's enough for me. All I can
say is, be careful. Reckon you know
what you're doing"
Thanks, Stats. Let's go, Collins,
we oan talk on the way"
The motorcar shed was an open
front building with three short
tracks. His own car was headed out,
fortunately the first car on its track.
Curt remembered the speedometer
and disconnected it. There must be