The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1942-03-26
BY EIIery Queen

L
loved the woman who had be-
trayed him.
won't you come down with
the rest of my party tonight?''
the broker said. "We're all going
out to my place in West Engle-
wood-I've arranged a little cele-
bration-if you don't care to stay
for the weekend I'll make any
further arrangements you may
please to command. Brooks is
staying the night, and we can
accommodate you as well as him
with linen :" He AIDED in quite
another tone: Tomorrow morn
ing we can have to ourselves. And
then I will tell you - what by
some magical quality of intuition
you expected me to tell you to-
night"
Lane placed his hand lightly
on the small mans shoulder. 81
quite understand. Forget every
thing-until tomorrow morning"
At at few minutes after mid
night the Dewitt party entered
the West Shore Railroad terminus
in Weehawken.
"Well, our train dosen't leave
until 1913" he said cheerfully,
and stepped to the ticket-window.
Ahearn grasped DeWitt's arm.
"Here, John, let me-" Dewitt
chuckled, and said to the clerk:
"Six single-trip tickets to West
Englewood, please"
"There are seven of us, John, -
protested Ahearn.
ct know, but I have fifty-trip
book" Then he said dryly: II sup
pose should sue the State for
the value of my old trip-book. 1t
expired while I was" He stop
ped and added abruptly: LET me
have a new fifty-book, too"
| Dewitt tucked the six single
tickets and the trip-book into the
upper left pocket of his vest as
he and his party walked down
the long concrete platform. The
/ last car was dark, and they board
ed the second car from the end.
They split into two groups:
Jeanne, Lord and Imperiale sat
well forward in the coach, chat
tering; Dewitt, Lane, Brooks and
Ahearn took places nearer the
center, in facing seats.
A tall burly man, hat pulled
low over his eyes, face white and
pinched, had entered the car from
the forward end. He lurched over
to the four conversing men and
glowered at Dewitt.
Lane glanced up as Brooks said,
''Your're drunk, Collins. What do
you, want?"
"Not talking to you, shyster, J"
said Collins in a thick voice. His
eyes focused with difficulty on
Dewitt, like to see you alone" He
pushed his hat back on his head,
endeavoring to smile.
"Now look here, Collins" said
Dewitt. 'Tve told you repeated
! ly I can't do anything for you.
You know why, and you're max
ing yourself very disagreeable.
Can't you see that you're inter-
rupting a private party?"
Collins red-rimmed eyes be-
came teary. Listen, Dewitt" he
muttered, you've got to let me
talk to you. It's - it's life or
death"
Dewitt rose with a sigh, excus-
ed himself; and the two men, De-
Witt with bent head, Collins
speaking rapidly, violently, ges-
ticulating, pleading, peering into
DeWitt's averted face - walked
toward the rear of the car. De-
Witt suddenly left Collins and re-
turned to his three companions.
The broker put his hand into
his upper left vest-pocket, took
out the six single tickets, leaving
the new train-book in the pocket,
and gave them to Ahearn. 'Here
you are, I don't know how long
this pest will take. Conductor
will get me later"
Dewitt retraced his steps to
where Collins stood in an attitude
of detection. They passed through
the doorway to the rear platform,
where indistinctly visible for a
I moment, then the three men saw
them cross over to stand on the
front platform of the last, dim
car, passing from view.
At this moment the conductor
! entered from the forward door,