Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-04-09
SHERIFF DROPS BY


heart pounding when he entered
his room. Had she been there ?
His sharp eyes took in every
thing. Not a thing was touched.
He had fixed the closet door SC
he'd know if it were opened in
/ his absence. He had placed every
thing so he could check whether
anybody had been in the room.
1t was apparent that Granny
Meaker had not even opened the
door and he breathed a trifle
easier. He'd never been so jumpy
before. Must be in the air in
this joint" he thought bitterly
The growing convictiQn~that some
thing was going TO trip thdm up
bothered him. n ~
| but as soon as HE got down
stairs he was assured of his mis-
take. For Grsfhy Meaker and a
long, thin-faqed man sat in oppo-
site rockers in the kitchen.
This IL Sheriff Nate CO.
barth. from Somerville way"
the old woman announced 10
him. Mates kin, sorta. Drops
In now and ag'in. This here's
my boarder. Nate. City feller
here for a rest"
NO FUNNY STUFF
Coharth scarcely looked at him
The Duke drew up a chair and
prepared himself for 2 boring ses-
sion with these two old fools. They
were chatting about somebody
he'd never heard of.
"YOu know Eben - Annie's
boy. A-working over to the
ROseyale plant. Leastways, he
wuZ. He's In a pack o. trouble,
Nate"
Cobarth made ciucking noises
with his tongue against his cheek
The old lady prattled on and on
The Duke scarcely listened.
1t was his job to keep her ir
sight. be sure she didn't pull any
funny stuff. What funny stuff
could she pull. anyway-especially
with this tinhorn sheriff.
Apparently this notorious Eben
was smoking too many cigarets,
he gathered from the rather
scrambled conversation. And he
seemed to be hanging around not
doing anything. Screwy. that's
what II was. The Duke was sud-
denly anxious to have the whole
business over with.
! KNOCK AT THE DOOR
The knock at the door inter-
rupted them. Cobarth hooked his
foot around the edge of the door
and opened it without getting up.
"Are you Granny Meaker?" That
was Smiuey.
His presence here meant that the
men had left the plant and were
on their way to the bank to pick
lup the pay roll. Duke regarded
him as blankly as he would look
at stranger.
"COme I'm, son, come In" CO.
barth growled. This 'ere's Miz
Meaker. You want q room?"
"Well a Teller down to the
plant sent me here. You know
him: Stu Lane:"
"Stu-well i guess / do know
him. JiggIed him on my knee
when he was n baby. l did,
Granny Meaker chuckled. Reg
lar young devil he was, too. He'll
be along. presently"
Something tickled in Dukes
mind. Stu. bringing the pay roll,
must be pauSing here, where the
Sheriff waited.
"Is he n relative OF yoursc"
Duke asked, rising to his feet.
This had all been rehearsed
often. He would drift upstairs
casually, while Smiley would re-
main in the kitchen. Then they
would both await the arrival of
the money. There was never any
argument about getting it.
Carefully. he took the safety off
the automatic. and slipped 1t in
his shoulder holster. He looked
laround to see il he was leaving
any hint as TO his identity behind
him. The clothes were props-and
bore no telltale mark.
He returned to the kitchen.
glanced Fat the clock on the shelf
above the sink. The Boss would
be at the station, waiting for them.
A high-powercd car not far away
"a quick run for it.
1t would be morning before any
body knew about the pay roll any
way, for what is more innocent
than a couple of men sauntering
toward the depot OF town in the
early evening?
Nat Cobarth hadn't changed his
position since the Duke left the
room. while Granny Meaker was
busting about starting to get sup
per.
SPEEDY ROUNDUP
you'll wash first," she told
them-pointing TO a troughlike
affair on the back porch. She
stood over them, and so stern
were her eyes that Smiley and
the Duke bent down obdiently.
"Okay, Granny" they heard
Cobarth say lazily. "And You
boys kin relax now" Dukes head
was in the water-Granny'S
strong. work-scarred hand firmly
holding on 10 his neck. h..
He could feel Cobarth removing
his gun.
| "Sure Is funny spot 10 tote