Evening star., 1950-10-14
CHAPTER vi.

Rodge?"
They were Donny and Rodge to
each other now.
mo. come on in"
The door opened and Blake
leaned in at an angle, from the
waist up. Fellow I used to know,
guy named Bill Harkness. just
dropped in to the room. Haven't
seen him in years. Thought maybe
you'd like to join us in a little
three-handed game, what d'ya
say?"
"Only for half an hour or so"
Rogers answered.
Blake withdrew, leaving the door
ajar to speed Rogers on his way
in to them. And soon they were
sitting at the table in Donny's
room. This Harkness struck Rog-
ers as being in some shady line Of
business. But he shook hands
with him without demur.
Blake trotted out that same
worn theme he was so fond of
harping on. "Harkness don't
wanna believe you used to be a
dick. Tell him yourself"
Don't you ever get tired of
that?" was all Rogers grunted.
The game wore on desultorily
and so did the night. Harkness
had a f1dgety habit of pulling at
one of his coat sleeves.
IT thought they quit hiding
them up there years ago." Blake
finally remarked with a grin.
mo, there's busted button on
my sleeve, and it keeps hooking
onto everything every time I reach
my arm out"
Only half of it was left, adher-
ing to the thread. sharp pointed
and annoying as only such trivial
things are apt to be. why don't
you take the coat OFF," Blake
suggested.
Hardness did. and draped it
over the back of his chair.
Rogers original half hour was
gone long ago. 1t had quadrupled
itself by now. Finally the game
wore out of it's own momentum.
They sat there. half comatose
around the table a minute or two
| longer, Hardness was the first to
speak. Look! It's l o'clock
Guess I'll shove off," He stood ur
and got back into his coat. Their
he felt his rumpled hair. Got 8
comb"
Blake said: I'm that top draw.
er over there"
The drawer slid out. And Hark.
ness found Blake's gun, had taker
it out and was looking it over
Amt you afraid of him knowing
you've got this?" he grinned.
Jaw, he knows I'm licensed fol
it." Then he added sharply, Quit
monkeying with it."
"Okay. okay." Harkness con.
sented urbanely. He laid it dowr
on the bureau scarf. reached fol
the comb instead. The scarf gave
a hitch along it's entire length, ane
the gun slid off into space.
Harkness made a quick stabbine
dive for it. tried to catch it before
it hit the floor. He made it, or
the drop, in mid-air. in the rela-
lively short distance between
bureau-top and floor. But he
caught it in the wrong place. A
spark jumped out of his hand ane
there was heavy-throated boom
He remained frozen just as he'c
grabbed for it.
Rogers was seated at the table
staring across it. Blake continued
to clutch the cards while his heac
slowly came around. Rogers hac
been a witness to what had hap.
pened; Blake had even missed
seeing that.
Harkness folded slowly over
until his face was resting on the
floor. while he remained archec
upward in the middle like a Gro.
quet wicket. Then he flattenec
out along there too, and made
just straight line.
Rogers jumped over to him, got
down and turned him over.
Blake was still clutching the
deck of cards.
He's gone" Rogers said, in an
odly blank voice. 1T musta got
him instantly" He Strengthened
up. observing II never saw such a
freak" Then he stopped for
the gun. what did you leave it
lying around like that for?" he
demanded irritably. Here, take
it," He thrust it at its owner,
and the latter's hand closed
around it. "A fine mess!" Don
lamented. He went over to the
door, listened. Then he even
opened it cautiously, looked out
into the hall. The shot appar-
emily hadn't been heard through
the thick walls and doors of the
venerable place. He closed it.
came back again. He took out a
handkerchief and began to mop
himself with relief. "Hey, it's a
good thing you were right in here
with the two of us, saw it for your
self. Otherwise"
Rogers kept staring at the still
figure as Blake came over and
touched him in anxious supplica-
ton. "Hey. Rodge, maybe you
better be the one to report it,"
"All right, I'll handle it." Rogers
said with sudden new-found in
cisiveness. Lets have the gum"
.utions