Evening star., 1950-09-28
CHAPTER FOUR.


told Shayne. "I wanted chance
to talk to you where there couldn't
no one see u.s." He was a short
stocky lad, with swarthy features
and flashing white teeth.
shayne said. whats on your
mind?"
Jim Carson is my buddy" the
soldier told him. Isis he in
any real trouble about that shoot
ing last night?"
Shayne nodded slowly. Plenty v
How can you call it murder?
Jim had a right to shoot him. II
was his duty"
That's the way it looks at first
glance. But I'm pretty sure the
man was 1ured here just to get
shot"
In that case" said Murtry dog
gedly, there's something got to
tell you"
Shayne tipped his hat back and
waited.
"I amt snitcher. That's why
I hope you won't tell no one who
told you-why I didn't want to be
seen talking to you."
The soldier drew in a long
breath. Something I heard last
night. Dave Laski was trying to
get Jim to swap posts with him.
Dave was on Number One"
Il thought that was against reg
ulations."
ut is. That's why I didn't say
nothing before. And Jim Carson
wouldn't tell-not till hell froze
over. He offered Jim five bucks
to trade off,"
Did he say why?"
"N-no. But I guess Jim knew
all right. You see, some Of the
boys-sometimes when they're on
that post at night-they have one
Of the girls come out from the
Lido"
While they're on duty?"
"Sure. I know it sounds bad,
but we never get off the post. It's
like we were in jail"
This LaSki. Is he one of them
that makes habit of having girls
visit him while he's on guard?"
We'll, he's one of them, guess
The way they work it, see, is the
guard on Number Two, he let's the
girl in"
wait minute" Shayne inter-
rupted. How does he get the
gate unlocked?" ''
"They've-got an extra key tc
it. They keep it hid there unde,
a rock by the gate"
How many men know about
the extra key?"
II guess we all do. All except
some Of the non-coms that suck
around after the Old Man"
Shayne nodded slowly. E'What's
your opinion?" he asked abruptly.
What about?" ~3~A@
Laski..&.And 5 the dead man.
Was Laski playing around with
the dead mans wife?" ~
Il don't know. I-swear don't.
go to the Lido with Jim some
times, but not much. just
thought maybe you ought to know
about Dave Laski trying to get
on number two last night. And
knew Jim'd never tell you"
Shayne said, There's one other
thing. You said some of the boys
phoned the Lido asking a girl to
come out. Can you get to a phone
while you're on guard duty?"
We'll. yeh. There's a booth in
the PIX"
Shayne said, Thanks. If I use
your information I won't tell
where I got it,"
Michael Shayne lounged back
in a chair and listened while Cap
tain OFT interrogated Private Dave
Laski. Laski was tall and wiry
with smooth features and curly
black hair.
He said, Sure, I know Laura
all right. I know 'em all at the
Lido. But I never fooled witt
Laura much"
How well did you know hel
husband?"
USED to see him around. HI
was always glaring at some SOL
dier he thought was dancing tot
close with Laura"
Ever have any trouble with hin
that way?" OFT asked sharply.
mot me-" A complacent smile
curved Laski's lips
{ "Who did you talk to at the
Lido last night?"
ME? I was on guard, sir"
"On the telephone.
Il didn't phone the Lido las
night"
There was a call from the pay
booth in the PIX at mess-time
Who did you talk to, Laski?"
"It wasn't me, sir"
"I think it was" Captain Ott''
voice was harsh. IT think yol
called Moore and arranged to meet
him at that gate on the 2-to-4
hitch. expecting to make a trade
with Carson. Later, when Carson
refused, you couldn't get to the
phone to call it off. AS a result
Moore walked right into death.
trap"
Laski shook his head stubborn
1y. "It wasn't me that called.
swear it wasn't, sir. If you ask
me, think it was Jim Carson.
OFT didn't tell him it wasn't
Carson who had blabbed. He de-
manded. What makes you think
it was Carson?"
HE went into the PIX on his
way back from mess. And I saw
him cumming up with that Dinky
Moore at the Lido a couple OF
weeks ago."
THAT seems to indicate that
Carson hadn't been too friendly
with Laura Moore"
Il wouldn't be too sure about