Show The Men on Oil tIle the Dead Mans Man's Chest by Clifford Raymond v Raymondv ryU u B Copyright C Tho Th B ll kt-ll Co C CHAPTER Continued XI-Continued XI Continued 12 12 You Toa and Buck were not living In Chicago Oh my lord no In n New York We IVe knew Dunn was here It was wasBuck's wasBuck's Ducks Bucks excuse that he lie had bad to see some men here bere and then hen wed we'd go goto goto goto to MiamI He lle knew v Drown Brown fished and hunted from the Lac Vieux Des Des- Desert ert lodge The other three were In Eu En Europe ropel rope They were not They had been but they had come back to NewYork New NewYork NewYork York That's what started thE panic n In September Lord no Back Dack In ID August Im too credulous said the lieu lieutenant tenant Im Im childlike Maybe said the Indy lady Anyone Any one who believed any of them except Dunn on anything would be Buck had me completely deceived In com com- coming comIng coming ing out here bere You can see plaInly afterward but I l didn't know then that the tho ho panic was on Dunn of course didn't know that It was but the others were always afraid of hIm I suppose the plot In theIr mInds was this this-it this If Dunn Clayton saw that It was winners take all alland alland and for the losers they were all gone Blair and Ashley must bare e had the same Idea Iden They fol followed lowed us out ere tere We weren't hard to find We were registered at nt the Sherman What was the night Dunn was killed Saturday wasn't It September 29 20 said the lieuten lieutenant ant Well call It Saturday or Sunday mornIng It was as about one o'clock when the telephone In my room rang and t was Blair culling calling lie He asked If It he could come up I saId certainly Lot ne lie said It was im- im important Im Important Id I'd better see him at nt the thedoor thedoor door an anyway ay It was about Dunn he said Something scared me You know how a n quality gets Into the voice I 1 told him to come up When I opened the door he stood In the hall and said that Dunn had been killed In the Dutch Mill He lie didn't need then to tell me Buck Duck had been there He lIe said Buck had hall been held by the police for a while and then had gone away awny where I 1 was taking a hand without knowing what I I was doing said the lieutenant Well WellI I guess It didn't make male much differ difference once ence except mix the sequences a 11 little c Blair said that Buck Duck had killed Dunn and wanted to know where he had gone Hed He'd made n 0 getaway Blair said and he wanted to know where I was to Join Buck Duck Well bell W II he had killed Dunn I 1 didn't know th then n that what Dunn thought was a aletter aletter aletter letter from me had brought hIm there I guess that wasn't necessary sary nary Blair was looking eagerly atme ot at atme me I 1 didn't really know If It Duck Buck had Buck had gone anywhere but I thought of Preston Brown at Lac Lae Vieux Des Des- Desert Desert ert Try Lac Vieux Desert I told hIm Browns Brown's there I 1 said and ond Buck may go there what 1 wanted to tell you she continued You may ha have e known something of ot It but I l sent Blair to Lac Vieux Desert and ond I 1 wanted him If he be could to kill Buck nuck I 1 didn't know v that he would find him If It the panic was on I knew the one I wanted killed aft after r what had happened at the Dutch You'll ask Ilsk why Im I'm telling this now That's what youre you're thinking Not primarily said Stanton I 7 1 wouldn't ask you because Id I'd be fairly sure you would tell without being asked In my way I 1 do a lot lotof lotof of guessing My guess would be b e that Blair succeeded Trembly with you and that he has tried to break with you I suppose that would be simple to understand she said bitterly and I guess you are right I sat sal satIn salIn satin In the hotel botel looking at myself nn there wasn't much to see Not ex- ex ex exactly broke but the next thing t tit to o It it Buck on his way alive or dead so far tar as IlS I was concerned I ce r never would live lI with a man ma n after I had put a killer on his track Im I'm m not that low Dunn was dead My prospects weren't cheery came back Ue lIe looked like a n pal t to tome 0 me 1 l was that despondent Theres There's n a great deal of attraction about Blair For some women hes he's IrresIstible Ive Ite got some self control maybelie maybe lIe has tins manners when he wants to t tuse o use deadlie them lie said Brown was dead lIe smiled when I I asked him abou I Duck Buck You know Bucks Buck's Buck finish I went treat ent with Blair We went ent hack bad k to New York 1 I thought maybe the th e panIc would be over There Wa was s only Roberts Ashley and aud Blair left t Roberts wouldn't hurt anyone Ash ley Ashley and Blair seemed to like end each h other The three of them had sixty y thousand each That was too much muc h for Blair and nud Ashley it gave gawe them the ro what they needed but didn't gl e e them an anything to do They neede d to get It by going after It If That's That g their nature There never ne wa was s action In gambling for then them not enough to Interest them for an p antime time Ashley occasionally liked to t o stow store how the professionals a few tricks but It didn't satisfy him When the stories of ot the Turner will and ot of C 01 layton ton Buck sad aid Brown were prInted It aroused amused them but I be believe lieve lIere It set them otter after Roberts Roberts and they knew I guess If It they got him they'd have base to fight It out between themselves t As you know v 1 I am nm getting even eren with Blair Ive I've told you what I k now You have nothing on Ashley but maybe mabe you can get something on I I sent him to Lac Vieux You know what happened up there Im afraid theres there's still no case ense sold Stanton We know the story but theres there's no proof law law- lawers lawyers y ers would laugh at nt us us as Cut But theres there's Roberts Now If hes he's dead how was It done There may be some some- something something thing Ill know tonight she said It If you want me to Ill I'll II plant Ashley where you can hear the story he tells Thanks said the lieutenant that wont won't be necessary The telephone rang MaIsIe looked at the lieutenant Theres no one that can possibly be but Ashley she said s She went to the the telephone Yes she said taking tho the re- re receiver receiver re receiver Yr Yos s All right Come up Shall I leave lea you Stanton a No she said Stay here Ash Ash- Ashley's Ash leys leys ley's a 0 sociable creature nell Hell be glad to find company CHAPTER XII The Th Death of Roberts RobertsA A AT T A ring of the bell MaisIe opened the door to Ashley and to a 0 boy bop with Ice water hullo sister said Ashley laugh laugh- laughing laughing ing Hows lows low's the little gIrl girl You look like n a rose In June TIme hasn't changed you hasn't a chance Ashley had entered the room and closed Iose the door when he saw that Maisie had a caller How Ilow do you do he said and then perceived that It was Lieuten Lieutenant ant Stanton his nis astonishment was only for an nn Instant his composure beIng reliable Hullo Lieutenant he said You Youvee found I see You police pollee devils lIs I Im I'm m beginning to be afraid of ot you yeti It If a fellow didn't stop right and Inside the low law I be- be believe beere be believe h lieve ere hed he'd get Into trouble And Maisie's found n a new boy friend and n o big boy bop In blue bins Ive I've always been thankful for n clear con conscience science Ills glance at her was fittingly malevolent but be lau laughed h d All rIght M I certainly walked right Into whatever er was waiting wafting for forme forme forme me me How V did you get hold of her Stanton I 1 turned myself self In toward Howard I asked the lieutenant to call caU I wanted to talk to him Fair enough I know of my own knowledge that hes he's been want vant wanting In i ing n g to talk to you e ever er since he had bad the pleasure of knowing about the rest of us Its It's If till nil right Were We're nil all clean clear and above above- aboveboard aboveboard board above board Theres There's never ne been a time the lieutenant couldn't come In and aud sit down Always been glad Ind to see hIm haven't we Lieutenant IVe e could have a drink or two try to help one another out nut talk talle things s over and part friends That's rIght Isn't It Lieutenants Lieutenant Mrs Trembly tells me Roberts Is dead said Stanton true Lieutenant Unfortunately Unfortunately Unfortunately that's true Ron non passed out In Fan FrancIsco just before berm e he was to have taken the boat Be II e hind had planned to go Into the Far East You may have known Tell me how bow he happened to dIe saId the lieutenant lie He was In excellent ex excellent e health the last time I I saw sa w him lIe He was In excellent health up op urto to the last minute said Ashley although he was fluttery You recall re re- recall call he was fluttery when you saw saw v hIm If It anything he was even en mor e fluttery In San Francisco First get this right Were We're not Implicated Gated In his death Were We're as innocent Inno- Inno Innocent innocent cent as children although you OU mIght say we cau caused ed it It In a way that could be true but there was no re- re re sp attached to us Not n a anicker i flicker nicker of suspicion There couldn't be There were witnesses who saw saw sa v everything and we were right In the th tit e clear Interesting said the th e lieutenant Of course It was understood un understood In San Francisco what ih ch the e Turner will was and ond that the three thre e of you were the surviving benefi clarles No I dont don't think It was sale sal d Ashley We lle didn't Inquire No Noone N o one mentioned It ft Very cry likely It 1 l t wasn't understood If It It had been known there hero mIght t have been more Interest In your re- re re t There might have hate been more cu Lieutenant but It t have hate changed the facts The cor cos cor- cor coroner's coroner's oner's Jury found the death acct acci dental You haven't heard the story stor y I guess Roberts fell out of a wIn dow In his hotel room Luckily for forus to r us there couldn't be any question n 3 about it It A bellboy had just brought brough t him some ginger ale and Ice I e an and was In the room The d was making his bed Ills room wa s In a 0 courtway A man was stanlI- stanlI scant Ing at nt a window across tho rho wa way p It was all nil In the open He lIe le tall fell back ward out of his window It was fuss murder said sold Stanton n What did you rou go to his room room wom for p What were you doing In San Fran n Cisco Traveling Tra said Bald ald Ashley grin grin- grinning n ning ing Theres no law late n against that alifornia C particularly encourages It Rend lead the ads In your newspapers newspapers pers We lye went vent to call on Roberts Old friend of ot ours also In Son Francisco Now Lieutenant Ill I'll II tell you something you yon wont won't believe helle the Wed We'd just about decided that pools panIc was tuns over o It t was a n pools panic It you think a fellows fellow's about to bump YOU Sou tw what do you dot do Bump him biro first If It youre you're In luck These boys bops were ere panicky But as ns I said to Blair what was the use What was It go go- going goIng ing to get gel us os Our reputations ore not too good E Even Eren en you Sou were sus suspecting 1 us You'll not d deny ny It Ill not said Stanton There you are ore Then what do you think other people were As I told It would get to the police pollee In the end and It tt wasn't worth the trouble Blair seemed to Slue give In ln Ill I'll 11 not say he was really convInced but he seemed to be We knew Roberts was at nt the and ond we knew he was wag sailing on a Japanese boat bunt that afternoon We went up to call on him to say good good- goodby good good-by by A bellboy with ginger ale was knocking at nt his door We Ve waited the boy had gone In nail ani then we opened the door and Ron non At that he gave ga a yell and backed right out of the open win window ow find and fell six pix stories The bellboy saw v It tt The maid sow Saw It IL A man across the way saw It No Nn one on could have been more Innocent After the coroners coroner's In Inquest quest we burled buried nob Roberts ns as his nearest and best friends We Ve never nc dId know nn anything about his p people ople lIe Ile never talked any An And now Dow what Stanton asked Ashley laughed Blair and I 1 are ore left he said with ninety thousand each I dont don't know Would you exactly trust Blair Lieutenant If It you had to given give n a friend advice Neither N would I I BlaIr and I 1 are good friends you understand Im I'm rather fond foud of theold the theold theold old brute but i I think Ill have ha to fix hIs clock In fact Ive I've already started to fix It Im I'm kind of sorry about Blair Ill I'll miss him but wee weve we've gone too far tar with thIs tills game gam e to stop It now That's how It Is l s LIeutenant Old man Turner certainly certainly called th them m didn't he Well WellI I hope hes he's had his fun out of It I 1 wont won't say he didn't have hn It cumin comIng g to him him- But Dut then weve we've had ours What did you fellows do to him mIster Oh you can guess about what It I Iwas t was Double-crossed Double him Ill I'll tel I you some ma time maybe time maybe he Youre You're such sucha sucha suea t a pleasant cuss LI Lieutenant ut nant that tha 1 everybody e wants to oblige you Even E Maisie here before she had ha d 1 even e seen you rou Tell you what Ill I'll II I do Mace Have dinner with an amme d me and Ill I'll do two t things Ill I'll II tel tell i you the b beginning of your story and an d show you ou the end of It What do you ou mean menn by hy that Take lake ke a chance and On find out Tn Take Ice him up Lieutenant sal d Maisie suddenly I Acc Accepted said Stanton When n and where Good scout scout Be De at nt your desk a at o'clock Ill I'll seven telephone you CHAPTER XIII Ashley Draws a Map of Peru PeruA A AT T THIRTY SEVEN the lieuten- lieuten lieutenant ant entered a West Vest side res res- restaurant restaurant In Blue Island avenue n a mile mile half or nr so from street t AShley had hind given Riven I en the street numbe r In telephoning as agreed and ha 1 1 asked d Stanton to meet him and an d Maisie there Following the stout head Waite walte r around the curve cune of ot the room he h e saw Ashle- Ashle Ashley and Maisie lal le nt at a table I dont don't know thIs Oils restaurant he said as ns he lie greeted them and sat sa t t down You should said Ashley for fo r two reasons It has the lie best foo d In town and more hoods and opera open a 1 singers than get under any other othe r one roof root It also has the best Jest fiance Banc e 2 orchestra I 1 think theres there's a coke cok e ped peddler ler works work a racket In the rea rear r You can cnn get cockle sauce aure with your you r spaghetti and with your veal eal you youcan yo yocan u can get a rent real Frascati Youre You're no not t here as a copper so you can forge forget t the hoods you OU see Most of then them n you know I told hes he he s s the head Walter waiter hIs names name's some some- something soro e thing you different different you ou were comic comIng g He lIe e was wens flattered Hell He'll ell be here In Ina I 1 a second to take tale our order hImself f In person Youre You're a n celebrated fellow fel low Stanton Mister lUster said sold the lieutenant t dont kid n copper Heres What are you yoi yo u J going to eat Stanton a sa says s 's they have falsie an am amI d I wouldn't pass that up What ore are mules Stanton asked d the woman and ADd why more than thai n 1 one even en for three They could be anything from the th thi e wa w way ay toward Howard pronounces It Its It's It s i moule Mussels They're cooked li In Ina t n a sauce or broth In their shells You Yo u dip your bread In the broth Its It's If s s delicious You'll like them 1 not ant Take Inke a chance I |