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Show 3 Meat H Loaf By Richard Hill Wilkinson QHERIFF FELIX BRENDLING-5 BRENDLING-5 ER was just about to sit down to his supper when the telephone rang. He looked at the instrument ruefully. Before him was a heaping heap-ing plate of meat loaf, fried potatoes pota-toes and fresh green peas. Felix sighed, glanced across at Elvira, then moved to the wall phone. "Hello," he said. "This is Chris Verne out at the Rowland camp." I came low and 3 -Minute excited voice. r:.i:.. "Someone's just Flctl0n broken into the ' front room. I'm hidine in the library, but I may need help." It was five miles to the Rowland camp by way of the river road. Felix made it in eight minutes, despite the ancient vintage of his rattley car. Chris Verne came down the steps to meet him. "Too late. Sheriff. He got away. We had quite a tussle, but he whac ked me on the melon mel-on and I was out like a light for three or four minutes." The tall, rangy caretaker gingerly felt of a bump on his head. "Get away with anything?" Felix asked. "Don't know yet. I was looking when you drove up. Come on In and we'll see." The caretaker went directly to the safe behind the fireplace. "Hell!" he ejaculated. "Well. I can kiss this job goodbye. Rowland will never keep me on when he finds out those bonds are gone." "Bonds?" "He was up here over the weekend. week-end. He had a lot of negotiable bonds and left them in the safe. Figured this would be the last place anyone would look. Well, he figured wrong." "Did you get a look at the thief?" "Not much of one. It was dark. I was in the kitchen getting myself some supper, when I heard a noise in front. I switched on the light and listened. It sounded like someone some-one was trying to pick the front door lock. Thinking of the bonds, I sneaked into the library. It was inky dark. I hastily dialed you, then went groping for the rifle Rowland keeps behind the safe. It was right then something hit me on the head. mtjUMM," Felix stood in the center of the floor and looked around the room. The dial telephone was on the desk, with the receiver dangling on its cord. "Chris, mind callin' Elvira an' telling her I'll be home shortly an' to keep my supper hot? I left it in a hurry. Meantime I'll take a look around here." Chris shot a quick, sharp look at the officer, but Felix had already begun to browse around. So the caretaker crossed to the desk, picked up the receiver and began to dial. He had whirled out two Chris shot a quick, sharp look at the officer, but Felix already had begun to browse around. numbers, when suddenly the lights went out. "Hey!" Chris yelled, startled. "Who did that?" "Keep right on dialing, Chris," Felix said from the doorway. "Fuse musta blown." "Don't be dumb. I can't dial in the dark." "Try it," Felix insisted. "Are you crazy? I can't see a thing." "Good!" said Felix. He snapped on the lights. In his hand he held the old time long barrelled six-shooter that had served him during his many years as law officer. "All right Chris, nemmine dialing any more." "Say, what is this?" The caretaker care-taker replaced the receiver on its hook slowly. "We'll talk about it later, Chris, an' look around for the bonds. Iri the meantime, you come with me. You can spend the night in the lockup lock-up an', by jinks, without no supper too. That's what you git for makin' me let mine go cold." Chris blinked. "What the devil are you talking about?" "Come, come, Chris. Plav actin' ain't gonna do you any good. I got a hunch it was you stole them oonds. and busted the lock on the front door, too. At any rate, you d.ant hastily d.al my number in Uie dark, like you said. You just settled your own hash by proving 't cant be done. An' speakin' of fash, come along. |