Show rNE CORNER FOLLOW THROUGH Y I B Bf By HAL AND SHOULD you encounter this man exercise care Hes He's es e's dangerous Any further news new that comes cornea In will Jerry Anderson snapped off oU the radio Hed He'd heard the particulars of the brutal strangulation of Mrs Prescott and the description of the suspect several times this eve eve- ning RIng After that wordy unlovely portrait of the man he felt that even he would recognize him if he ever contacted him but he hoped that he Jerry was no coward but After Jerrys Jerry's recent discharge from the hospital he decided that he wanted to live out at the cottage cottage cot cot- tage while making his plans for forthe forthe forthe the future His family objected not without cause and It wasn't until old Doc Crowder the family friend and physician convinced them that it would be a good thing for Jerry to do under the circumstances that they finally yielded to his wishes Jerry had spent every summer of his life there until his enlistment and he loved the old place So when his mother and Lucy reluctantly left him this afternoon afternoon afternoon after after- noon he was glad Not that he did hot not appreciate the things which they had been doing for him buthe buthe but buthe he wanted to be on his own He had bad plans to make and this change and the quiet that he would have would be perfect He had tried during his month at home to apply his own self reasoning method but to little avail He felt confident that it could be tested properly by facing his problems Independently Jerry sat near the window for quite some time trying to make a start at some of that self reasoning but his mind kept reverting reverting re re- reverting to the broadcast he had heard beard earlier If the woman only had had a gun he thought She probably would have been afraid to use it though most women were He thought of the empty Luger in his bag and wished that he he could have tried again to get come some ammunition for it He loved that gun a gift gUt from one of his buddies who had not come back Jerry went into the bedroom and took the gun from his bag He fondled it and then slipped sUpped it into his pocket He smiled when he realized Just how foolish that was He came back to his chair and then lit his pipe He lIe had been sitting there for Just a few minutes when suddenly suddenly suddenly sud sud- denly he heard the back door being opened and then the click of the light switch He lIe sat still wondering who it could be a dozen thoughts chasing through his mind He lIe felt feU the useless gun In his pocket and took it out gripping it firmly Now if ever he could test himself on several of ot the things which he had learned during his tation In less than a minute it seemed he heard the ice-box ice door being opened and a low chuckle come from the intruder Then he heard things being put on the table He knew that whoever was in the kitchen seemed sure of himself He must know he thought that even ven with the whole house lighted it was practically impossible to see in from any side The minutes dragged while he listened to the man eating and drinking hg From the noise he was making slamming the ice-box ice door and moving his chair the man undoubtedly thought that he was alone Perhaps he had seen Luc Lucy and nd her mother leave hours before and had waited for darkness to come After what had seemed an hour he heard the man get up from the table and walk toward the hall hail hallwhich hallwhich which led into the living room Jerry knew that his safety depended depended depended de de- de- de upon what he would be beable beable beable able to do within the next few minutes It wasn't a very pleasant pleasant pleasant pleas pleas- ant spot to be in but He thought of the broadcasters broadcaster's remark that the killer had not used a car and that it was suspected suspected suspected sus sus- that he was making a getaway getaway getaway get get- away by the county roads back-roads and woods This could be the man For as long as he could remember no ordinary tramp had ever stray- stray r I I ky t I Jerry knew that his safety depended upon apon what he be would be able to todo todo I do within the next few minutes ed so far away from the main highway He must have come upon the house by accident When Then Jerry heard beard a hand movIng moving ing lag along the wall wan groping for tor a switch light-switch he stood up anI and pointed the gun toward the door Then it happened the happened the living room light was snapped on He De beard heard a hoarse cry of surprise The mans man's breathing was heavy as he stood motionless facing the gun He had a fear that Jerry could sense was genuine Get em up I Who are you and what do you want Jerry was an officer in the infantry again as he made the demand The man was shaking when he spoke Youre a cool one brother Put the gun down please before you hurt somebody He took a astep astep a. a step forward and Jerry raised the gun and moved it slightly from side to side Looking toward the theman theman theman man Jerry was not sure of what he should do next Then all the admonitions of his tea teachers hers came back to him SHOW NO FEAR FEAR- THINK FAST SPEAK FAST SPEAK WITH CONVICTION CONVICTION CONVICTION CON- CON REASON FOLLOW THROUGH Sit down in that chair Jerry roared surprised at his loud voice This gave him a bit of confidence Then he thought of his next move A nut the man ventured half under his breath and he obeyed He kept his eyes on the gun as though hypnotized by it Shut up and sit still Youre a smart The man glanced away from the gun just long enough to see if there was anything near that he could grab Wot you going to do Let me go I aint done nothing but eat some of your grub Honest mister Ill I'll get out of here hert quick if you'll you'll ou put that gun down This was the th voice of a frightened man but not the voice or true dialect of a hobo Jerry relaxed and the man in the chair moved This was the time to follow through if U he was ever going to do it ft Get up and do exactly as 81 I Itell Itell Itell tell you he commanded The man cringed but rose slowly his eyes still on the gun He hated guns he was afraid of guns and he knew now that this man knew it too If he could only knock it to the floor Keep your hands high get to that telephone beside the door and do as I tell you An Any monkey- monkey business The man advanced toward the thedoor thedoor thedoor door and the telephone without looking from right to left Jerry moved to his side as he passed him lie He could feel the mans man's body tremble as though he were having a chill chiU when he be touched him with ith the gun Now put your left hand on the receiver lift lilt it off the hook and put it to your ear When the op operator answers tell her to connect connect con con- nest you with the Helm road district district dis- dis police When the they answer tell ell them to come immediately to the he Anderson cottage off Helm road The man lowered his Ws arm slowly and took the receiver off oU the hook Hed He'd stall he thought maybe the nut would give him an in But hearing tearing the sound of regular breathing and feeling the pressure of the gun against his back any illusions that he might have had regarding an n in were shattered Operator the Helm road police station His voice quavered quaver quaver- ed and his hand was shaking He couldn't keep the receiver close to his ear The man was conscious of or the gun at his back and he spoke ina ini in a i deep hoarse whisper Come to the Anderson cottage off oU Helm road right away up Jerry heard the officer ask Tell him he snapped at the tha theman man Ive got the man youve you've been looking for Jerry heard the quick break of the connection at the police sta sta- tion VISUALIZE CHANCE IT FOLLOW DO DO FOLLOW THROUGH He had the answer Drop that receiver and get your left arm up he hesitated then ordered his prisoner to go goback goback goback back to the same chair and sit down The killer had a dogged smirk on his face as he be turned and moved toward the chair lie Ue felt positive that his captor was wasa a nut and with that gun Seconds passed as he continued to glare at Jerry Then he thought of an old trick that he would try in order to get Jerry off oU guard He wondered why he had not tried it when he first came into the room Stiffening himself and settling back in the chair he broke the silence with a tirade of oaths Keep it up and keep them up too Jerry ordered This was not the reaction that the killer and hoped for He then quieted and began to talk more coherently and soon was telling o of the crime for which he was being being beIng be be- ing hunted He lie spared none of the details Then Jerry heard the purr of ofa ofa ofa a motor and mens men's voices A slight wave of relief swept over him Almost Immediately there was a sound of crackling shrubbery shrubbery shrub shrub- bery and running feet The front door opened and two officers with guns gums drawn rushed In They saw their man and covered him Good work Mr Anderson good work When hen the officers yanked I man to his feet and they had started started started start start- ed for the door one of them said to the prisoner Youre lucky to have had this extra living time him spotting you and with everybody everybody everybody every every- body in the county ready and willing willing willing will will- ing to shoot you on sight The prisoner did not comment but he scowled and was shaking and snorting with anger The gun was not loaded officer of facer and I could recognize him only from his story you see I am blind Jerry said softly |