| Show VANISHING LADY im 88 by THAYER WALDO V associated newspapers service SLIPPED th the e porter a five spot I 1 and told him here now keep it quiet understand der stand he beamed all over and backed away bowing Yas suh suli ali ah sho do thank you suh when I 1 looked out the window again we were 3 just st pulling into the station at san beddoo there were a couple of dozen people standing around on the platform all men two of them came toward the train together the taller one wore a gray flannel suit and no hat his hair was black the second had on buff trousers brown coat and a floppy brimmed panama the conductor was standing by the steps of the carl car I 1 was on the two men came up and spoke to him he nodded jerked a thumb toward his car and led them aboard I 1 lit a mentholated cigarette then strolled up to the front vestibule san beddoo was a 15 minute stop but I 1 had no desire to get off the big thermometer by the depot door stood at I 1 heard someone coming behind me and looked around it was the conductor his face screwed up with worry he scrambled down the steps took a sort of aimless look around and mounted them again I 1 asked something wrong doc yeah plenty he wiped his neck with a blue bandanna then glanced at me sharply say I 1 seen you talking to her that lady in drawing room B miss buelah hogarth bogart I 1 corrected him what about her disappeared rooms empty and I 1 cant find her nowhere on board those men who just got on are from come some movie studio where ashes going supposed to meet her here and take her off the train at pasadena sure funny become of her I 1 thought it over for a second and told him yeah lets go talk to them the door with the gilt B on it stood half open inside the two men were asking the porter questions his eyes showed a lot of white and his head kept shaking sideways we went in and the conductor said heres a gent who knows her the black haired man faced me asking friend of hers no I 1 answered answered we just met when I 1 got on at tucson well were from zenith studios the short one said ashes under contract there and we I 1 broke in with uh huh the conductor told me about it turning to him I 1 added listen you go through the train again while I 1 hop out and have a look through the station she might ve gotten off for something the porter gud suddenly denly quavered oh lawsy boesl as I 1 grabbed his arm and pulled him outside saying never mind george you just come help me when we got up front I 1 punched him in the ribs and ordered now shut your trap and stay away from there then I 1 jumped off and ran into the depot the western union desk was on my right by the time id finished my message and tossed the girl a bill the train was moving again I 1 sprinted out and just caught the club cars front stairs the conductor was coming from the observation porch when I 1 only shrugged gloom settled deeper on his face we returned to the other car without speaking the two men were still in draw ing room B they looked pretty hot and bothered the tall one began shooting questions at me when did you see miss bogart last 1 I had lunch with her at twelve thirty did she mention anything about getting off no she said the heat tired her and she wanted to lie down and you seen her since then the porter went by outside with a cup of water he was walking fast and spilling some of it he look in suddenly the man in the panama jumped up snapping that acts darned queer the matter with him he stepped toward the aisle I 1 tried to block him but he pushed past the next instant he was run I 1 ning up the car shouting hey you double crossing black crook leave that hopeni I 1 ran out in time to see him knock the porter away from the drawing ro room 0 m at the far end and fling its door wide beulah bogart stood there in cherry colored lounging pajamas the conductor whirled on me crying why your this mean mister just then the trains brakes slammed on I 1 lost balance and sprawled into a seat the man with black hair fell on top of me when I 1 rose his hia face was tense and white we stopping here for he yelled reaching toward his hip I 1 hit him below the eye with my fist and he slid to the floor then I 1 heard the other one screaming and cursing up front I 1 spun around and saw two big men in felt sombreros sombre ros grappling him when they got the handcuffs on I 1 called down here for number two boys while mile one of them bent over the fellow id hit the other asked me you send that wire I 1 nodded he stuck out a huge hand grinning nice work buddy we phoned pasadena and they nabbed the rest of em waiting in a car there they all belong to the toomey mob biggest snatch gang in the country they planned to hold her for fifty grand ransom over his shoulder I 1 saw beulah she was vas looking at me with the kind of smile that women save for heroes I 1 tried nonchalance and rubbed the raw knuckles of my right hand but say the man in the ten gallon hat was demanding how come you spotted the critters so quick that was right smart just gave us time to flag the train I 1 would have given plenty for a pat answer there being none I 1 told the truth well chief it was really a guess you see I 1 happen to be the guy zenith sent to meet miss bogart down in arizona so when these lads claimed the same job I 1 thought something must be a little phony the conductor col ductor came elbowing into the group he H looked very stern that part may be all right he announced but it dont explain why the lady was in your room on this train you cant A sharp smack sounded as beulahs palm struck his cheek you she stated have a most disgusting mind I 1 now run along and mind your own business |
