Show W IRA my drw 0 0 0 D emlea service CHAPTER VUI VM continued 14 0 he dropped to his knees and touched it sticky he flashed his light on it sniffed turpentine lie he sank down on his heels and choked back a shout of laughter he had been fooled by red paint how hao had it come here what was that dark heap beyond it overalls blue denim overalls still warm from the wearers bearers wear ers body the driver vot the car he had heard a few moments ago must have shed them before he left the garage why had he worn them mark projected and rejected explanations pla nations with lightning speed the man who had shinnied shin nied from the balcony had come from the room where the scenery was being painted the roof of the cottage on the backdrop red why the shower why the shave was it he who had removed the key from the door of the storeroom tonight but that man had disappeared via the connecting door presumably into lookout house he flashed a dim light over the white cover more red A clumsy X make X on cover when the words on the scrap of paper in the storeroom were explained X marks the spot where the body was found the sentence flashed into marks mind as if set in electric lights body jed was missing perhaps his body had been dumped inside the limousine he set his heel on the thought he would imagine a horror like that that infernal cross probably meant nothing but hed take a look see so that he ask himself later why I 1 soundlessly he reached the other side of the limousine the disarranged cover which left the door exposed revealed also a license plate all set to go ic z fla flashed his light inside something lo 10 long ng something rounded on the benr re r seat was covered with an automobile ruto mobile robe dread paralyzed marks hand for what seemed to him hours then with a muttered imprecation he thru thrust it under the robe the silver nothing but the silver that X on the white cover was a sign that it had been moved from his house who had moved it that was easy it had been removed while he and jed had been at the Rey burns by the amz who had driven away sure of plenty of time he had stopped for a shower and shave moving the loot to the garage had been his share of the job would a pa paa appear to drive the stuff off he will and here he i is s mark muttered as the frosty gravel outside the garage crunched faintly A key in the lock not a minute to waste where should he go inside brookes town car the breaks were with him it locked the garage door was sliding back mark saw a patch of sky he banged his forehead as he plunged headfirst into the sedan and saw a million stars his head spun as he crouched in the space left by the turned back seat and drew the door shut without latching it he held it in place as barely breathing he listened footsteps on the cement floor C cautious footsteps A light on the ceiling ceil ing suppose it should flash into the town cai it had stopped whoever it was was taking his time an engine turning overt overl was some darn fool starting a car with the garage door closed mark raised his head turtle fashion no the door was open he might have known it was it likely that the bandit would allow himself to be bumped off by carbon monoxide not that bad boy he had too much at stake ile he must follow how he trail in another car he would be heard could he hang on to the empty trunk rack that was an idea he would follow the limousine out of the garage slip into the shadow of a shoua when the man went back to close the door then grab the trunk rack when the car started again A stunt but hed make a tab at it if he acre to hold the man now he would learn rio nothing thing of his destination he cautiously tiptoed after the limousine he was sate safe behind the shrubs when the driver returned and noiselessly closed the garage door A soft hat was drawn low over his eyes but mark knew him henri lie he was behind the wheel again the limousine was coasting down the incline mark crouched as he 6 ran after lt it As the engine started he drew himself carefully to the trunk ahti rack he bate barely breathed had the driver felt a jar evidently not he was increasing speed he was not headed for the causeway he was going in 1 the opposite direction what did that mean af after ter spinning past old landmarks t the he car slowed down and stopped mark saw the white cottage the filling station he must not be seen here surely the driver would make contact with someone inside before he left the limousine henri henn stepped out of the car he stopped as if to make sure he was not observed i mark slipped off the trunk rack he was cramped and stiff he hobbled rather than walked into a deep purple shadow cast by a pine he could see te the cottage he held his breath as henri gently turned the knob of the front door and entered what would he do next come back to the limousine what a chance to grab him what was he doing inside the house he was taking his time the door was opening again mark gg ap pp X 14 51 T ail 01 7 I 1 t perhaps tell Us how you got in and why jed hardly breathed A man slipped 0 out t his hat was pulled down over his eyes he slunk along in the shadows reached the shore road ran on the dried grass which bordered it as if pursued by furies had that been henri had he delivered his message had he been warned to beat it have been a fight inside no loud voices had the limousine with the silver been left for someone else to drive away someone else what a break what a break he would drive it back and park it in his garage not no that do he would leave it with mike cassidy mike was as dependable as the sun he stole from the shadow of the pine with every faint scrunch of his feet on the frosty ground his blood stopped running could he reach the limousine before someone camei came only a few feet more he was behind the wheel with a hand stiff from cold he touched the self starter hang it you know the motor would backfire back fire A light in the front dormer he had wakened en ed someone he a moment to lose with his ears strained to detect pursuit with his eyes roaming from side to side mark shot the car ahead he went in an opposite e direction from that taken by henri it if the man who had burned up the road making his getaway from the white cottage had been henri he h e run the chance of overtaking him it seemed years before he reached mike cassidyy Cass idys garage at the entrance to the causeway hours before he could rouse the man before he partially opened the door let me in quick dike mike he whispered to the blinking cursing proprietor etor who was gripping something that gleamed dark and blue and ugly in a hairy ham bone fist its only you mr mark thought it might be a holdup hold up cassidyy Cass idys lower jaw swung I 1 like ike a gate on loose hinges he slipped the automatic into his pocket before he rolled back the garage door where can I 1 hide this cassidy pointed not until the limousine was stowed behind a motley collection of broken down cars did mark trent explain ive just rescued the family silver mike the yarn I 1 have to tell you will beat any of the thrillers you get over the radio not afraid to keep the car here are you cassidyy Cass idys red rimmed eyes grew moist he wiped his nose on a shabby coat sleeve 1 I aint afraid to do nothing for you mr mark you an your family give me my start sometimes youve kept me goin when I 1 know where the next meal was cornin comin from I 1 felt mean when I 1 let my maggie go to work for mrs hunt who treated you so bad but we needed the money so methin terrible so she took the job though it was at that new fillin ellin station bryin to put me out of business A telephone rang the two men stared at one another marks blood turned to ice cassid cassidy y whispered holy mackerel chos cauin callin t this s time of night have they traced you and the silver this quick perhaps theres a gang after you mark nodded toward the telephone answer his muscles tensed as he listened cassidyy Cass idys garage you maggie what ahll stop blubbering berin what who I 1 cant hear youre bryin so something terrible never mind never mind ill call police headquarters youve got to stay there girl till I 1 get bill harrison if anyone comes dont talk dont talk sure ill come just as soon as I 1 get the police mike happened cassidyy Cass idys face was ashen as he shook marks hand from his arm wait he dialled dialler dial led he spoke into the transmitter So hurt bad at the white cottage that new filling station on the point mike cassidy I 1 got to go you dont understand my daughters there all right ill wait here ile he hung up and wiped a grimy hand across his sweat beaded forehead that was my girl maggie who called talk man talk happened someone hurt bad who 9 1 I arake out someone hurt at the white cottage but I 1 was there not more than ten minutes ago mike if I 1 was you I 1 say that mr mark it just hurtin I 1 was breakie br eakin it easy So dead CHAPTER IX dont move ive got you covered in obedience to the hoarse warning sam and brooke reyburn stood as if a turned to stone in the dark hall of lookout house lights flared brooke stared incredulously was that jed stewart with his hand on the switch glaring at them with wide dilated eyes with his mouth open as if he had just swallowed a salt wave that was a flashlight he was pointing at them not a pistol it was jed stewart without his coat with his black bow tie under one ear with only one shoe on for the love of mike jed stewart perhaps tell me why youre holding us up in our own house why this public enemy no 1 touch sam demanded stewart blinked what are you two doing wandering round this house half dressed I 1 I 1 e Ss e at this time of night stop shouting jed have lucette down here sam said come into the living room and tell us what youre doing in this house jed lets go to the kitchen instead more likely to stabilize our emotions brooke suggested ill make cocoa and well scramble eggs jec must need food after the late ex excitement hes fairly twitching with it and I 1 feel hollow to my toes come on sam sounds okay to me im a growing boy I 1 need lots of nutriment better eat brooke you touch a thing when we came back from rehearsal ill run up and get a couple of bathrobes take these jed he kicked off his slippers ill put on shoes upstairs jp stairs sam followed her into the kitchen sam can be speedy when he wants to be she admitted as her brother entered with a lurid bathrobe over his pajamas and another r anothy all red and green stripes which he e flu flung n g at stewart there you are alad bring the milk eggs butter and bacon from the icebox sam toss me that apron jed the big white one right toast some bread sammy soon sam sniffed the bacon smell dandy here you are folks he arranged thin crisp strips around a mound of fluffy scrambled eggs you and jed sit down brooke and ill bring the cocoa after I 1 find the marshmallows to drop into the cups brooke slipped off the apron and waited until sam had served steaming hot cocoa with a little melting white island floating in each cu cup p and helped himself lavishly to scrambled eggs and bacon before with 1 elbows on the porcelain table chin on her clasped hands she suggested now that the shock of discovering us roaming round in our own house has somewhat worn off perhaps ell us how you got in and why jed stewart leaned back in his chair with the air of a man whose appetite has been abundantly satisfied TO BE CONTINUED |