Part 44 (1/2)
”Then perhaps you'll take a look at my room now, and allow me to retire again.”
”I don't need to look there, ma'am,” the man replied. ”I'm awful sorry we troubled you.”
”That's the way to talk,” said a quiet voice from the door.
The leader whirled instantly to look into the ominous muzzle of a heavy automatic held by Casey Dunne.
”Put that gun down, and your hands up!” snapped Casey. ”Quick! No nonsense! I'll kill the first man that tries anything.”
The quiet had gone from his voice; it bit like acid. Strange, hard lights danced in his eyes. The hand that held the gun had not a tremor.
Clyde, looking at him, saw and recognized in his face the cold deadliness which she had once seen in McHale's.
Without an instant's hesitation the leader put his weapon on the table.
”You win once,” he observed.
”That's sensible,” Casey commented. ”Now, perhaps you'll tell me what this means?”
”No objection in the world,” the other replied coolly. ”We wanted to interview McHale.”
”Is that so? Well, Tom isn't here to-night Mr. Dade. By the way, unless you really like it you needn't wear that transformation scheme across your face. Same remark applies to the other gentlemen. I like to know my visitors.”
Dade laughed, removing the handkerchief. ”Take a good look. You may see me again.”
”Any time you like, Mr. Dade. And what did you want with McHale?”
”Well,” Dade answered calmly, ”we figured that he'd help us take the stretch out of a new rope.”
”n.o.body else would do?” queried Casey.
”We wanted him.”
”I see. And had our mutual friend, Mr. Cross, anything to do with your desire? By the way, how _is_ Mr. Cross? Or should I say the late Mr.
Cross?”
”Not yet,” Dade replied. ”He's got a chance.”
”Then aren't you too previous?”
”McHale laid for him, and plugged him as he came out of s.h.i.+ller's,”
Dade declared.
”Cross came out of s.h.i.+ller's with his gun in his hand to get McHale,”
said Casey. ”McHale was ent.i.tled to shoot. It was an even break.”
”That's not how I heard it.”
”That's what McHale says, and it goes with me.”