1940-09-06 — Page 2

SHORT STORY

THE

а new

country to me. Tony was parked. beetroot:

at the magnificent estate that the Wentworths own not an hour's run from New York City, and here!

THE CHINA MAIL FRIDAY SUPPLEMENT, SEPTEMBER 6, 1940

SNATCH

་

"Tony ran away from me," he I found that I had two assistants, gasped. Mullins who had seived in the United States Marines and Tex

The reason for these two doughty assistants was because Wentworth had received threaten-" ing letters concerning his son.

We hallo'ed for Tex, there was no response.

but

By

F. X. Delmere

... Domenico. was

offices

their leader jup at Ashbury Park.

once

THE Wentworths had both man-to-the estate as fast as Erasmus, lover. Miss Sayers had contacted,

In fact the negro second chauffeur of the the Wentworths attorney at Hale then there were Angelo, Antonio, I went to a phone box in an all- ners and money. they were swell folks, I man-Wentworths, could drive me. ville, and that gentleman came Cesare and Benito. They never night drug store and had just bundling out in a very flash car aged to pick up young Tony, then aged eight, from the homicidal pro- Everything seemed to be normal and started giving orders, when gave their surnames. It was en finished talking to one of the affectation of theirs, just as they Federal agents, a bright young lad gress of a week-end Jay driver, I had left Mullins in charge of I pulled him up.

used expensive perfume and af-named Chambers, when I heard and Adrian Wentworth, his father, the lad, but just the same I had a

fected ultra-styles in clothes. A a commotion in the street and finding I was out of work, said sort of premonition, a feeling that "No amateur detectives, please, sinister, sneering bunch, complete-running out, I saw Morley lying to me, "I think you'd better look something mighty unpleasant was Mr. Krag. Let us leave this to after the child in future."

going to happen.

competent people. The roads have lyun-moral in every sense of the on his stomach, firing away busi been blocked already." "How do word and as dangerous as side-ly at a motor car that was fast He arranged all about passports

That premonition was justified. you know?? "The State Police winders, snakes that do not warn disappearing in the night.

you before they bite. I asked

"The Schultz mob," he said as with the United States Miss Sayers, Tony's governess are cooperating nobly. for me

"Have them to put a cordon round the

he rose to his feet. Blood was later, I crossed over to New York you seen the boy?" she gasped estate and I am expecting Cap-these beauties through the good Embassy in London and, a month came running up to me.

I had seen police reports about] dripping from his left hand. As I had not out. "No, but Mullins is looking tain Verrin any minute now

of Captain Verrin with wounded in the fleshy part of the a matter of fact, he had been with the Wentworths.

Krag shot me a dirty look. He whom I had become been in America for a good many after him.”

acquaint-

left arm. years and it was like

was a tall, not bad-looking fellow ed during the first days Then came Mullins, as red as a who took himself very seriously of my sojourn at Ashbury Park, |. The drug store attendant, who

and had social pretensions which

to have some For some reason that I cannot appeared

good were rather amusing.

explain I felt sure that Tony was sense, attended to Morley while I again When Tex recovered sufficient-being kept in captivity somewhere rang up Chambers once ly to talk, he told us that he had near at hand. So far, we had had and asked him to put the State We ran in the direction taken by been walking through a

[no communication from the kid-motor patrols on the job bushy nappers, the 'snatchers' as they again. who had been a cowhand down the little boy, and found one of the part of the estate near the house were called in the argot of the

When Morley was bound up. I on the Wentworth Arizona ranch he had seen Master Tony go away wards him.

under-gardeners, who told us that when he saw Tony running to-

asked him how he felt.. underworld. He turned, towards property.

There

"As right as rain. I can still the was no chance of with Mister Tex.

the boy and that is all, he re-little fellow being lost in

the shoot with my right hand and I'd membered.

grounds of the estate, for these give a month's pay to get a chance had been swept through by fifty at one of those Schultz rats."

"I think we will go and pay a "I think that someone must have nade up like you, Tex." I said.men or more, besides which Tony I eventually found the unfor. After all, it would not have been have come back to the house for property just outside the town."

knew his way about and would call on Mr. Krag. He owns a little Mullins was a broad-shouldered tunate cow-puncher lying behind difficult, as the ex-cowboy wore meals, as he had a very healthy

We walked through the shadows decent fellow; Tex was crippled some bushes, knocked

a Stetson not unlike that issued appetite. He had once run away for about twenty minutes, and by a bad fall but was a lightning some blunt instrument' shot. He also was a good lad, He police say, judging by the state be easy to imitate.

as the to the State Police, and his limp from us and hidden, but appeared then made our plans for searching

in good time for his supper.

the Krag property. There were a number of small out-houses was tall and slim and walked with of his head.

That night, the Wentworths re- "Mullins, get on police at once and ask them to

to the State Police then was announced. A ton. With them were two tall suggested searching these first.

State turned by plane from Washing situated at the rear of it and I very capable officer he was. Ask-young fellows with broad shoul The reporter found one, throw a cordon round the estate ed short questions, moved quickly ders and quick eyes, two of the which the door was fastened with and block the roads," I ordered. and then asked to see me private famous "G-men" of the Federala padlock. Tony was a remarkably good- looking, child, though not in the will talk to Mr. Wentworth my-

self."

Bureau of Investigation of the "This padlock has just been put least effeminate, and it took us all

It was a job I did not fancy.

Captain on," he whispered and proceeded Department of Justice. our time keeping an eye on him

"Do you know anyone who would Verrin and several detectives and to break it off by levering it with when he raced, through the vast After all, I was responsible for have an interest in kidnapping the troopers of the State Police were the barrel of his revolver.

the child's safety. grounds of the Estate.

Wentworth boy," he asked. I managed to get through to

searching the ground for We opened the door cautiously It was a fortnight after I had Adrian Wentworth who was stay-

possible clues.

and there, on a heap of dirty rags, 11 "I am going to surprise you,' Wentworth smiled wanly atlay Tony, fast asleep. Even the taken up my quarters in Ashburying in. Washington and made said I. "I web able assistant, am not blaming you. Have you did not wake him up, so I stole in into town the other me. "I have been fearing this. I light of Morley's electric torch Park, that the, blow fell. I had short .report. been away to the local town of "Don't blame you, Brandon.

young Lieutenant Haber. He any ideas

Then .?" I nodded, "Yes, and picked him up. Haleville and had had a chat with There's somebody mighty cunning pointed out one of the Schultz mob but I want to try something out awoke and I whispered to him, the lieutenant at the desk of the behind all this. I'll get on to the to me. Afterwards, as I was driv-before I say anything about it." "It's OK. Tony, it's me, Bill State Police who had a head-Department of Justice myself. ing home, I caught a glimpse of I got one of the New York re- Brandon, and a pal. We've come to quarters there. He told me that Keep in touch with me." He hung Mr. Krag hob-nobbing with this porters who had come down past take you home, but don't make a some bad citizens had been seenļup. I went about my business. gangster in the bar of some shady-haste to take me back to Hale noise." floating round and warned me to wiping the perspiration off my looking hotel.

ville in his car. I promised him I had hardly finished whisper- be on my guard, so I sped back face. I was glad that talk was

an "exclusive" if he would working to the lad when I heard a "From the car, I could see into in with me. I could not have commotion at Krag's house. Two the window, and Krag is easy to chosen a better man, for it was cars had driven up the front drive recognise, anyhow. Now, he has he who had unearthed the trace and the new arrivals were ob- no criminal practice. All he does of the unfortunate little Dickie viously merry.

a pronounced limp, but he was a useful character to have on your side in a riot.

out by

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ly.

Captain

Verrin of the

day and saw your

still

of

he

is estate work; you know, family Cardale, and he had nearly suc- I slipped round to the back of property and all that sort of ceeded in linking up the Schultz the little outhouse and, still hold- }thing.".

mob with that dastardly crime. ing Tony, ran crouching until I |--I--do-not-like the fellow-my- |- When I mentioned the words reached a side road. Morley, the.. self, growled the captain, "but "Schultz mob" to him, he whistled. incredible idiot, stayed behind.

and we have nothing to go on, and if "I'm with you buddy" he assured I held up a private car we pick him up now, it would be me, and proceeded to try to drink gasped out, "I've got Tony Went- worse than useless.",

the hotel bar dry. He explained worth safe. Will you take me out

Verrin

•

as this

the old- bell which

and

I agree with you, cap, but you to me, "I feel in my bones that to Ashbury Park?" can put a tail on him), can't you?" something is sure going to hap- "Jump in, my lad. Good work. I continued. "Of course, one of pen and that always gives me a We'll be there as fast us bodyguards might be implicate man's size thirst." He seemed im- 'heap' can take us." ed "The captain smiled, “You nune to the usual effects of 1: found out afterwards that the have been under observation alcohol, however. Morley was the driver was a retired Army officer. yourselves. In any case, Mr. Went-name of this reporter, a dry witted who had a small property not far

from the Wentworth estate. worth has answered for you and sophisticated fellow. given good reasons why you would: It was midnight when he sug- Tony was thoroughly alive now, not betray his trust. Most of the gested that we should leave our and I let him tug at

a look at the fashioned front-door hause servants seem O.K., but I hotel and have wish you would call a roll for me night-life of Haleville, which, al-we could bear pealing. so that I can give 'em a look-over though small, is by no means a The butler opened to us. He jand ask some questions.”

hick town. It has several cabarets was still in his evening clothes. So I got hold of the butler and and dance halls and a number of At the sight-of-the-boy, he forgot instructed him to, produce the en-bars, frequented by New Yorkers ali about his almost pontifical tire domestic staff, which was awho live in the neighbourhood dignity and let out a booming pretty large one.

had during the hot summer months shout, "It's Master Tony,' phoned his headquarters giving when existence in New York City I'm darned it he didn't pick the

all members of the is almost unbearable:

kid up and kiss him. Schultz mob to be picked up on I confined myself to occasional Mrs. Wentworth came almost sight and held incommunicado for beers but Morley drank whisky flying down the fine marble stair- questioning.

and drank it often. It was in a joint case, with her husband a 'short I left Mullins at the house and, called "The Purple Pig" that. he length behind and Chambers & taking Tex with me, left for gripped my arm. "Let's sit down. good third. Haleville. We scoured the town for I've recognised somebody," he The G-man told me.""We just the man I had seen with Krag. whispered.

received a message from your re- At Hendquarters we were.

In- Half-drunk extravagantly dress-porter friend. A stout fellow. He's formed that there was not a signed, and wise-cracking with a de-waiting there to shoot it out, with or a trace of the Schultz.mob to corative blonde was a slim young the mob. Five of our fellows and be found. New York City cops man of obviously Italion extrac-a whole array of State police have would be on the look-out for tion; good-looking in a sort at a surrounded the place. I hope they them. Meanwhile several State de-way but with evil: eyes. "That's don't kill all the rats. I want to see tectives had arrived, and we heard Domenico's young brother. So far, one or two go to the chair. It will that several G-men were flying he has not run with the gang when stop this saatch racket." over from Washington, while they take the field, but he is one Then there were explanations to couple were arriving from their of them just the same. A sort make to the Wentworths; there, nearest post, which was in New of contact man. Why, look who's was champagne opened and the York City.

here!".

whole household wake up. I sent

orders for

Let me explain to -you- about To my astonishment, I saw word to. Tex and Mullins who the Schultz mob. When poor little Krag, Immaculate in dinner jac-were standing by with a squad. Dickie Cardale had been kidnap-ket. The girl introduced him to jof police, and they piled into a car ped(and. murdered, the police had "Mr. Carlo."

and rushed back to Haleville to stated openly, that it was the "Let's got out of here," whisper- get a crack at the kidnappers: - work of the Schultz mob, au ag-jed Morley,

But they were too late. The

SHERRYgregation of human wolves that Once outside, he told me, "You whole bunch bid surrendered

ilman

WINES &

SPIRITS DEP

known headquarters, one now that fellow who just came, ignominiously. These tough guy at Memphis, Tennessee, which is in? Well, be used to do legal wark terrors had caved in like Uttle one of the toughest towns in the for the Schultz mob. I lost track lambs when they were summon- United States and the other in of him after the Cardale affair. I ed to come out by Captain Verrin. Brooklyn, N.K.

think he's a crook." "I agree with At the trial, Krag confessed But they were cunning, then you, but he happens to be Went that he had acted as baiker and [Schultz' persons. Not one of them worth's local attorney." The news-ladviser to the mob, but that they

was actually named Schultz. The paper reporter whistled. I think had put pressure on him to make. owner of that name had gone to Krag is being shadowed already, the snatch. He did not actually [his cternal torment when he tried we had better tall those two kidnap Tony himself, but ho spied to shoot it out with a quick-witted: You are known to the Schultz out the land, and seeing Tex and local. sheriff in some tricle/town.mob. Better "phone" the -- Gimén15 (Continued, om Pago 0)^.