1941-02-14 — Page 2

THE

WINGING a pick in a Dartmoor

quarry, grey-clad

Convict 09156 counted the months ahead, Trumping the cobbled confines of the prison yard under a lowering sky he counted the weeks. Stand-

ing braced against the scarred

wall of his cell he counted the days.

Months

weeks

days. The dead-march of Time caught up with him at last.

He stood before the Governor and was told officially that he was a man again. The well-meant advice, the carefully chosen words,

cheited no response from him, brought no answering gleam to the opaque glaze of his eyes. Something had died in Convict 09156, it did not quicken when Bert Tallent walked from the pri- son gates, free after nearly three years, the sound of numberless feet shuffling in concert no longer

in his cars

"Hey, there, Bert

He saw his brother Jack seated behind the wheel of an old car.

"Hello, Jack!" He spoke in a whisper, out of the side of his muth, without realising it As the ear moved off he added. "How're things in the same soft tree.

+

Oh, all right. I wrote you "Yeah, I know Everything in Hexton's fine You're still at the Beige getting tener quid a week, the old man's still op hrs feet I knew

But Coranir what about

1nds drew down over the opaque eyes, thứ brown had list. knotled. Jack Tallent threw a side-glance at his brother and trad to keep his voire ensual

THE CHINA MAIL FRIDAY SUPPLEMENT, FEBRUARY 14, 1941.

RAT By Leonard R. Gribble

was the low-uttered prayer of a man who had believed, and whose belief had been truly founded

Jack Tallent stared straight ahead.

"What you going to do now, Bert?"

"Stop with the old man for a few days, then come back to the lodgings.

"I know. Ꮊ course. That's right." The car swerved without apparent reason. "But what you going to do?"

Bert Tallent smiled. His teeth

rooted strong, white,

in were healthy bone. "First thing I'm do- ing." he said slowly, "is getting even with a rat "

帘

body spoke out of turn to the cops. Bert was framed."

The man shrugged his shoul- them about his ders, hunching eats.

"He was shopped, but that don't mean I knew anything about it, Connie." His speculative eyes took in the girl's features, her figure, her clothes. "Now look, Bert's go- ing back to his brother's lodgings to-night-"

"How do you know that?" she flashed.

His grin became a leer, cunning, deceptive.

"Never mind. I know. I make it my business to knew things plenty of things. It's useful in all sorts of ways,"

"Yes, the cops pay their harks

woman."

"You can explain. Everything." he added after a pause. "Then you won't-" He shook his head.

"All right, take it easy.

to have a look round,"

We want He grin-

ned like a cat scenting fresh-

cream.

"May as well start with you yourself."

He grabbed one of Bert's shoul-

his pockets.

"1 know Bert Tallent. He'll be putty in your hands, Connie. He's only been out a few days, playing ders, pushed a hand into one of good boy while the coppers watch For two years and seven him, months he hasn't seen a woman hasn't held a woman, See? You do as I say, and everything will be all right."

But there was

Loathing crept into her face, She knew now what he wanted her to do, throw herself back at Bert in order to save himself. He was afraid. Like a rat in a corner faced by a terrier. something more than fear in his eyes, something fathom, something that made ber afraid-for herself, for Bert, Her mind rocked in turmoil, trying to She would clarify fused thought,

she

couldn't

have got up, but he pushed her square back into her seat.

A hand like a paw gripped her wrist.

"Drop that stuff. d'you hear?" he growled, throwing a furtive glance over 寇 padded shoulder. The hand drew back. "Listen, you want things with Bert. All right, go to him to-night, before he gets to hearings things-sce? right."

The

to

The man and the girl sat at a secluded table in the frowsy rcs- Across the near-white faurant. table-cover their glances met and clashed. Round grey eyes lighting a face somewhat too plump to be

crowned termed an oval,

with brussy tortured ringlets, challeng- ed the black-brown, deepest eyes assessing her with rodent scrutiny. "You and me-that was a mis- take. Sam. I found it out. It was nothing." She caught her breath

her as she raised a cigarette to carmined lips.

"But Bert's out. meaning The girl dropped the been out about a week and hasn't butt of her cigarette in the dregs come near me. You've got to tell of her cuffec-cup.. him the truth You've got to," she repeated, natural colour deepen- ing the share of her cheeks

A lean, not particularly clean band smoothed the man's

The thin nose do- quered han Rumating his buck teeth wrinkled as he grinned.

"Listen,

with rodent eyes shone

"Right for you, you meih, Sain Apps."

"Look here, what the hell—” "I said take it easy. Couple of nights ago the Harrow Road post Well, we office was cleaned out. ain't had any luck- Hallo!" he broke off, producing the £20 note, and holding it up. His grin widen- ed. "Bull's-eye! You just out- side, Tallent, and in your pocket a twenty-quid note. Strange, you know. That post office lost four- teen twenties."

Before he could stop him Bert had whirled away. He caught one of Connie's arms.

"So," he ground out, "It's true those rumours about you and Sam Apps. He's got you, and got you to fix me again. By God-" His hand slashed across her face and she fell back. The next mo- ment he was spun round as the second detective jumped him.

In the centre of the room the first detective was staring from the serial number of the note to a list he had produced,

"Hey," he said, "something's wrong! This ain't one of the stolen notes." He turned a frustrated look at his assistant, "That tip we got was---"

"Wait, Connie," he said, show- "I'm a pal Put hining his teeth again.

I like you. I want to see you fixed right.” He took a black seal wallet from his pocket, drew out a Crisp white piece of paper. "Here. Your savings. Don't forget that touch. And he'll want money. Jobs won't be easy for a bit. You want to help him, don't you? You don't want him going about with- He'll out money in his pocket. want clothes, cigarettes, to take You know. you to the pictures.

Make an in- Well, be sensible. pression. Show him you've got a

Slowly Bert turned an amazed head on your shoulders."

The piece of white paper was look on the girl. There was a

£20 note. "But-

She was understanding this man as she had never understood in shame Something like lac- befort.

scared her mind What in God's name had she ever seen in him. with his olly head, yellow testli clothes? sb" and wasp-waisted asked herself, and mentally shud-

His head "N" she said. "Well, there's "Right for us, Connie.

his lips moi'. been plenty of tolk about you jutted forward, shopping him He wasn't in on bulging "Bert will listen to you. "Yeah, Come's all right It that Camden Town job, and some- He wouldn't raise his hand to a

"Connie" She's fine Got a job with Bob Studds, the book. Oflice Work Not had pay. Connor's all

1ght

Connie," he said, "don't get me wrong. I got nogh- ing against Bert

dered,

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a

"But nothing." He pressed the

Too late, he stopped. "Come on." he grunted. He went out, followed by the other. The door closed behind them.

smear of blood on her cheek, but she looked happy. A new ra- diance illumined her face.

note into her hand. "Don't be a I knew it was a frame up," she fool, and I'm your friend. Go whispered. "The dirty rat.' Bert there, see him before his brother watched her, unable to speak, as comes home from the garage. Get she poured forth her story. "And Jim alone. Make him take that that's what he tried to get me to Не money at once. That'll stop him do, Bert. But I knew why. thinking what you don't want him was afraid of you. He knew you to think. You're smart. You're no would get him. Well, I wasn't fool, Connie. Dk as

1 say, and having you go inside, again everything will be all right for him.” both of us."

for

Bert shook his head. Somehow He made that last part sound a he felt very much like a small concession to her. She couldn't boy who has produced the wrong think. Not with his eyes glitter- answer for a very simple sum. ing at her, little round shiny "You mean, Connie, all this- specks, like old-fashioned boot this” buttons. He pushed back his chair rose.

"Come on, Connie. Just do as I say.

I know how it'll work out."

Suddenly her mind cleared, and she saw things distinctly.

"Yes, sure. I know, Sam." "That's the talk. That's the girl." He laughed, brittle sound without a true note. "Come on." They left the frowsy restaurant together..

Bert Tallent opened the door and a hungry look swept into his face as he saw the girl on the landing.

"Why. Bert, you look ûne!” "I'm all right, Connie."

She laughed joyously. "I've paid for being a fool, Bert, but the last payment's made. I got the 30- count settled for us, not for me or for you. And he Sam Apps →→ gave me the idea."

Her laughter rose like a flight of birds.

His manhood marvelled and paid homage, His throat was dry, yet his heart pounded with sing- ing labour. He had struck her,. he had lifted his hand against her! Like any man witnessing the en- actment of a miracle, he lost the

his comfort of strength,

inind washed by the flood tide of under- standing.

"You mean, Connie-"

She rushed on buoyant, u wo- man triumphant over self.

She came into the room, and he closed the door. As she passed him he caught the fragrance of "I mean, Bert, I saw what his the perfume she had used. His game was-in a flash. At first I fists knotted at his sides. Her left didn't. I thought- Never mind hand was bare. Bleakness came what I thought. All of a sudden to his eyes, robbing them of sight I knew. I went to Bob Sudds, for a moment,

and asked him to change the note. "Where's the ring, Connie?" His He wanted to know where I got voice shook,

it "

"I had to hock it, Bert--honest. You see, you inside. It wasn't easy. People said things. And I had to live.

"You told him?" New fear threaded his voice; for her now.

"Of course. The governor's all right. But he's got his own ways "Yes, you had to live," he re- of finding things out. He tumbled peated, thinking of the dun moors, to that note. Probably knew the the quarries, a chink of night sky numbers of the stolen twenties. patterned by iron bars.

Anyway, he offered me fifteen Then Bob Sudds gave me a quid for it. I took it, and he job, keeping account, I saved. grinned. It was a deal both ways. Bert. Look." She took the £20 He wants to get his own back on note from the bag. "It's our start Sam Apps. The fool once twisted for a new life, Bert. Take it. him on the 'phone. Placed a bet You can pay me back, later, when and didn't show the money. Bob you've got something."

Sudds don't forget things like that. He stared at the money in his And there's other ways Sam Apps hands.

has been unpleasant. He's always "How did you know I would be flush. He's on the inside when back here to-night?" he asked information is circulating, but the levelly.

cops never touch him. That don't "Why, a friend of Jack's 'phoned look so good. Well, Bob. Sudds through bet this afternoon. He will nail him with that twenty- told me. Jack told him. Please, quid note. The cops will know Bert, put the money away."

#

this time all right. Oh, yes, Bert, "Look here, I ain't—”

there's one rat that will walk into "Berti" she pleaded. "Don't a trap balted with his own bit of make it hard for me-after all cheese." this time." She pushed his hand She was near to hysteria. He holding the note into his pocket. saw-that now. He stretched out and raised her red lins invitingly, his arms and drew her to him... There was a glow deep in her His Ups touched the streak of eyes. He crushed her to him, like blood on her cheek. She trem- a thirsty man, seizing a pitcher of bled, and the wildness left her water New fire flowed in his laughter.

his

them.

veins, burning out caution, sus "Bert!" she murmured as picion, doubt, all save knowledge lips found hers, claimed that she was here, in his arms. "God, I've been lonely for you!"

A knock on the door parted Then suddenly she straightened.. them. He opened it. Two men “Quick, before Solly's pawn-shop pushed their way inside. There shuts.” "was no need to ask who they were

and their business.

They were defectives.

"Bert Tallent?" said the taller.

"Why, what- "Don't stand like a goop, Bert. "ring--I. want it back, now,

(Continued on Page