CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT “You won’t have to take any more risks,” I told my friendly jailer, the little cook. “I’ll be able to get off this barge at the next landing without your help.” “And without the police?” “Right. I’m going to ask one of the men to go ashore with me.” “Which one?” asked the cook suspiciously. “We-ell, that big fellow didn t seem to be busy with the potatoes. He doesn’t look like a regular member of the crew. How about him? You wouldn’t be afraid to let me go in his custody, wuold you?” The little man’s eyes were wide. “D-don’t trust Bill. Don’t go ashore with him!” “So his name is Bill, eh? I thought so. He wouldn’t be Wil liam Calla, would he?” The cook was frightened. “Sh!” He went to the galley door and looked out to make sure no one was listening. “How did you guess that?” he asked, coming back. “We thought you couldn’t recog nize him.” “His size gave him away. And since he’s William Calla I know he’ll be glad of the chance to go ashore with me in the dark. He’ll think it will be a good chance to finish the job he started.” “You’ve sure got plenty of nerve.” “I’ll have the advantage. I’ll know my danger, and he won’t know that I know.” The rumble of the hand trucks below us had ceased. There was a scraping and a thumping as the gangplank was pulled aboard. Pete shouted to someone to cast off the mooring rope. The gasoline engine of the barge came to life. We were on our way to Big Bend. No one came up to the galley. Perhaps they felt uneasy in my presence. I wouldn't blame them. “How did this outfit get mixed uo with Calla?” I asked. “You’ve already told me you don’t go for murder.” “He’s a friend of Pete’s,” the lit tle cook told me. “I think Pete owes him some money or some tning. Bill asked for a ride to Frisco tonight. We didn’t know . , 1 - x •__ XT_X .1J _U-+ dUUUU 114111 •'**«*«' ^ --- to our stern. He used a long rope and we didn’t see it in the fog. Jack heard you holler and pulled you in. We sure were surprised.” ’ “So was Mr. Calla, I imagine,” I said. “He thought he could get away with it. When you told us the name of the man who tied you in that boat—” "You think he hoped you would never know?” “I think after that rowboat sank he was going to cut the rope.” “And that’s the kind of man you’re trying to protect!” “I’m not protecting him. I just don’t like the idea of turning' him over to you—and your friends. How do I know what he had against you? It musta been something bad, or he wouldn’t try to kill you.” “You probably think he’s just a bootlegger.” “Sa-ay, how much do you know?” “Whatever I know about Mr. Call’s liquor business, and the part this barge plays in it, I’m willing to forget,” I said. “He’s in a much worse game, and I believe he’s in it alone.” I left the little man speechless and walked to the galley door again. I looked down the ladder. Four cigarets glowed in the shad ows below. I climbed down. “I want to see if I can find a way to get back to the city from Big Bend,” I announced. “Would any of you fellows have time to show me how to reach a ranch bouse when we get there?” “Sure, I’ll show you,” volun teered Bill. His voice was disguised, but 1 recognized it. The crew stirred uneasily. There were several whispered comments not quite loud enough for me to overhear. “How long will you be stopping?” I asked. “How long will I have to get back, if there’s no one at th( farm house?” “About fifteen minutes,” said i voice I knew to be Pete’s. “We’l wait a couple more minutes—foJ Bill.” “I’ll go back to the galley anc get into my own clothes,” I said “They ought to be dry by_ now Much obliged to you—Bill.” He grunted, apparently annoyec that Pete hadn’t been quick wittec enough to give him another name Up in the galley the cook was awaiting me nervously. “Well, what’s it going to be?” “Your friend Bill fell for it. Ir fact, he suggested he’d like to gc with me.” “He’s no friend of mine!” “All right, all right.” “Why don’t you go alone?” “Bill wouldn’t like that. Have you a revolver I can borrow?” The little man’s eyes widened “So that’s it? Y’u think you car handle him if you’ve got a gun! Okay. Just to prove he’s no frienc of mine, I’ll loan you my gun.” He opened one of the cupboarc doors and from inside a can la beled “sugar” he lifted out a revol ver that seemed to have been wel cared for despite its evident age “Be sure y’u give this back,” h< remarked as he passed it over t( me, first examining the chamber; to make sure that they wen loaded. “How will I get it to you?’\ “We tie up at the wharf acros; the river from the Rio Vista clul every other night 'bout sundown.’ 1 did some quick calculating “Were you there Tuesday night— about 11 o'clock?” He nodded. “Big party at th( club that night. Lights in the gar den went out.” “What did you see in the gar den?” He hesitated. “Didn’t see noth ing. Too many willow trees.” I wondered if his hesitancy was caused by the fact that he knew William Calla had an appointment in that garden—with a man whc was murdered. “Didn’t you see anybody in the garden?” I persisted. He shook his head. "I saw some guy leaning out one of the upstairs windows. I think he threw some thing into the river. Looked kinda queer. That’s all I saw.” “You didn’t recognize him?” “Hell, no. He was clear across the river from me. How would I recognize him?” “My error.” I looked down at the revolver in my hand. “Is there a safety catch on this thing?” He showed me, but I decided not to use the safety. I might need the gun in a hurry. The barge bell rang. I heard the crew stirring around below us, pre paring for the landing. 1 (To Be Continued) -•-: Cooper Urges People To Back Legion Team Mayor Thomas E. Cooper yester day urged the people of Wilmington to give the Legion Junior baseball team all the support possible, as the team opened its season at Legion field in a game with the Dunn aggregation. “The Legion is doing a fine piece of work when it makes it possible for these young men to play the game which has become the nat ' ional pasttime. Not only are these boys given an opportunity to learn how to play the game as it should be played, but throughout the sea 1 son good sportsmanship is instilled 1 ino them as well as the need for 1 clean living. “I urge every person in Wilming ton to do everything possible to ' aid the Legion in this undertaking. 1 Tickets for the home games are being placed on sale throughout the city and it, is my hope the people will purchase them regard less of their ability to attend the games.” 2 THERE’S ALWAYS A FIRST TIME ST. LOUIS (J)—Pepper Ms.rtin’s ejection from a recent St. Louis* Brooklyn game constituted a base ball rarity. It was the first time the pep pery third-sacker had ever been tossed out of a National league game. He argued with Umpire George Barr over a called third strike. ■-—■ .■ ■ ■ I THIS CURIOUS WORLD j WHAL-B PROTECTING- i COAT OF | ©LUBBER. IS FROM 7~lA/£J-\/£ \ TO /AT/tES 7/V/CTA1. / LJ.*S ISJATIONJAL PARKS HAVE A TOTAL AREA Of= MORE THAN 3 /V1/AA/OAZ Can a sponse ) Swiaa_P \ ANSWER: Yes . . . while young. Later they become permanently attached to rocks or other objects. BELA LAN AN—COURT REPORTER By L. Allen Heine Founded on Actual Court Reco rds and You Can Be the Judge ' The ' Strange Case of IHE WHIPPING ON BADGER (REEK • m six EPISODES N«,3 l.. after the startling story... THAT ELISHA WEEKS WAS THE ONE WHO HAD BEEN STEALING LEATHER FROM HIS SHOP _ SCOTT JONES FORMED A POSSE AND STARTED on The HUNT’ | F YCNEY'**~ HAR-RuMPH/.? l NVOLV = CERTAIN IMPORTANT SCIENTIFIC PERIMENTS—BUT NOW T HAVE EN ASSESSED HALP MY WINNINGS PAINT THE HOUSE, AND ence. T—' - >ST \ PER/ --.-- vyw MlSTAH MkJOR I PPFI Qrs tWIINIMIM' FO'TV DOLLAR^ DETAIN! MVSE'F/— T BeaS^I ALL MAWNIM' AN' AOLLERin' "Pb^i a ^ BEAT, AM' M.ZHOOPL^ SEE WHUT ALL THE S?®** ^ HOW THAT Di)c.T P v —WAT'S ~--=- eAAJartha EXTRACTED* 175 ^B[JT NOT WITHOUT PAisi= ------I-j LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE One-Way Bi SEND US WERE WE IOM-TH6Y LL US * NOT THAT i _ jf f BUT THIS OLD IF OH. CAP, 1S1 ^ 1 TUB- IT WILL f HERE, IS AN ^ i NEVER REACH f OLD HAND-HELL I ^ I THAT SHORE! I LAND YOU SAFE-S = I AND WE DOWN B HELL EVEN SEND I I IN THE HOLD- J WORD TO 1 S- —,p—EXPECT Bit they will ^|fif yeah! 1 Ml US-YOU /| WELL.THARs] NOT UNDERSTAND! 1 WHAT YOU COUNTRY ONE i BOYS J 3 IS OUT OF FAVOR 1 HAD IN I >ES NOT LIVE- .Jk MIND FOR I -■ - UgOVER^ [I FIGURED YOU f LIKED THAT- we WANT don t- so i i but m FIXED 'UP THIS 1 YOU S R^? LITTLE BOAT RIDE F CAN FOR YOU AND Zd NOT GEtIM YOUR PALS- Q AWAY ^ s-M—7 ( with it! Jth ___ ' - ■ ■ IJ WASH TUBBS Not On The Program By Roy Crane 60 BULL \ AM1 AFTER DAT, EA6V, HE WAS PLAMNED \ G0IU' PUT SOU IU D16 6AR'L TO KMOCK ME \ OUT AND60T KMOCKED OUT / HWS6ELF / ' X 6000 I0EA.TITA SURE. OEM I MEK WE'LL 6HJE THE OLD »' MEM TWMK IT'S ; 60V A TASTE OF KIS YOU IMS1DE J OWM MEP HOO-EEi TO PEUCAM ISLE.Ml'BULL; •SAV PE ROUGHER, BE BETTER* GASOLINE ALLEY Safety First I r i know rr would be fun, ^ TULA, BUT I CAN’T GO HORSE BACK RIDING 10NIGHT... NO... EVEN . AT THAT, I CAN’T MAN? IT. *®g|| ffe®WE!35\/itr KSsisniTWslllS Ep TULA'S OUT Of LUCK ON THIS Vf morsesack riding stuff, first, ^ \ I'D HAVE TO SPEND PLENTY MONEY I TyX ON A FLOCK OF CLOTHES, .— BUT MOgS TON TOT to 8g ^ PAVING FOg TULA'S HOPSg, TOO. Jj I THINK I'LL SSND HOMf Sw mv gicvag^y THE GUMPS K9.&EE)A, Nj >OIAE MARIA \ NETO/AY ^ E CMARIAEENCj' / ?E HtDEEMCa / rHEEKte - ---c I BE BRAVE, MY DEAR | WE.IM THIS LIFE, MUST LEARM lb TAKE THE l BITTER WITH THE / \ SWEET—ER- HE - / 1 MET WITH ASUCaHT /V ACCIDENT— / r WHATf J OOH, kb^rOEENCj^ f OH,MY/ THE POOR CHILD— I MUST PHONE \the Doctor ' I MEED MO DOCTAIR.OMKEEL feEEM-l AM ALL. RieHT— YOU NKJEEL PLEASE TAKE ME TO MY VPREENCE CHARVAEEMey /| SALUTE VOU , 1 / LITTLE COUNTER | THE BATTLEP|1-° 'I NO-THE ONLY P^Ct \ TO OBSERVE A COURAGES , yWoREDtO TAKEq BRICK BRADFORD—Seeks the Diamond Doll By William Ritt and^larence Gray __ ■ 10 UKE To EXPLORE THIS CAVE FURTHER BUT! ITS GROWING DARK AND I'D BEST \ REtu^tQ jUN^ 7=-^-^ I -==r HAVE 1 SHOWN YOU THIS MODERN, RIGHT UP-TO DATE APARTMENT? IMflMlRPc