Alleys of Darkness | Page 4

foot.
"It's safer this way," Whithers said. "He's a devil, and we can't afford to
take chances."
We then picked him up and carried him through the door, into a very
dimly lighted room, across that 'un, and into another'n which was better
lit--the winders being covered so the light couldn't be seen from the
outside. And I got the surprise of my life. They was five men in that
room. I wheeled on Whithers. "What's the idee?" I demanded.
"Now, now, Sailor," said Whithers, arranging Bissett on the bench
where we'd laid him. "These are just friends of mine. They know about
Bissett and my sister."
I heered what sounded like a snicker, and I turned to glare at the

assembled "friends". My gaze centered on a fat, flashy-dressed bird
smoking a big black cigar; diamonds shone all over his fingers, and in
his stick-pin. The others was just muggs.
"A fine lot of friends you pick out!" I said irritably to Whithers.
"Diamond Joe Galt is been mixed up in every shady deal that's been
pulled in the past three years. And if you'd raked the Seven Seas you
couldn't found four dirtier thugs than Limey Teak, Bill Reynolds,
Dutch Steinmann, and Red Partland."
"Hey, you--" Red Partland riz, clenching his fists, but Galt grabbed his
arm.
"Stop it, Red," he advised. "Easy does it. Sailor," he addressed me with
a broad smile which I liked less'n I'd liked a scowl, "they's no use in
abuse. We're here to help our pal Whithers get justice. That's all.
You've done your part. You can go now, with our thanks."
"Not so fast," I growled, and just then Whithers hollered: "Bissett's
come to!"
We all turned around and seen that Bissett's eyes was open, and
blazing.
"Well, you dirty rats," he greeted us all and sundry, "you've got me at
last, have you?" He fixed his gaze on me, and said: "Dorgan, I thought
you were a man. If I'd had any idea you were mixed up in this racket,
you'd have never got a chance to slug me as you did."
"Aw, shut up," I snarled. "A fine nerve you've got, talkin' about men,
after what you've did!"
Galt pushed past me and stood looking down at Bissett, and I seen his
fat hands clenched, and the veins swell in his temples.
"Bissett," he said, "we've got you cold and you know it. Kick in--
where's that paper?"

"You cursed fools!" Bissett raved, struggling at his cords till the veins
stood out on his temples too. "I tell you, the paper's worthless."
"Then why do you object to givin' it to us?" demanded Whithers.
"Because I haven't got it!" raged Bissett. "I destroyed it, just as I've told
you before."
"He's lyin'," snarled Red Partland. "He wouldn't never destroy such a
thing as that. It means millions. Here, I'll make him talk--"
He shouldered forward and grabbed Bissett by the throat. I grabbed
Red in turn, and tore him away.
"Belay!" I gritted. "He's a rat, but just the same I ain't goin' to stand by
and watch no helpless man be tortured."
"Why, you--" Red bellered, and swung for my jaw.
I ducked and sunk my left to the wrist in his belly and he dropped like
his legs had been cut out from under him. The others started forward,
rumbling, and I wheeled towards 'em, seething with fight. But Galt got
between us and shoved his gorillas back.
"Here," he snapped. "No fightin' amongst ourselves! Get up, Red. Now,
Sailor," he begun to pat my sleeves in his soothing way, which I always
despises beyond words, "there ain't no need for hard feelin's. I know
just how you feel. But we got to have that paper. You know that,
Sailor--"
Suddenly a faint sound made itself evident. "What's that?" gasped
Limey, going pale.
"It's Spike," I said. "I left him in the car, and he's got tired of settin' out
there, and is scratchin' at the front door. I'm goin' to go get him, but I'll
be right back, and if anybody lays a hand on Bissett whilst I'm gone, I'll
bust him into pieces. We'll get that paper, but they ain't goin' to be no
torturin'."

I strode out, scornful of the black looks cast my way. As I shut the door
behind me, a clamor of conversation bust out, so many talking at wunst
I couldn't understand much, but every now and then Ace Bissett's voice
riz above the din in accents of anger and not pain, so I knowed they
wasn't doing nothing to him. I crossed the dim outer room, opened the
door and let Spike in, and then, forgetting to bolt it--I ain't used to
secrecy and such--I started back for the inner room.
BEFORE