The Magpie!
A flashlight's ray shot out--and, with a twisted smile propped now
on his left elbow to give free play to his revolver arm, Jimmie Dale
followed the white spot eagerly with his eyes. But it did not circle
around; instead, the light was turned almost instantly toward the lower
end of the room--and, a second later, was holding steadily on the open
door of the safe, and the litter of papers on the floor.
Came a savage growl of amazed fury from the Magpie: then his step
down the room; and, as he reached the safe, a torrent of unbridled
blasphemy--and then, in a sort of staggered gasp, as he leaned suddenly
forward examining the knob of the dial:
"The Gray Seal!"
A moment the Magpie stood there; and then, cursing again in abandon,
turned, and started back for the window, his flashlight dancing before
him--and stopped, a snarl of fury on his lips. The flashlight was
playing full on Jimmie Dale under the table!
"Larry the Bat! The Gray Seal! By God!" choked the Magpie. "You--you--"
The Magpie's flashlight, as he shifted it from his right hand to his
left and wrenched out his revolver, had fallen upon two men crouched
close against the wall by the library door--and he screamed out in an
access of fury. "De double cross! A plant! De bulls! You damned snitch,
Larry!" screamed out the Magpie--and fired.
The bullet tore into the carpet beside Jimmie Dale.
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