There was one way to stop that. It
would not take them long to find out that he WAS there once the door
was opened! Better know it with the door SHUT! Jimmie Dale lifted his
revolver coolly and fired through the panel.
A burst of yells answered the shot; and among them, high above the
others, the Magpie's scream:
"We got him! We got him! He's dere now!"
And then it seemed that pandemonium broke loose--there was a volley of
shots, the bullets splintering through the door panels as from a machine
gun, so fast they came--and then another rush against the door.
Flat on the floor, but well back and to one side, Jimmie Dale fired
steadily--again and again.
Came screams of pain, yells, and oaths--and they fell back from the
door.
And now from above, from overhead, came tumult--windows thrown up, the
stamp of feet, cries of fright. And from the street, a low, sullen roar.
The underworld was gathering fast!
Once more the rush upon the door--and Jimmie Dale, a grim, twisted smile
upon his lips, emptied his revolver into the panels. Once more they
fell back--and then there came the Skeeter's voice, snarling like an
infuriated beast:
"He'll get de lot of us like dis! Cut it out! Besides, we'll have de
bulls down here in a minute--an' he's OUR meat, not theirs. Dey'd be
too damned soft wid him--dey'd only send him to de chair.
Pages:
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619