The Trail of Fear Read Online Free PDF Page A

something.”
    â€œJimmie—Jimmie, you helped me once,”—her voice was soft—“even to your own danger. Oh, I know things are different now—there are other girls and—with me there are other men, but that wasn’t so once.”
    â€œWhy should I help either you or Sam? I’ve done the hardest part of the job. If it hadn’t been for me you’d all have been roped in long ago.”
    â€œYou collared the largest part of the swag for your trouble,” interposed Sam.
    There was a pause—a deadlock, it seemed. Rezaire stared at Sam, the man he had used as a tool and now hated because the tool was in reality stronger than the man who handled it. Then he made as if to give way.
    â€œGo a little way downstairs, Sam,” he ordered, “and see if they are coming up.”
    Long Sam half moved, then smiled derisively. “What? While you and Viv slip off? Why, I thought you were clever?” He moved suddenly away from the window where he had been watching the street and striding up to Rezaire hung menacingly over him. “See here,” he snarled, “stop this darn fooling. You’ve got a bolt hole and you’re going to take us down it, or you know what I’ll do to you. What’s in that letter?” he snapped suspiciously again.
    His hand shot out but at that moment a step sounded on the stairs and all three jumped, looking at one another. Before they could move further, a little man with a scared face, rather like a white rat, stepped quickly into the room.
    â€œThey’re here,” he said excitedly. “Tried to nab me. Joe was caught this evening and blew the gaff! They’re all round now—plain-clothes men and ‘flatties’ just up the road… They’ll be up any minute.”
    Rezaire ran quickly to the gas. His mind was made up. Whether he had to take the others with him or not, he had to save himself.
    â€œQuick then, follow me,” he cried hoarsely and plunged the room in darkness. Already he could hear a knocking on the door downstairs. In the darkness he felt Sam’s big hand on his shoulder.
    â€œJust to see where you go,” came the menacing whisper.
    He pressed the catch of the file cabinet and the front swung open. The knocking below grew louder. He bent down and passed through into the wardrobe of Carlyle’s room.
    â€œShut the door behind you,” he whispered back, once more in charge of the situation, “and don’t make a noise.”
    There was a little snap, the sound of the knocking faded away, and the four were in the author’s room in the next house, dimly lit by the low turned gas jet.
    â€œSomeone’s there,” gasped Vivienne, suddenly terrified, as the intermittent clicking of the typewriter came out of the gloom. Rezaire only laughed and turning up the light very slightly, pointed to the machine which he switched off.
    â€œI am working here,” he said, “as far as they know outside.” He spoke shortly to the last corner: “Now come in, Harrap, and shut that door. We’re quite safe.” Already he seemed to have taken charge of them all; again he was the master by virtue of his superior intellect. Characteristically, once he had found that he was forced to see that they all escaped, he set about it coolly and thoroughly.
    â€œI think we can get out through the back garden,” he went on. “There’s an alley leading between the houses, and the detectives will be watching the other house.”
    â€œWell, I’ve got a gun and so have you, I suppose, Harrap. I’ll back myself to get out of most places.”
    â€œNever mind about that,” cut in Rezaire sharply. “The less shooting the better, or we’ll swing. If we disguise ourselves we may be able to walk out on a bluff.” He ran hurriedly to a chest of drawers and began pulling out clothes. “Sam, you take these, pull the cap down over