Page:Frederick Faust--Free Range Lanning.djvu/105

Rh through his victim's pockets and took twenty dollars—just that, and left over a hundred. And he went away.

"There was a hue and cry, but our young chap was safe at home in one of the most respectable families in the city. Who'd think of looking there?

"But one night at a party—a sort of town dance, you see, our young chap was talking in one of the anterooms. Pretty soon a big fellow stepped up and drew him to one side. 'Youngster, I recognized your voice,' he said. 'You're the one who stuck me up in the alley and got twenty bucks from me, eh?'

"Of course, our friend could have denied it. But he didn't think of that. He was afraid. He turned white. Then he took out twenty dollars and put it into the other man's hand. 'It was a joke,' he said. 'Forget about it.' 'Sure,' said the other. 'It was a joke.'

"But ten days later the victim of the holdup came again. He was in trouble. He wanted a hundred dollars. And the young chap had to get that money—otherwise he'd be exposed.

"And a week after that there was another call for money. It came while the youngster was in the garden of the girl he loved, talking to her. This big chap looked over the hedge and called. He had to come. He was afraid. Also, he was cold inside. But his nerves were steady. He was frightened to death, he was white, but his brain was clear. Ever feel like that, Lanning?"

"Go on," said Andrew hoarsely.

"He said to the big man, 'Go away from here, or I'll kill you.' Of course, the big man laughed. And the hands of the youngster went up of their own accord and fastened in that fellow's throat. There wasn't a sound. But in one minute he had become a murderer. All the