Agent Nine Solves His First Case: A Story of the Daring Exploits of the G Men

by Graham M. Dean

  Chapter XXI SHOTS IN THE NIGHT *

  The street was long, flanked by what appeared to be warehouses, and therewere street lights only at the ends of the block. For at least 400 feetin the middle there was no light and it was in this dismal area that Boband his uncle were trapped.

  A pile of construction materials offered the first shelter for Bob and heducked behind this.

  From this shelter, he listened for some sound from the men who had beenpursuing them. He did not have long to wait for sharp voices could beheard a little further back along the street.

  "The taxi's stalled," someone said. "Spread out and let them have it ifthey make a break. We've got to get them to be sure we'll get the paper."

  Bob, behind the pile of construction materials, heard someone poundingdown the street.

  The beam from a flashlight shot through the night and focused on the taxidriver.

  "Snap off that light!" came a tense command. "That's only the driver. Lethim go."

  "He'll bring the cops on us," came a sharp protest, but the first voicecame back tartly.

  "Let him. We'll be out of here long before he can get his nerve back andtalk to the police. Spread out, I tell you. We've got to move fast. Ifthey break for the far end of the street we'll see them under the streetlights. There's no place they can hide at each side."

  The last words confirmed Bob's fears. That meant that there was noshelter in the buildings which flanked the street. This time there was nofriendly hedge into which he could leap. He would have been glad to haverisked the barberry thorns again if he had only had the chance.

  The taxi was less than twenty feet away and Bob knew that the men huntingfor him and his uncle would reach it in a few more seconds. Then one ofthe first places where they would search would be the pile of bricks andtimbers behind which he had sought refuge.

  Bob moved away cautiously, a plan of action quickly forming in his mind.He would get as far away as possible, then make some noise to attracttheir attention. It seemed like a good move for by concentrating theirattention on himself, he would provide an opportunity for his uncle toslip away unnoticed and the radio document could be delivered safely backto the War Department.

  Bob felt a nervous tension gripping his entire body. It was as though thevery night was alive to the danger which filled the deserted street. Thepounding footsteps of the taxi driver gradually died away and only Boband his uncle and three unknown pursuers were in the street.

  A flashlight gleamed for a moment at the taxi as the beam sought theinterior.

  "Nothing here," Bob heard someone mutter as he backed away from thesheltering pile of materials.

  A piece of board crunched under his feet and he stumbled and half fell tothe ground.

  "What's that!" the exclamation was sharp and commanding and a beam oflight swung toward him.

  Bob forgot caution and scuttled away on his hands and feet, dodgingbehind the piles of dirt which had been heaped indiscriminately aroundthe street.

  The flashlight seemed to be playing a game of hide and seek with him, fornot once did the beam strike him and he found temporary shelter againbehind a pile of bricks.

  But the sanctuary was not to last for long. From the voices near thetaxi, Bob knew that at least three men were after them and as he listenedhe heard a command that sent a chill racing along his spine.

  "Don't shoot unless you have to. But let them have it if it looks likethey're going to get away."

  Bob remembered that his uncle had a gun. That was some consolation. Hewould have to depend upon his fists for self protection and right nowboth hands were sore and aching from his encounter earlier in the daywith the thorns of the barberry.

  The young federal agent crouched close to the ground listening for somesound that might indicate the whereabouts of his uncle. He only knew thatMerritt Hughes had dodged out the other side of the taxi. Since thenthere had been no sign or noise to reveal where he had sought shelter.

  Bob strained his eyes, but the darkness in the middle of the block wasintense. Perhaps, after all, that was a blessing for it gave them abetter opportunity to hide and made the task of the searchers all theharder.

  Impatient and cramped from hiding behind the pile of bricks, Bob movedaway. He was determined to escape from the trap into which they hadfallen and he decided that by working his way back along the streettoward the car which had been used by their pursuers might offer the bestavenue of escape.

  A bold thought occurred. It might even be possible to seize their car andmake his own escape.

  Bob, crouching low, crept along the street, at times almost crawling. Itwasn't a pleasant task, but he was steadily putting distance betweenhimself and the stalled taxi, where he knew the hunt for his uncle andhimself was being concentrated.

  The young federal agent stumbled over a timber and sprawled headlong onthe dirt.

  To Bob it sounded as though the noise of his fall must have echoed andre-echoed along the street. He remained motionless, almost breathless onthe ground, waiting for the pursuit to swing toward him. But evidentlythe noise of his tumble was not as great as he had feared and the huntcontinued near the taxi.

  Bob continued his cautious advance toward the car which had brought theirpursuers. He was not certain whether anyone had been left to guard themachine and he moved carefully as he neared the vehicle.

  He was now at least 200 feet from the stalled taxi, and he had no desireto give an alarm which would bring the others swarming toward him.

  Bob now had decided what he would do when he reached the car. In turningit about he would race the engine, which would be sure to attract theattention of the men seeking his uncle and allow him to escape from thefar end of the street. There should be ample time for Bob to maneuver thecar about and get it started back down the street before he could beoverhauled.

  The young federal agent was less than twenty feet from the car, closeenough to hear the soft purring of its powerful engine, when a gun blazedfrom behind him and the echoes of a shot resounded between the buildingswhich flanked the street.