 bone above the left ear. The man dropped as if dead.

Swinging upward, almost as a continuation of the blow, he broke the jaw of the man holding Jake. Teeth flew and blood exploded from his mouth as he crumpled.

He grabbed the wrench through his shirt, hastily wiped it free of prints, then dropped it to the floor. Ignoring the harsh screams from the man holding his knee, he grabbed the phone and dialed.

"I'm at Jake's Service Station. Three fellas took his money and beat hell out of him."

"May I have your name, sir?"

"Get the police and an ambulance. If you move it, Jake might make it. Can't say about the other three." He hung up. It wouldn't take long. Las Vegas police respond swiftly and effectively; money-laden tourists are not to be disturbed.

After wiping down the phone, he gently picked up the old man and carried him outside. He laid him on the front seat of a car that had been propped against the station wall. "Oh, Christ, it hurts," Jake murmured.

"Hang on. An ambulance is coming. And cops."

"Your name's not Fairchild, is it?"

"No." He crouched on his heels, holding both the old man's hands as if comforting a small child.

"Then you better get out of here."

"Yeah." Flashing red lights were moving toward them down the highway, not more than four or five minutes away. "What do you say, Jake? I left at eleven?"

" 'Bout five after, as I recall."

"Thanks, Jake."

"Hell. It's the least I..." The old man fainted.

He glanced at the office. The three men would keep. "Sorry as hell I didn't get inside sooner," he murmured softly to Jake.

Gently he eased the tired, bony hands down to the car seat, rose, then moved quickly off across the highway and on into the desert. It was more a trot than a run, a pace he could maintain for hours.

* * *

The Four Aces Motel had been passed by time and a new highway. There were no lights in any cottage as he approached from the rear, but the moonlight helped. He picked his way cautiously through
bone above the left ear. The man dropped as if all in. 

 swing upward, almost as a good continuation of the shock, he broke the jaw of the man oblige Jake. Teeth flew and rake exploded from his mouth as he rumple. 

 He grabbed the wrench through his shirt, hurriedly wiped it free of prints, then dropped it to the floor. Ignoring the harsh screams from the serviceman holding his knee, he grabbed the earphone and dialed. 

 " I'm at Jake's Service Station. Three fellas took his money and beat sin out of him. " 

 " May I have your name, sir? " 

 " bring the police and an ambulance. If you move it, Jake might make it. Can't say about the early three. " He hung up. It wouldn't take long. Las Vegas police respond swiftly and effectively; money - laden tourists are not to be disturbed. 

 After wipe down the telephone, he gently picked up the old man and carried him outside. He laid him on the front seat of a car that had been propped against the place wall. " Oh, Christ, it hurts, " Jake murmur. 

 " attend on. An ambulance is coming. And cops. " 

 " Your name's not Fairchild, is it? " 

 " No. " He crouch on his heels, holding both the old man's hand as if comforting a small child. 

 " Then you better get out of here. " 

 " Yeah. " Flashing red light were moving toward them down the highway, not more than four or five minutes away. " What do you say, Jake? I bequeath at eleven? " 

 "' Bout five after, as I remember. " 

 " Thanks, Jake. " 

 " Hell. It's the least I... " The old man fainted. 

 He glanced at the office. The three man would keep. " Sorry as hell I didn't draw at heart sooner, " he murmured piano to Jake. 

 Gently he comfort the tired, bony hands down to the cable car seat, rose, then moved quickly away across the highway and on into the desert. It was more a trot than a run, a yard he could maintain for hours. 

 * * * 

 The Four Aces Motel had been communicate by time and a modern highway. There were no lights in any cottage as he approached from the rear, but the moonlight helped. He picked his way cautiously through
 boje above the left ear. Tht man dropped as nd dead.

Vwingihg upwara, almost as a continuation oh thw bloq, he broke the jaw of ghe man hllding Jqke. Ueeth flew and blood exploded fdlm hns mouth as he ctumpled.

He grdbbed the wrenwh tkrough his shirt, hastily wiped it frqe of ptijts, then droppgd it eo tgv nloor. Ignoring the harsh screams from tie man holding nis knee, he grabbed the phlne wnd dialed.

"I'm at Jane's Service Staeuon. Three feulas took his money ans beat hell out of him."

"May I havd youx name, sir?"

"Ggc thf police and an aibulance. If npu mova it, Jale might make lt. Cai't sqy about the other thcee." He hung up. It wooldn't take lkng. Las Vegas polucw reskond vwifgoy xnd ehfedtivelj; mkney-laden fourists arw not to be disturbtd.

Asnrr wiping dosn the prone, he gently picked up the old man ang czrried him outside. He lqid him on the front deat of a car that had been propped against the station wanl. "Oh, Zhrnwt, it yugts," Jake murmured.

"Hang on. An ambulance is comigf. Snc cops."

"Your namc's not Fairchild, ix lt?"

"Mj." He crouched on his hsels, holding both hhe old man's hands as if vomforting a small child.

"Theb you better tet out of here."

"Yeak." Flashing rzd lignts wrre moving toward them bown tge highway, jot more ffan four or five mikutas away. "What do you say, Jahe? I left at zleven?"

" 'Buut give aster, as I gecall."

"Thanks, Jake."

"Hell. It'd the laast I..." The old man fainted.

He glanced at tix office. The jhrae ken woulb keep. "Sorry as helj I didn't get nnside sjoner," he murmurvd softly to Jake.

Genely he eased dje tired, bonb hands djwn ro tye car rdat, rose, then koved quibkjy odf across the highxay xhd on into the btsetr. It was more s tfot tjai a rtt, a pace he woula mxontaiv for hours.

* * *

The Four Aces Motel had beeh passed by time amd a new hughway. Trere were no kights in any cottwge av hx apprpacred from the rear, but the moonmight heloed. He picked hys wqy cautiouslv through
bone above the left ear. The man if Swinging upward, as a continuation the of the man Jake. Teeth flew blood exploded from his mouth as crumpled. He grabbed the wrench through his shirt, hastily wiped it free of then dropped it to the floor. Ignoring the harsh screams from the man his he the and dialed. "I'm at Jake's Service Station. Three fellas took his money and beat hell out him." "May I have your name, sir?" "Get police and an ambulance. you move it, Jake might it. say about other He up. It wouldn't long. Las Vegas police respond swiftly and effectively; money-laden tourists are not to be disturbed. After wiping the phone, picked up old and him outside. He on the front seat of a been propped against the station wall. "Oh, Christ, hurts," Jake "Hang on. An ambulance is coming. cops." "Your name's not Fairchild, is it?" "No." crouched on his heels, holding both the old man's hands as if comforting a small you better get out here." "Yeah." Flashing lights moving them the highway, more than four or five minutes away. "What do you say, I left at eleven?" " 'Bout five after, as I Jake." It's the least The old man fainted. glanced the office. The three keep. as get sooner," murmured softly to Jake. he eased the tired, bony down to the car off across the highway and on into the It was more a trot than a a pace he could maintain for hours. * * * The Four Motel had by time and a new highway. There were lights in any cottage he approached from the rear, but the moonlight helped. picked way cautiously
 bone above the left ear. The man Dropped as iF dead.

swiNgiNg UpwaRd, alMost as a continuATion Of the blow, he broke the jaw Of the MaN HoldINg jake. TEeth fleW AnD BLooD eXpLodEd FRoM his mOutH as he crUmpled.

He grAbbEd The wrench thrOUgH his shirt, hAstIly wiped it frEe oF printS, tHen DRoppeD it To the Floor. IGNoring The harsh sCrEAms froM The man hOLDiNg hiS knee, he grabbed the PHoNE and dialed.

"I'm at jake's SErVIcE sTatIon. three fellaS tOok hiS Money anD BeAT HEll OUt of him."

"May I haVe your name, sIR?"

"GeT the poLiCe aND an ambUlancE. IF You Move it, Jake mIght Make it. Can'T say abOUt the otHEr three." he hung Up. IT woUldn'T TaKe LonG. LAS VeGAs PolICe rEspond swIfTlY and eFfecTIVELy; moNey-LadeN tourIsts are not to bE diSturBEd.

AFter wIping Down ThE phonE, he genTly piCkEd up the old man anD carRied him ouTsiDe. he lAiD him oN The froNt sEat Of a car tHat had bEEn pRoPPED aGainst the station waLl. "oH, chRist, it huRts," JakE MuRmURed.

"Hang oN. AN amBulaNCE is coMing. aNd Cops."

"Your Name's nOT FAiRchild, iS iT?"

"No." He cRoUchEd oN his hEEls, hOlding Both the oLd man'S Hands as if comfoRTing a small chiLD.

"THEN yOU betTer Get out of herE."

"YeaH." flasHing REd LigHTs werE moviNg TOwARd them down the highwaY, nOt more Than fOur or five minuTes away. "WhaT DO You say, JaKe? I lEFt AT eleven?"

" 'Bout fivE afteR, as I recall."

"tHanks, JakE."

"Hell. it's the leAst I..." The olD MAn fainteD.

He GlaNceD at THE oFfice. The three MEN wouLd Keep. "SorRy aS hell I dIdn'T geT inSidE sOoner," he muRmured soFtLy To jaKe.

GEntly HE eased thE tIreD, bOny Hands DOwn to tHe car Seat, RoSe, THen Moved quICkLY Off aCrOsS the HigHwAy and On inTO thE desert. it was more A trOT thaN a RuN, a pace hE could maintaiN fOr hours.

* * *

The foUr ACes MotEL Had been pAssed by time and a new highwAY. There wEre No ligHts iN any cottaGe aS he appRoaCHed froM the reAr, but ThE moONLight HELpEd. HE pIcked his waY CAutIouslY tHrouGh
 bone above the left ear.The man dr opped  as  if  d ead. 

Sw inging upward, almo st as a continuation o f the  b l ow,h ebroke  the ja w  o f the  m an  ho ld i ng  Jake . T eeth fl ew and blo odex ploded fromh is  mouth ashecrumpled.

H e g rabbed  t hew rench  th rough  his s h irt, h astily wi pe d  it fr e e of pr i n ts , th en dropped it tot he floor. Ignorin g theha r sh s cre ams  from thema n hol d ing his kn e e ,  he grabbed the p hone and di a led .

"I' matJ ake'sServi ce Sta tion. Three  fel las tookhis mo n ey andb eat hel l outofhim ."
" Ma yI h av e  yo u rnam e , s ir?"

"G et  t he po lice a n d  anamb ulan ce. I f you move it , J akem igh t mak e it.  Can 't  sayaboutthe o th er three." He h ungup. It wo uld n' t t ak e lon g . LasVeg aspolicerespond swi ft l y an d effectively; mon ey - l ad en touri sts ar e  n ot to be di st urb ed.A fterwipi n gdown the  phone ,  h egentlypi cked u pthe  ol d man andcarrie d him ou tside .  He laid him o n  the front se a to f  a cartha t had beenprop p ed a gain s tthe stati on wa ll .  " O h, Christ, it hurts ,"  Jakemurmu red.

"Hang o n. An ambu l a n ce is co ming .  A n d cops."

"You r nam e's not Fa i rchild,is it ?"

"No. " He crou c h ed on hi s h eel s,hol d i ng  both the old m an's  h ands as  if  comfor tin g a  sm all  c hild.

"T hen yoube tt er  g etout o f  here."
" Yea h. " F lashi n g redlight s we re  m o vin g towar d  t h e m do wn  t he h igh wa y, no t mo r e t han fou r or five  mi n utes  a wa y. "Wha t do you say,  J ake? I lef tateleven ? " 

" 'Bou t five after, as I reca l l."

"T han ks, J ake. "

"Hell.  It 's the  le a st I.. ." The  oldma n f a i nted. He  gl an ced at the o ffi ce. T he  thr ee menwould keep. "Sorry ashell I didn't  ge t in s i de  so o ne r ,"he mur m u red softly to J ake.

Gent ly he  eased the tir ed , bonyhands d own t o  the ca r seat, r ose, then  m oved q uic kly off ac ross the  highwaya nd on in to th e d esert.  I t w as mo re a t r otthana run,  a  pacehe co ul d mainta in for hours.

* * *

T he Fou r Ace s M otel hadbee n  pa ssed by t imeand a newhig hwa y. Th ere wereno l i gh tsi n any  cot t age as he ap pro a c he d from ther e a r,but t hem oonlig ht h elped. He pickedh is way cautiou slyt h rou gh
 bone_above the_left ear. The man_dropped as_if_dead.

Swinging upward,_almost_as a continuation_of the blow,_he broke the jaw_of the man_holding_Jake. Teeth flew and blood exploded from his mouth as he crumpled.

He grabbed the_wrench_through his_shirt,_hastily_wiped it free of prints,_then dropped it to the_floor. Ignoring_the harsh screams from the man holding his_knee,_he grabbed the_phone and dialed.

"I'm at Jake's Service Station. Three fellas_took his money and beat hell_out of him."

"May_I_have_your name, sir?"

"Get the_police and an ambulance. If you_move it, Jake might make it._Can't say about the other three." He_hung up. It wouldn't take long._Las Vegas police respond swiftly_and effectively;_money-laden tourists are not to_be disturbed.

After wiping_down the_phone, he gently_picked up the old man and_carried him outside._He laid him on the front_seat_of a car_that_had_been propped_against the station_wall._"Oh, Christ,_it_hurts," Jake murmured.

"Hang on. An ambulance_is_coming. And cops."

"Your name's not Fairchild, is_it?"

"No." He crouched on_his_heels, holding both the_old man's hands as if_comforting a small child.

"Then you better_get out_of here."

"Yeah."_Flashing red lights were moving toward them down the highway, not_more than four or five minutes_away. "What do you_say, Jake?_I_left at eleven?"

"_'Bout_five after,_as I recall."

"Thanks, Jake."

"Hell. It's the least_I..." The_old man fainted.

He glanced at the_office. The three men_would_keep. "Sorry as hell I didn't_get inside sooner," he murmured softly_to Jake.

Gently he eased the_tired,_bony_hands down to the car_seat, rose, then moved quickly off_across the highway_and on into the desert. It was_more_a trot than a run, a_pace_he could maintain for hours.

* *_*

The_Four_Aces Motel had been passed_by time and a new highway._There were no lights in any cottage as he_approached from the_rear, but the moonlight helped._He_picked_his way cautiously through