 only to touch the butt of the pistol; it was enough.

Stratford bolted toward the alley entrance and was gone. Out of the corner of his eye, Brad saw one of the parked cars at the far end of the alley surge toward him. It was Hank.

He pushed off the ground and the wall behind him. Feeling was returning to his right arm. He scooped up the fallen pistol and ran to the alley entrance. He turned left, colliding solidly with a hard-faced angular young man. He jumped clear and climbed a fire hydrant, holding onto a bus stop sign for support.

Anxiously he scanned the street. There were at least a hundred people in sight; none of them running and Lt. Stratford was not among them. Disgustedly, he climbed back down. The angular man he'd knocked down, grabbed him by the shoulder and whirled him around. Whatever he had planned to say or do was left undone; his eyes held steady on the pistol clutched in Brad's fist.

"Sorry, buddy. My fault," Brad said politely, tucking the.357 behind his waistband. Ignoring the gaping mouths of onlookers, he strode quickly back into the alley.

Hank, his feet scrambling in air, was rummaging around in the trash bin. With a final surge, he eased back out with Stratford's.44 in one hand and a powerful pickup transmitter in the other. When he saw Brad, he grinned and tossed the pistol and transmitter into the back seat of the car alongside the briefcase and an expensive-looking portable tape recorder. "You blew that, didn't you?"

"Can we get out of here?" Brad growled.

"Sure," replied Hank, still grinning. He moved quickly to the other side of the car and got behind the wheel. Brad got in, dragging the briefcase to his lap from the back seat. As Hank started the car, he snapped the case open and lifted the lid. Both men were stunned. "Oh, sweet Lord Jesus," Hank murmured with a sigh.

They'd expected money, but not this. Brad thumbed a couple of stacks of hundreds as he estimated the number of stacks. "There's near two-hundred thou in cash here," Brad said softly. "And look at this stack of cashier's checks!" With reverence, he latched the brief
only to touch the butt of the pistol; it was enough. 

 Stratford bolt toward the bowling alley entrance and was gone. Out of the corner of his center, Brad saw one of the park cars at the far end of the bowling alley billow toward him. It was Hank. 

 He pushed off the land and the wall behind him. Feeling was reelect to his right arm. He outdo up the fall pistol and ran to the alley entrance. He turned left, colliding solidly with a heavily - faced angular young man. He startle clear and climbed a ardor hydrant, holding onto a busbar stop polarity for support. 

 Anxiously he scanned the street. There were at least a hundred citizenry in sight; none of them running and Lt. Stratford was not among them. Disgustedly, he climbed back down. The angular man he'd knocked down, grabbed him by the shoulder and whirled him around. Whatever he had planned to say or do was left undone; his eyes held steady on the pistol clutched in Brad's fist. 

 " Sorry, buddy. My mistake, " Brad said politely, tucking the.357 behind his girdle. ignore the gap mouths of onlookers, he strode quickly back into the alley. 

 Hank, his feet scrambling in tune, was rummaging around in the trash bin. With a final surge, he comfort back out with Stratford's.44 in one hand and a powerful pickup sender in the other. When he visit Brad, he grinned and tossed the pistol and transmitter into the back seat of the car alongside the briefcase and an expensive - look portable tape recorder. " You blew that, didn't you? " 

 " Can we draw out of here? " Brad grumble. 

 " Sure, " replied Hank, still grinning. He moved cursorily to the other side of the cable car and got behind the wheel. Brad got in, dragging the briefcase to his lick from the back seat. As Hank started the cable car, he snapped the case open and lifted the lid. Both valet were stunned. " Oh, sweet Lord Jesus, " Hank murmured with a sigh. 

 They'd expected money, but not this. Brad thumbed a couple of stacks of hundreds as he estimated the act of stacks. " There's near two - hundred thou in cash here, " Brad state softly. " And look at this stack of cashier's checks! " With reverence, he latch the brief
 onpy to touch the butt of uhe pistol; it was enough.

Vtratfkrd boltdd toward the alley entrance abd waw gone. Out of the corndr of his eye, Brae sax one of the parked cars at ths far xnd of the allei surge towasd him. It was Vavk.

Ke pushed off the ground and the walj behinc jim. Feeling waf reuurging no his right arm. He scooped up fhe falnen pistol anc ran to the alley entrancf. He turned left, collifing solidli wiey a hard-facea angular jmung man. Hg jumped clear and climbed a fird hydxant, holdint intl a bus stop sign for support.

Anxiouslf he scsnned the strect. Thxre qere at least a hundrxd people in sight; njne of tham running and Lt. Srrqtforg wav nog amung tiem. Disgudtevly, he climged back doqn. The angular man ne'q knocked down, grabbqd him by the shoulder and whirled him armuns. Whatever he had plannwd to say or do was lgft undone; his eyes held steady on the pistol clutched in Bsad's hirt.

"Sirvy, bjedj. My fault," Brad said politely, tucking the.357 behyhd hps waistband. Ignoving the gaping moitjs jf onlookers, fe strode quickly back into the aljey.

Habk, his fett sctambling in air, was rummagibg around in rhe trash bin. With a final suxge, he easec back out with Stratfoxd's.44 in one hand ajd a powedwul pickup transoitner hn the oufer. When he saw Bwad, he grmnned and torsed the pystol and hransmitter into the bacn seaj of tve car alojgside the briefcase and an expxisive-looking kordabne tape xecordcr. "You blew thae, didn't you?"

"Can we get out uf here?" Brzd growned.

"Sure," repjied Hank, stinp grinning. Hx moved qtickoy ti the ogfer side of thr car and got behine the wheel. Brad gpt kh, dragging the yxitfxase to his lal ffom tje bwwk seat. As Hdnk rtafyed tfe car, he skapoed yhe case open and lixted the lid. Both men eeve stunnee. "Oh, sweqt Lord Jesus," Hank murmured witj a smgh.

Theb'd exprctgd money, but not this. Brad thumged a couole of stacks os hukdreqs as he extimated the number of stacks. "There's neer two-hundred thou in cqsh here," Brad said xpftly. "And lpok ae this stdck of cashier's checjs!" With reverence, he latched the brief
only to touch the butt of the was Stratford bolted the alley entrance the of his eye, saw one of parked cars at the far end the alley surge toward him. It was Hank. He pushed off the ground the wall behind him. Feeling was returning to his right arm. He scooped the pistol ran the alley entrance. He turned left, colliding solidly with a hard-faced angular young man. He jumped and climbed a fire hydrant, holding onto a stop sign for support. he scanned the street. There at a hundred in none them running and Stratford was not among them. Disgustedly, he climbed back down. The angular man he'd knocked down, grabbed by the whirled him Whatever had to say or left undone; his eyes held steady clutched in Brad's fist. "Sorry, buddy. My fault," said politely, the.357 behind his waistband. Ignoring the mouths of onlookers, he strode quickly back into alley. Hank, his feet scrambling in air, was rummaging around in the trash bin. With surge, he eased back with Stratford's.44 in hand a pickup in the When he saw Brad, he grinned and tossed the pistol and into the back seat of the car alongside the briefcase expensive-looking tape recorder. "You that, didn't you?" "Can get of here?" Brad growled. Hank, grinning. to other of the car and behind the wheel. Brad got dragging the briefcase to seat. As Hank started the car, he snapped case open and lifted the lid. Both were stunned. "Oh, sweet Lord Jesus," Hank murmured with a sigh. They'd money, but Brad thumbed a couple of stacks of hundreds he estimated the number stacks. "There's near two-hundred thou in cash here," Brad softly. look at stack of cashier's With reverence, he the brief
 only to touch the butt of the piStol; it was eNough.

strAtfOrD bolTed tOward the alley eNTranCe and was gone. Out of the coRner oF hIS eye, bRaD saw oNe of the PArKED caRs At The FaR EnD of thE alLey surgE toward him. it wAs hank.

He pushed OFf The ground aNd tHe wall behind Him. feelinG wAs rETurniNg tO his rIght arM. he scooPed up the fAlLEn pistOL and ran TO ThE allEy entrance. He turneD LeFT, colliding soliDly witH a HArD-FAceD anGular young MaN. He juMPed cleaR AnD CLImbED a fire hydrant, Holding onto A Bus Stop siGn For SUpport.

anxioUsLY he Scanned the sTreeT. There werE at leaST a hundrED people In sighT; noNe oF theM RuNnIng AnD lt. STRaTfoRD waS not amonG tHeM. DisgUsteDLY, HE cliMbeD bacK down. the angular man He'd KnocKEd dOwn, grAbbed Him bY tHe shoUlder aNd whiRlEd him around. WhatEver He had planNed To Say Or Do was LEft undOne; His Eyes helD steady ON thE pISTOl Clutched in Brad's fisT.

"SORRy, Buddy. My fAult," BrAD sAiD Politely, TuCkiNg thE.357 BEhind His wAIsTband. IgnOring tHE gApIng moutHs Of onloOkErs, He sTrode QUickLy back Into the aLley.

HANk, his feet scramBLing in air, was rUMmAGInG ArouNd iN the trash biN. WitH A finAl suRGe, He eASed baCk out WiTH STRatford's.44 in one hand anD a PowerfUl picKup transmitteR in the otheR. wHEn he saw BRad, hE GrINned and tossed tHe pisTol and tranSMitter inTo the Back seat Of the car aLONgside thE brIefCasE anD AN eXpensive-lookiNG PortAbLe tape rEcoRder. "You BleW thAt, dIdn'T yOu?"

"Can we geT out of heRe?" brAd GrOwlEd.

"SurE," Replied HAnK, stIlL grInninG. he moveD quicKly tO tHe OTheR side of THe CAR and GoT bEhinD thE wHeel. BRad gOT in, DragginG the briefCasE To hiS lAp From the Back seat. As HanK sTarted the cAr, He sNapped THE case opeN and lifted the lid. Both men WEre stunNed. "oh, sweEt LoRd Jesus," HaNk mUrmureD wiTH a sigh.

they'd eXpectEd MonEY, But noT THiS. BrAd Thumbed a coUPLe oF stacKs Of huNdreds aS he estimated the numBEr oF stacks. "There's NeaR two-HUNdRed THoU In cAsH HerE," bRad said softly. "AnD look at thiS sTAcK of cashier'S CheCkS!" With reVerence, He latCHed the bRief
 only to touch the butt of  the pisto l; it  wa s e no ugh. 

St ratford bolted towa rd the alley entranceand w as gone .  O ut of  the co r ne r ofhi seye ,B ra d saw  on e of th e parked c ars  a t the far en d  o f the alle y s urge towardhim . It w as  Ha n k.

H e p ushed  off t h e grou nd and th ew all be h ind him . Fe elin g was returning t o  h i s right arm. H e scoo pe d  u p the  fa llen pisto land r a n to th e  a l l e y e n trance. He tu rned left,c oll idingso lid l y with  a ha rd - fac ed angularyoun g man. He  jumpe d  cleara nd clim bed afir e h ydra n t,  h old in g  on t oa b u s s top sign  f or  supp ort. A n xiou sly  hescann ed the street . T here wer e atleast  a h un dredpeople  in s ig ht; none of the m ru nning and  Lt .Str at fordw as not  am ong  them.Disgust e dly ,h e cl imbed back down. T he a ng ular man  he'dk no ck e d down,gr abb ed h i m  by t he s h ou lder and  whirl e dhi m aroun d.  Whate ve r h e h ad pl a nned  to sa y or dowas l e ft undone; his eyes held ste a dy o nt he p ist ol clutched  inB rad' s fi s t. 

" S orry,  budd y. My fault," Brad said p ol itely,  tuck ing the.357 b ehind hisw a i stband.Igno r in g  the gaping mo uthsof onlooke r s, he st rodequicklyback into t he alley .
Han k,his f ee t scramblingi n  air ,was rum mag ing aro und  in  th e t ra sh bin. W ith a fi na lsu rg e,he ea s ed backou t w it h S tratf o rd's.4 4 inoneha nd and  a powe r fu l pick up  t rans mit te r intheo the r. When  he saw B rad ,  hegr in ned and  tossed the p is tol and tr an smi tter i n t o the ba ck seat of the car alon g side th e b riefc aseand an ex pen sive-l ook i ng por tabletapere cor d e r. "Y o u  b lew  t hat, didn' t you ?"

" Ca n we  get ou t of here?" Brad g r owl ed.

"Sure,"rep lied H an k,s ti l l g ri n nin g .  He moved quick ly to theot h er  side of t h e c ar  and go t behin d the wheel.Brad gotin, dragg in g th e bri efcase tohis lapfrom theb ack s e at . AsHan k star te d t he ca r, hes nap ped t he cas eopen a nd li ft ed the l id. Both men were stunn ed. "O h, sw eet  Lord Jes us, "  Ha nk murmur ed w ith a sigh .
The y'd e xpe c ted m oney ,  b utn ot th is.B rad thumb e da c o u pl e of stacks o f  hu ndred s a s  he es tima ted the number of stacks. "There 's n e a r t wo- h undr ed  thou in cashher e, " Brad sai dsoftly. "An d look a tt his s tack o f cash ier's c h e ck s !" Wit h re ver ence, helat ch e d the b ri ef 
 only_to touch_the butt of the_pistol; it_was_enough.

Stratford bolted_toward_the alley entrance_and was gone._Out of the corner_of his eye,_Brad_saw one of the parked cars at the far end of the alley surge_toward_him. It_was_Hank.

He_pushed off the ground and_the wall behind him. Feeling_was returning_to his right arm. He scooped up the_fallen_pistol and ran_to the alley entrance. He turned left, colliding solidly_with a hard-faced angular young man._He jumped clear_and_climbed_a fire hydrant, holding_onto a bus stop sign for_support.

Anxiously he scanned the street. There_were at least a hundred people in_sight; none of them running and_Lt. Stratford was not among_them. Disgustedly,_he climbed back down. The_angular man he'd_knocked down,_grabbed him by_the shoulder and whirled him around._Whatever he had_planned to say or do was_left_undone; his eyes_held_steady_on the_pistol clutched in_Brad's_fist.

"Sorry, buddy._My_fault," Brad said politely, tucking the.357_behind_his waistband. Ignoring the gaping mouths of_onlookers, he strode quickly_back_into the alley.

Hank, his_feet scrambling in air, was_rummaging around in the trash bin._With a_final surge,_he eased back out with Stratford's.44 in one hand and a_powerful pickup transmitter in the other._When he saw Brad,_he grinned_and_tossed the pistol_and_transmitter into_the back seat of the car alongside_the briefcase_and an expensive-looking portable tape recorder._"You blew that, didn't_you?"

"Can_we get out of here?" Brad_growled.

"Sure," replied Hank, still grinning. He_moved quickly to the other_side_of_the car and got behind_the wheel. Brad got in, dragging_the briefcase to_his lap from the back seat. As_Hank_started the car, he snapped the_case_open and lifted the lid. Both_men_were_stunned. "Oh, sweet Lord Jesus,"_Hank murmured with a sigh.

They'd expected_money, but not this. Brad thumbed a couple of_stacks of hundreds_as he estimated the number_of_stacks._"There's near two-hundred thou in cash here," Brad said softly._"And look_at this stack_of cashier's checks!" With reverence, he latched the brief