on to Tux's wrist, but the fall broke his hold.
Tux swung around on Johnny and again the knife flashed, but in falling, Ken had grabbed hold of Tux's trousers cuff and he jerked with all his strength, bringing Tux over backwards on top of him.
Johnny kicked violently at Tux's head. The toe of his shoe smashed against Tux's temple, and for a second or so Tux went limp, the knife falling from his hand.
Ken grabbed the knife and threw it across the room, shoved Tux away from him and scrambled up on hands and knees.
Tux was up at the same time. Blood ran down his face from a cut on the temple where Johnny had kicked him. His face was convulsed with murderous rage.
Before Ken could get out of the way, Tux belted him in the face with a half-arm punch that sent Ken over on his back, but Johnny had snatched up the chair and crashed it down on Tux's head and shoulders.
Johnny suddenly seemed to have found some courage. His white, thin face was as murderous and as vicious as Tux's now. He hit Tux again, driving him to his knees as Ken rolled away and staggered to his feet.
Tux tried to shield his face with his arms as he came off the floor, but Johnny battered his arm down and again hit him on the top of his head with the chair.
The back of the chair snapped and Tux flattened out on his face.
Johnny jumped forward, grabbed a handful of Tux's thick hair and, lifting Tux's head, he slammed it down on the floor.
Tux gave a strangled grunt and went limp.
The two stood over him, panting.
'Let's get out of here!' Ken gasped. 'Come on!'
Johnny gave Tux a hard, vicious kick in the side of his neck, then bending over him, he rolled him over and pulled out Tux's automatic from his hip pocket.
'Come on!' Ken said again.
Johnny followed him along the passage and up on to the deck.
II
The lighted clock on the dashboard showed twenty minutes past eleven as Adams pulled up outside 25 Lessington Avenue.
During the short drive from the hospital he had remained silent, hunched up behind the driving-wheel, while Watson sat beside him, hoping for some explanation which didn't come.
Adams got out of the car and Watson followed him.
They walked up the steps, opened the front door and, with Adams leading, they climbed the stairs to Raphael Sweeting's apartment.
As Adams paused outside the door, he said, 'This guy's going to make a statement. Get it down!'
'Yes, sir,' Watson said, wondering who the guy might be.
Adams rang the bell and waited.
There was a long delay, then the door opened cautiously and Sweeting, a
damp sponge held to his right eye, looked first at Adams and then at Watson. He seemed to shrivel under Adams' hard stare, and he stepped back hurriedly.
Adams walked into the room, and Watson followed him.
'So this is where you've holed up,' Adams said, glancing around the room. 'How's business, Raphael?'
'Now look, Lieutenant,' Sweeting said urgently, 'I'm going straight. How can a guy settle to anything if you cops keep pestering him?'
'I wouldn't know,' Adams said mildly. He wandered over to a chair and sat down. 'Must be difficult for you. How's the blackmail business flourishing?'
'I don't know what you mean,' Sweeting said indignantly. 'I've given that up months ago.'
'Have you? What's the matter with your eye? Someone paid a debt?'
'I had an accident,' Sweeting said sullenly. 'Can't you leave me alone, Lieutenant? I'm trying to earn an honest living.'
'Finding it difficult?' Adams said, taking out his cigarette-case and lighting a cigarette. 'It might be easier for you if I put you inside for ten years.'
Sweeting stiffened.
'You've got nothing on me, and you know it.'
'But I could easily fix something, Raphael. The easiest thing in the world. Don't forget that. I can put you away for ten years just when I want to, but I'll leave you alone if you play along with me. I want some information.'
Sweeting sat down. This had been a hell of a day. His eye ached and he felt old and tired. He looked across the room to where Leo crouched, panting, and he sighed.
'What do you want to know, Lieutenant?'
'I want facts. You told Donovan you saw no one go up or come down and heard nothing. You were lying. Are you going to tell me?'
