The Golden Circle Read Free Page A

happened to Pieters?"
The Phantom had been studying the golden arrow. It was fashioned from an odd sort of gold. He closed his fingers over the emblem. "All right, lieutenant," he said. "Here's what actually happened. I went into Pieters' room, clutched up his pillow like this. . . ." The Phantom grabbed the pillow from the seat beside him and hurled it straight at the police lieutenant.
Colma's cigarette went spinning toward the metal ceiling, sending off sparks. "Heyl"
The Phantom reached out, gave the stocky man one careful chop on the side of the neck. He spun on his heel, diving for the door.
After expelling a groan, Colma fell over unconscious.
The Phantom knew he couldn't convince the New York cop he was innocent. It wouldn't do to be arrested and grilled. The only alternative was to get away, now.
The fat pink conductor was still out there in the corridor, pacing with waddling steps. "Is everything okay?"
"Yes, of course, Lt. Colma wants me to bring Miss Toshiko to him." Before the conductor could say any thing further, the Phantom hurried away. When he was between cars, he said to himself,
"Now to get Devil."
CHAPTER THREE
Lt. Colma's chin was keeping time with the rhythm of the train wheels. He came gradually awake, found his chin digging into the blue-gray compartment seat. "Ugh," he said, yawning and sucking in air.
After rubbing at the side of his neck, he elbowed himself upright. "That guy's a pro, whoever he is."
The wobbly police lieutenant stood. He took a few uncertain steps. His hand happened to brush at a pocket of his rumpled overcoat "Huh, that's funny." Walker hadn't bothered to remove the .38 revolver from Colma's pocket. "Why didn't he take that with him?" Still a little unsteady on his feet, Colma pushed out into the corridor.
"How's the investigation coming, lieutenant?" asked the huge cherub-faced conductor.
"Just great What you might call jim-dandy."
"Now there's an expression I haven't...."
"Which way did that guy go?"
"You mean Mr. Walker?"
"Him, yeah."
"Why, that way," replied the fat conductor, pointing. "He said you'd told him to go fetch our stewardess."
"I didn't" said Colma. "What else can he do in that direction?" "Any number of things." The enormous man lifted it corner of his blue vest and scratched his stomach, thoughtfully. "He might have gone to see his dog."
Huh, he's traveling with a dog?"
"Yes, it's in the baggage car, four coaches forward, lieutenant," said the conductor. "Quite a large animal. You might almost say...."
Lt. Colma was already walking fast, not listening to the fat man.
In the next car, another sleeper, he encountered the porter. "Seen that Walker guy?"
"Why yes, sir."
"Where was he going?"
"He didn't say, sir."
The stocky lieutenant hurried on, breaking into a trot.
He went through the coach cars more slowly, glancing rapidly at all the seated passengers. The lights were dimmed, many of the people were sleeping or frying to.
Colma came to the baggage car finally and found
the door locked. Standing in the swaying pass way between cars, splashed by gusts of wet wind, he crouched and studied the lock. It looked as though
t had been recently tampered with. Squeezing one hand into a fist, the lieutenant pounded on the door. "Open up in there," he ordered. "Come on, come on. This is the police."
No answer came.
The night train thundered on, clattering and rocking through the storm.
The lieutenant hit the door again, his fist slamming against the ocean-blue safety glass. "You're not going anyplace, Walker! If you're in there, open up!"
From inside the baggage car came the sound of Glass shattering.
Drawing his .32, Colma fired at the door lock.
Then he put his shoulder to the door and shoved hard.
The door swung inward.
There were no lights on in the musty-smelling car. Colma threw himself to one side, so that the faint light coming through the open door would not silhouette him.
To his right a crate of pigeons were making soft gurgling cooing sounds. A cat had awakened