Page 16 - 1952

"Just one, senor, the small one. He come aften to the cafe of mi mlUlla.''
"Bueno, Pedro. Let's go to the pawn shop."
Together they left the house and walked down the street, Pedro leading the way. Paul knew he should repor.t the mur- der to tlhe police but getting the eat was of ,prime importance. now. Pedro had added tha.t the men had quarrelled over a ca·t and he had no doubts that that was what the dead man had pawned.
They were passing now inoo a pool'er sec-tion of the town. Shops were closed and alt.hough on most streets there had been a few people, this one was des- erted. Almost. A car was parked a.bout half way down and a girl was seemingly having some trouble with a man who was either hurt or drunk.
As they drew abreast of the ear she turned .to him. "Could you help me, senor?' ' she plead- ed. ''Mv friend has passed out."
' ' Sul'e.''
He leaned over to .grab the man under tlhe arm pits.
"Senor!" But Pedro's warning came too l'ate. A glancing blow .to the side of his head forced him to tlhe ground. He was a- ware of s:omeone searching him, of iP>edro's protestations; then the stree·t was dese·r.ted and Ped- ro w;as shaking him.
"Senor, Senor Jordan. Are you alright?"
''Sure. Pedro," he mumbled and struggled to his feet.
A few minutes later they were outside the pawn shop. Hie knew it was hopeless but they went in
·anyway. The proprietor confirm- ed his suspicions.
The bla;ck cat had been claim- ed ten minutes before by two 1men.
***
Pedro led him to his mother's
r.::~fe. Paul did not know where .~.n look for ·the men and the cat. .1'-le knew the museum wanted it. The fact tlhrut they had given, him five thousand dollars to purchase it proved it.
Pedro !had said the smaller m~n used to tC·Ome often to 'the -eafe. Maybe he would .tonight. There was no harm in waiting to see. Three ·cups of coffee and five cigare!I:Jtes Later he caught a nod from Pedro. From under the brim of his hat Paul watch- ed the man IP'edro's mother was serving.
He was a small man with a dark mean face. His eyes darted nervously from bee to face as he waited impatiently for his order to be filled.
F'ive minutes later he was on his wav with Paul trailing him at a &afe distance. The way l<ed
.truough dreary tunnels flanked by dreari·er hovels. Paul had ,a vague idea he would not be able to find his way out again with- out help.
Suddenly his man ducked into a small squalid cafe. Giving him a few minutes, Paul entered also, lurching a little as he walked. A quick survemanoe of the room showed Paul his quarry was not in the room. He made his way .to the bar and pounded it drunkenly. The !barkeeper lumb- ered over.
"Gimme some vine," Paul de- manded ~oudly.
''Si, senor.''
He poured the wine and set it tefore him.
''Anything else. senor?"
''Yeiah." P·aul downed the wine fast, knowing how 'Vile- the stuff would taste. '''Did you see ani amigo come here? Small man." Paul started to describe the man minutely. But he seem- ed to have trouble with his eyes. Things kept blurring; the bar- keep would not stay in one- pl8ice. His ton,gue could not say what he wanted it t!o; it kept '"etting stuck to the roof of his mouth. He could not understand it. He only had one drink. Then it flashed Ulpon him-it had been too e•asy. The l>ittle man-easily folLowed-the drink. He tried to walk .a:way but it was no use.
In a swirling green fog he sank down and down until there was nothin,g.
14
C. ID. C. I. GLIDANER