very close together, watching The Avenger. Reunited after danger, the Negro and his pretty wife seemed to want to touch each other frequently to reassure themselves that each was there. They were a devoted couple.
Diminutive, blond Nellie Gray was there, from New York. She sat up straight like a little girl. You’d never have been able to look at her and picture her at the wheel of a gas-filled car, smashing it out of a garage through planks, heavy door and a rain of bullets just a short time ago.
Very near her was the giant, Smitty, trying to look unconcerned about her. It was to be suspected that little Nellie Gray was the giant’s main concern in life. It was also to be suspected that Nellie had a spot in her heart for Smitty; though a caterpillar tractor could not have dragged any such admission from her.
Mac was on the opposite side of the room. His eyes, as were the eyes of the others, were on The Avenger.
Benson sat in a straight-backed chair, powerful, compact body easily erect. His pale, icy eyes were like cold crystal, staring at nothing. He was putting together the things he had found out so far.
There was one other person in the room. An outsider, as far as the indomitable little band of crime-fighters was concerned. But not an outsider in this particular case. That was Nan Stanton. Nellie had brought Nan with her to Washington.
In his steely hands, Benson had the crumpled page from Nan’s book of routine calls that Nellie had deftly taken from the bony man’s pocket. He was looking at those names.
One of them was Tetlow Adams. The other was that of a man just murdered: Congressman Coolie.
“You say Tetlow Adams has called several times on Dr. Fram?” The Avenger said to Nan.
She nodded her sleek brunette head.
“But Congressman Coolie called only once?”
“Just once, as far as I know,” said Nan.
“That was in the New York office?” said The Avenger. “Not down here in Washington?”
“That was in the New York office,” nodded Nan.
“Tell me about it, please?”
Nan Stanton half closed her eyes to remember. “Congressman Coolie was in New York for the day, on some personal business,” she said. “At least that was what I gathered when he came in and asked to see Dr. Fram. It seemed that the doctor had gotten in touch with the Congressman and requested him to drop in. Congressman Coolie had come to the office, as asked, but was pretty impatient about it. He had a lot to do in a short time. And he didn’t seem to know why he had been called.”
“You’re sure of that?” interjected The Avenger, colorless eyes like ice under moonlight.
“Yes. He didn’t know what Dr. Fram wanted to see him about. I guessed that it was on the sanity test bill; but all I could do was guess, because nothing was said. The Congressman went into Dr. Fram’s private office. After a few minutes I heard his voice rise angrily; then he came out again. He looked angry and—and defiant. I think that’s the way you’d describe the expression on his face. He brushed past me without seeing me and went out. And that’s the last he ever saw of Dr. Fram, as far as I know.”
The Avenger’s prematurely white head nodded. His face was as emotionless as paralyzed, dead flesh must always be. But his eyes were like pale agates with little lights behind them.
“That fits in with the idea that has been shaping up in my mind,” he said slowly. “Coolie is House leader of land conservation plans. In the Senate, Burnside and Cutten head most of the same movements. All three are from Montana.
“Somebody wants some area in Montana taken out from government supervision, and turned over to private ownership. On the order of the Teapot Dome scandal.
“To narrow it down: Sheriff came in a hurry to Washington to talk over something with his State representatives. And just before he came, he had been on a visit to the government park nearest his town, Bison National Park. So it is Bison Park that some interest
Diminutive, blond Nellie Gray was there, from New York. She sat up straight like a little girl. You’d never have been able to look at her and picture her at the wheel of a gas-filled car, smashing it out of a garage through planks, heavy door and a rain of bullets just a short time ago.
Very near her was the giant, Smitty, trying to look unconcerned about her. It was to be suspected that little Nellie Gray was the giant’s main concern in life. It was also to be suspected that Nellie had a spot in her heart for Smitty; though a caterpillar tractor could not have dragged any such admission from her.
Mac was on the opposite side of the room. His eyes, as were the eyes of the others, were on The Avenger.
Benson sat in a straight-backed chair, powerful, compact body easily erect. His pale, icy eyes were like cold crystal, staring at nothing. He was putting together the things he had found out so far.
There was one other person in the room. An outsider, as far as the indomitable little band of crime-fighters was concerned. But not an outsider in this particular case. That was Nan Stanton. Nellie had brought Nan with her to Washington.
In his steely hands, Benson had the crumpled page from Nan’s book of routine calls that Nellie had deftly taken from the bony man’s pocket. He was looking at those names.
One of them was Tetlow Adams. The other was that of a man just murdered: Congressman Coolie.
“You say Tetlow Adams has called several times on Dr. Fram?” The Avenger said to Nan.
She nodded her sleek brunette head.
“But Congressman Coolie called only once?”
“Just once, as far as I know,” said Nan.
“That was in the New York office?” said The Avenger. “Not down here in Washington?”
“That was in the New York office,” nodded Nan.
“Tell me about it, please?”
Nan Stanton half closed her eyes to remember. “Congressman Coolie was in New York for the day, on some personal business,” she said. “At least that was what I gathered when he came in and asked to see Dr. Fram. It seemed that the doctor had gotten in touch with the Congressman and requested him to drop in. Congressman Coolie had come to the office, as asked, but was pretty impatient about it. He had a lot to do in a short time. And he didn’t seem to know why he had been called.”
“You’re sure of that?” interjected The Avenger, colorless eyes like ice under moonlight.
“Yes. He didn’t know what Dr. Fram wanted to see him about. I guessed that it was on the sanity test bill; but all I could do was guess, because nothing was said. The Congressman went into Dr. Fram’s private office. After a few minutes I heard his voice rise angrily; then he came out again. He looked angry and—and defiant. I think that’s the way you’d describe the expression on his face. He brushed past me without seeing me and went out. And that’s the last he ever saw of Dr. Fram, as far as I know.”
The Avenger’s prematurely white head nodded. His face was as emotionless as paralyzed, dead flesh must always be. But his eyes were like pale agates with little lights behind them.
“That fits in with the idea that has been shaping up in my mind,” he said slowly. “Coolie is House leader of land conservation plans. In the Senate, Burnside and Cutten head most of the same movements. All three are from Montana.
“Somebody wants some area in Montana taken out from government supervision, and turned over to private ownership. On the order of the Teapot Dome scandal.
“To narrow it down: Sheriff came in a hurry to Washington to talk over something with his State representatives. And just before he came, he had been on a visit to the government park nearest his town, Bison National Park. So it is Bison Park that some interest
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