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yammering hysterically. He could see his livid, glistening face and the way his mouth worked in terror.
    Bailey walked silently. His face was pale, but dangerous lights smouldered in his eyes.
    The group of men reached a small clearing in the thicket and, all realizing that this was the place of execution, they stopped.
    Slim pointed to convenient trees.
    "Tie them there," he said.
    While Flynn covered Bailey, Woppy fastened Riley to the tree with the cord Doc tossed to him. Riley made no effort to save himself. He stood against the tree, shuddering, helpless in his terror. Woppy turned to Bailey. "Get up against that tree," he said savagely.
    Bailey walked deliberately to the tree and set his back against it. As Woppy came up, he kicked like a snake striking. His shoe sank into Woppy's groin, and then Bailey was behind the tree, the slim trunk between him and Flynn's gun.
    Slim became violently excited.
    "Don't shoot!" he screamed out. "I want him alive!"
    Woppy writhed on the grass, trying to get his breath back. No one bothered about him. Doc stepped behind some bushes. His face was white and he looked sick. He was going to keep out of it.
    Flynn slowly began to edge towards the tree while Slim stood motionless, the thin-bladed knife glittering in his hand.
    Bailey looked around for a way of escape. Behind him the shrubs were thick; in front of him, Flynn approached cautiously; on his left, Slim stood with his knife. It was to his right that he must make his bid for freedom. He made a sudden dive, but Flynn was closer than he realised. He aimed a blow at Flynn who ducked. Bailey's fist went over Flynn's head and he floundered. Flynn closed with him.
    For a minute they strained. Then Bailey who was the more powerful man, broke away. He slammed Flynn on the jaw and Flynn went down and out.
    Bailey sprang away.
    Slim hadn't moved. He stood there, his thin body drooping, his loose mouth half open and the knife hanging limply in his fingers. Woppy was still out. Bailey suddenly changed his ideas. There was only Slim. Doc didn't count. If he could knock Slim out, then he and Riley could surprise Eddie. It was worth the risk. He moved towards Slim who waited with yellow, gleaming eyes.
    Then Bailey suddenly saw Slim grin. The idiot mask slipped and the killer was there. Bailey knew he was but a few heart beats from death. He had never felt so frightened. He stood still, like a hypnotized rabbit.
    The knife flashed through the air and sped at him. He took the blade in his throat.
    Slim stood over him while he died, watching and feeling the same odd ecstasy run through him which a killing always gave him.
    Woppy had sat up, his face ashen. He began to curse softly. Flynn, still on his back, moved uneasily, a livid bruise growing on his jaw. Doc turned away. He wasn't callous like the others.
    Slim looked over at Riley who shut his eyes. A horrible croaking sound came from him. Slim cleaned his knife by driving it into the ground. Then he straightened.
    "Riley..." he said softly.
    Riley opened his eyes.
    "Don't kill me, Slim," he panted. "Gimme a break! Don't kill me!"
    Slim grinned. Then moving slowly through the patch of sunlight, he approached the cringing man.

CHAPTER TWO

1
    MISS BLANDISH was pushed into the hard light of the overhead lamp. Two pads of cotton-wool were strapped across her eyes with adhesive tape. Eddie supported her. She leaned heavily against him. His hand on her arm felt hard and warm. It was her only contact in the darkness.
    From her chair, Ma Grisson stared at Miss Blandish. Before leaving Johnny's place, Eddie had telephoned her, telling her they were on their way. She had had time to appreciate what this kidnapping would mean to her and the gang. Handled carefully and with any reasonable luck, she and the gang would be worth a million dollars before the end of the week. For the past three years, she had built up the reputation of the gang. They hadn't made a great deal of money, but they hadn't done