The Face Behind the Mask Page #5

but find Dinky.

Dinky.

Jeff would like to have a little talk with you.

Talk with me? About what?

Never mind, come on.

You better talk while you can. Where is he?

I don't know...

Quit stalling. Where is he?

You'll have to find out for yourself.

Maybe he wants to play rough.

Yeah, take his shoes off.

No, please.

Don't do that.

No, please, no...

I'll tell, I'll tell...

Helen, here we are.

Come on, come on, Hobo.

Careful, darling.

There are three steps.

I can feel it's home.

I can almost see those green shutters.

You'll have to go over everything

to see what I've got.

The house is still a little empty...

It doesn't matter, Janos.

Anyway the icebox is filled and I am starving.

Hey, he's starving too.

So am I.

We'll have our first breakfast with a guest.

Helen...

Helen, you know you still have time

to change your mind.

I'll not change, Janos.

It's good to hear you laugh.

It's all so... so perfect.

Yes, it is perfect.

Now I'll be able to work again

like I used to.

You know, Helen, I can make beautiful clocks

with hand-carved faces and-

And I can do my bead-work.

No, no. I'll make a good enough living

for both of us,

and you'll have to take care of our house.

Our house.

Hello, Johnny.

I just thought I'd drop by and say hello.

Who's the... the little lady?

How did you find this place, Jeff?

A little birdy... squealed.

Dinky... What did you do to him?

Janos, is there something the matter?

Who is this gentleman?

Helen, this is Jeff Jeffries.

We're old friends, buddies.

We used to be partners.

Weren't we, Johnny?

Would you care for a cup of coffee, Mr. Jeffries?

No thanks. I'm in a hurry.

I've got friends waiting outside.

We're taking a trip, a little vacation,

thanks to Janos.

What do you mean?

You know how it is, Johnny.

The town's full of people

who don't like the way we do business.

- That's an old story.

- Will you excuse me, please?

Come along, Hobo.

Spill it. You didn't torture Dinky into

telling you about this place unless it was important.

Of course it's important.

I wanted to tell you goodbye.

I'm awful sorry we couldn't hang

around your apartment

until your friend O'Hara got there.

Who?

O'Hara. He's a pal of yours, isn't he?

You are just a mug, Jeff. You haven't

got a brain in your head.

If you've come up here to get me, don't try it.

You might never go on that little vacation.

Why you little squirt, you're just as

false as that face and you know it.

Better get going, Jeff.

I'll get going all right. I don't want

to mess up my hands with...

I won't even waste a bullet on you.

But you better say your prayers anyhow.

Got away fast to plant the thing.

Kind of figured you and Johnny

wouldn't talk long.

What are you gonna do with chicken pants here?

I think we've carried him

long enough on this ride.

Just as you say, Jeff.

Don't be too rough.

Watch out!

Everything is clear sailing from now on.

- You mean flying, don't you?

- That's right.

What's the matter?

Phone... Janos...

Tell him... phone...

Let me help you, mister.

Never mind me.

Please, please...

Call this number.

Ask for Mrs. Perkins.

Important... Life or death.

Sure.

Charlie, you better go up and get Mr. Szabo.

Hurry now. Tell him he's wanted on the phone.

Tell him Dinky is calling and it's very important.

All right, Ma.

You're wanted on the phone.

Ma says it was a Mr. Dinky and very important.

Climb in. I'll take you over.

Dinky...

Helen...

I'll be right back.

- Hurry, Janos.

I'll unpack the car.

We can't work without music, can we?

You like music, Hobo? Come on.

Johnny. It's connected to your

radio. In your car.

What, in my car?

In my car? In my radio?... No...

Come on, be a good dog.

Move over.

That's it, isn't that nice?

Now...

Let's hear what we can find.

Helen!

Helen...

Janos...

I didn't mean to do anything wrong...

Please... I just wanted some...

music.

Helen...

And then they said they were flying to Mxico.

Johnny, I never wanted to tell them

where you were.

I tried, honest I did...

- Where are they flying from, from what place?

They made arrangements with Mike,

you know him.

They're taking off at four in the morning.

Four in the morning...

Dinky, I want you to promise me something.

Sure, Johnny, what?

Go back and buy that farm for your mother.

You are going to live there too

and get strong again. Will you do that?

Sure, Johnny.

But I haven't got any money.

Just go back, you'll have the money.

I promise you that.

That's Cary, he's ready. Mike kept his

part of the bargain.

All right, let's go.

Somebody's going to get a good car.

They're welcome to it.

Here's the dough. Get going.

All I know is what I told Mr. O'Hara.

This little guy slugs me and

then leaves this envelope.

And you're not going to print

any of this story.

- Why not?

- Because it's part of the deal.

What does the letter say?

Asks me to send the reward to

some old lady in Minnesota.

Then he makes a date to meet me

in the middle of the Arizona desert

at half past two in the afternoon next Friday.

There's a map to show how to get there.

Next Friday? That's a gag

to throw you off the trail.

I'm not so sure.

There's a ring of truth to this.

Did you check the address in Minnesota?

It's legitimate, all right. A poverty-stricken

old lady who can really use the dough.

What do you say? You going?

I've got to. I can't afford to

pass up a lead like this.

What's the matter? Why are we going down?

Don't know.

Boy, it's hot!

You could fry eggs in the sand.

Say, isn't that...?

Janos.

- Put that away.

Janos, what are you doing here?

You shouldn't be surprised.

I didn't want you to leave without me.

I'll get him.

Don't be a fool. Can you fly a plane?

Nobody can fly any plane without fuel.

But we can't stay here.

Yes, we can stay here.

We are going to stay here because...

we can't get away.

We are over 100 miles from any place and...

there are no trains, no highways, and no planes.

But we'll die!

Yes, we'll die.

Strange, isn't it?

How a little switch can cause death to someone

who is always trying to give happiness.

Keep thinking, thinking, your little brains

are turning round and round in circles

looking for a way out.

But you will not have the courage

to take the way out yourselves.

Foolishly and vainly you will hope.

Hope that somehow you will be saved.

And slowly you will surely die.

For my sins, I've earned my punishment.

I shall die too.

He's gone crazy.

Go ahead. It won't hurt as much as being alive.

Surrounded by my treacherous friends.

And I won't have to wait as long as you.

Listen, Jeff...

He's going to wait until we're exhausted

or asleep and then he's going to take off.

We've gotta watch him.

One of us has got to be awake all the time.

We'll take turns.

Never mind that. We'll tie him to the plane.

- Jeff... get me some water.

- You've had your ration.

Please, Jeff, just a little.

There's Benson.

Benson!

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