◆ SpookStack

217. “Exactly! ‘Nell, you know that mich and I']2 tell you the rest," Shavings says, ignoring the jeopardy he courts telking about Doc in the presence of anyone. “after the accident you sent _6000.00 to cover hospital expanses and for plastic surgery. Then, you bought her another ear. Then, it was decided, because of the accident they'd not cares, put return hone. And they did! "All the time the letters were being apparently sent from the same plece, clthough I suppose you never sav ac envelope with the vite th post-office mark on it. learwhile, the judge had mot cottex to Jashingtoz, ° although he bessed Ruth to wait patieatly, assuring her that he would go | there immediatel,. Right?" "Right you are!" Al asserts. "Al, hex could you be 50 big o fool?!” Shavings boldly asks. "How come you didn't thirk to ask what the judes's name was? I asked him ones, for you see I typod those letters for him. Zveryone of then? I sav the pictures. They vere made up in the Record Office. 41, there is no Ruth! There never was one except in Doc's distorted. braini" "YOU typed those letters. . 2!" shouts Capone. “Vell, itn e dirty son-of-a-bitch! Say, if anybody ever paic for doing me a rotten trick, that bird's gonna pey. I been like a father to him. Believed hin. Trusted him! ard he's played me the dirtiest trick I ever had played on ma, It all seened too real. . . the letters and all. And he telling ue his brother-in-lax -- the cuard,Clerk,--as beirging in the letters fram town. And I been forking out grands like they were pennies, figuring the judge would have of out. ‘Supposed te be mw retired Supreme Court judge. . ." "Doc fas no wife and no brother-in-law, Al," Shavings informs Capone. "So all his characters wove mythical!" Capone is lost in reverle.. . Slowly, wearily. . « he trudges forlornly desolate down the Bouleverd of Shattered Dreams. . .his head bowed, his eyes dimmed with tears. . Betrayed! he inaudibly ourcurs. Betrayed! Absently he pulls on his prison clothes. Thorpe, Shavings atid Cepone's bodyguards stand silently by. They gare pityingly at the wan who half an hour ago bubbled with joy and expectation. Dejection. Surrender. Desolation. All are apparent in the eyes of King Capone as