,*APT] ,,XVIII

,R1DY = ,FR.E

  ,S* 0 ! REAC;N FOLL[+ ! CRA%+ "? (!
B>N1 C\PL$ )! SU45 APPE>.E (! M5 9 !
AUTOMOBILE &! ?R1T (! F>M]1 T1 =! MO;T1
,TOM1 ,N$1 OR _! -PANIONS F ! TANK CD
SAY NO?+4 ,!Y J /OOD />+ AT ! F>M] )!
GUN1 :ILE HE GRIMLY REG>D$ !M4 ,X 0 ,TOM
:O SPOKE F/4

8,:AT'S ! IDEA80 ASK$ ! "Y 9V5TOR4 8,:Y
  DON'T
Y WANT U 6LOOK "? ! RU9S80

  8,Y'LL LE>N SOON 5\<60 0 ! GRIM ANSW]4
  ,B ,TOM 0 N 6BE PUT (F ) UNDECID$
TALK4
  8,IF "!'S BE5 AN A3ID5T10 HE SD1
8WE'RE SORRY = X4 ,B DELAY MAY 2
DANG]\S4 ,IF "S "O IS HURT--0
  8,Y'LL 2 HURT1 IF ,I H MY WAY AB X60
SNAPP$ ! F>M]1 8& HURT 9 A PLACE ": X
ALW TELLS4 ,I M1N YR POCKETBOOK6 ,T'S !
K9D (A MAN ,I AM--PRACTICAL40
  8,HE M1NS IF WE'VE KILL$ OR 9JUR$ ANY
"O WE'LL H 6PAY DAMAGES10 :ISP]$ ,N$
6,TOM4 8,B DON'T AGREE 6ANY?+ UNTIL Y
SEE YR LAWY]4 ,T'S A HOT "O1 ?\<1 TRY+
6CLAIM DAMAGES 2F HE "KS :O'S HURT60
  8,I'VE GOT 6F9D \ M AB ?10 ,TOM
ANSW]$4 ,HE />T$ 6WALK ON4
  8,NO Y DON'T60 CRI$ ! F>M]1 )A SN>L4
8,Z ,I SD1 Y FOLKS HAS D"O DAMAGE 5 ) YR
?RE%+ MA*9E1 OR :AT"E Y CALL X4 ,N[ Y'VE
GOT 6PAY60
  8,WE >E WILL+ TO10 SD ,TOM1 Z
C\RTE\SLY Z HE CD4 8,B F/ WE WANT 6"K :O
HAS BE5 HURT1 OR POSSIBLY KILL$4 ,DON'T
Y ?9K X BE/ 6GET !M 6A DOCTOR4 & !N TALK
AB M"OY DAMAGES LAT]80

8,DOCTOR8 ,HURT80 CRI$ ! F>M]1 ! O!R M5
  9 !
AUTO SAY+ NO?+4 8,:O SD ANY?+ AB T80

  8,I ?"\10 2GAN ,TOM1 8T Y--0
  8,I'M TALK9' AB DAMAGES 6MY B>N60 CRI$
! F>M]4 8,Y _H NO "R 6G SMA%+ X UP ?
WAY1 & Y'VE GOT 6PAY = X1 OR MY "N A9'T
,AMOS ,KANK]60
  8,OH60 & "! 0 GRT RELIEF 9 ,TOM'S
VOICE4 8,!N WE HAV5'T KILL$ ANY "O80
  8,I DON'T "K :AT Y'VE D"O10 ANSW]$ !
F>M]1 & 8 VOICE 0 N A PL1SANT "O4 8,I'M
SURE ,I C'T KEEP TRACK ( ALL YR RUC;NS4
,ALL ,I "K IS T Y'VE RU9$ MY B>N1 & Y'VE
GOT 6PAY = X1 & PAY GD1 TOO60
  8,= T OLD RAM%ACKLE80 CRI$ ,N$4
  8,HU%60 BE7$ ,TOM1 9 A L[ VOICE4 8,I'M
WILL+ 6PAY1 ,N$1 =! SAKE ( HAV+ PROV$
:AT MY TANK CD D4 ,I'M ONLY TOO GLAD
6LE>N NO "O 0 HURT4 ,0 "!80 HE ASK$1
TURN+ 6! F>M]4
  8,WAS "! :AT80
  8,WAS "! ANYBODY 9 YR B>N80
  8,N Z ,I "KS ON10 0 ! GR\*Y ANSW]4 8,A
MAN :O SAW YR MA*9E -+ ?"\ %E 0 H1D$ =
MY BUILD+1 & HE RUN & TOLD ME4 ,!N "S
FRS ( M9E BR"\ ME "H 9 _! MA*9E4 ,I TELL
Y ,I'VE GOT ALL ! EVID;E ,I NE$ ;AG'9 Y1
AN' ,I'M GO+ 6H DAMAGES6 ,T B>N 0 WOR?
?REE ?\S& DOLL>S IF X 0 WOR? A C5T1 &--0
  8,? MATT] C EASILY 2 SETTL$10 SD ,TOM1
TRY+ 6KEEP 8 TEMP]4 8,MY "N IS ,SWIFT1
&--0

8,DON'T GET SWIFT ) ME1 T'S ALL ,I ASK60
  &!
F>M] LAU<$ GRIMLY AT 8 CLUMSY JOKE4

  8,I'LL D :AT"E IS "R10 ,TOM SD1 )
DIGN;Y4 8,I LIVE OV] NE> ,%OPTON1 & IF Y
WANT 6S5D YR LAWY] 6SEE M9E1 :Y--0
  8,I DON'T 2LIEVE 9 LAWY]S60 BROKE 9 !
F>M]4 8,ALL !Y ?9K ( IS 6GET :AT !Y C =
_!SELVES4 ,& ,I C D T MYF4 ,I'LL GET X \
( Y 2F Y L1VE1 OR1 ANYH[1 2F Y TAKE YR
3TRAP;N AWAY10 & HE GL.ED AT ! TANK4
  ,! SAME SUSPICION CAME AT ONCE 6,TOM &
,N$1 &! LATT] GAVE VOICE 6X :5 HE
MURMUR$ 9 A L[ VOICE 6HIS *UM3
  8,? IS A FRAME-UP--A S*EME1 ,TOM4 ,HE
DOESN'T C>E A RAP =! B>N4 ,X'S "S ( T
,BLAKESON'S DO+1 6MAKE TR\# = Y40
  8,I 2LIEVE Y60 AGRE$ ,TOM4 8,N[ ,I "K
:AT 6D40
  ,HE LOOK$ T[>D ! COLLAPS$ B>N1 Z IF
MAK+ A M5TAL -PUT,N ( XS VALUE1 & !N
TURN$ T[>D ! F>M]4
  8,I'M V SORRY10 SD ,TOM1 8IF ,I H
CAUS$ ANY TR\#4 ,I WANT$ 6TE/ MY MA*9E \
ON A WOOD5 /RUCTURE1 & ,I PICK$ YR B>N4
,I SUPPOSE ,I %D H -E 6Y F/1 B ,I DID N
WANT 6WA/E "T4 ,I SAW ! B>N 0 (
PRACTIC,Y NO VALUE
  8,NO VALUE60 BROKE 9 ! F>M]4 8,WELL1
,I'LL %[ Y1 "Y MAN1 T Y C'T PLAY FA/ &
LOOSE ) O!R P'S PROP]TY & N SETTLE60
  8,I'M P]FECTLY WILL+ TO1 ,MR4 ,KANK]4
,I CD SEE T ! B>N 0 ALM R1DY 6FALL1 & ,I
_H ALR DET]M9$1 2F S5D+ MY TANK "? X1
6PAY ! [N] ANY R1SONA# SUM4 ,I AM WILL+
6D T N[40
  8,WELL1 ( C\RSE IF Y'RE S R1DY 6D T10
REPLI$ ! F>M]1 & ,N$ ?"\ HE CAU<T A GL.E
PASS 2T HM & "O (! M5 9 ! AUTO1 8IF Y'RE
R1DY 6D T1 J H& OV] ?REE ?\S& DOLL>S1 &
WE'LL CALL X A "D'S "W4 ,X'S RE,Y WOR?
M1 B ,I'LL SAY ?REE ?\S& =A QK
SETTLE;T40
  8,:Y1 ? B>N10 CRI$ ,N$1 8ISN'T WOR?
HALF T6 ,I "K "S?+ AB R1L E/ATE VALUES1
= \R BANK MAKES LOANS ON F>MS >.D "H--0
  8,YR BANK A9'T MADE ME NO LOANS1 "Y
MAN60 SNAPP$ ,MR4 ,KANK]4 8,I DON'T NE$
N"O4 ,MY PLACE IS FREE & CLE>6 ,& ?REE
?\S& DOLL>S IS ! PRICE ( MY B>N Y'VE
KNOCK$ 6SMI!RE5S4 ,IF Y DON'T WANT 6PAY1
,I'LL F9D A WAY 6MAKE Y4 ,& ,I'LL HOLD
Y1 OR YR TANK1 Z Y CALL X1 SECUR;Y = MY
DAMAGES6 ,Y C TAKE YR *OICE AB T40
  8,Y C'T HOLD U60 CRI$ ,TOM4 8,S* ?+S
>5'T D"O "H60
  8,WELL1 !N1 ,I'LL HOLD YR TANK60 CRI$
! F>M]4 8,I GUESS X'LL SELL = PRETTY NI<
ONTO :AT Y [E ME1 ?\< :AT X'S GD = ,I
C'T SEE4 ,S Y PAY ME ?REE ?\S& DOLL>S OR
L1VE YR MA*9E "H Z SECUR;Y40
  8,T'S ! GAME60 :ISP]$ ,N$4 8,"!'S "S
PLOT "H4 ,!Y WANT 6GET POSSES.N ( YR
TANK1 ,TOM1 & !Y'VE SEIZ$ ON ? *.E 6D
X40
  8,I 2LIEVE Y10 AGRE$ ! "Y 9V5TOR4
8,WELL1 !Y'LL F9D T TWO C PLAY AT T
GAME4 ,MR4 ,KANK]10 HE W5T ON1 8X IS \
(! "Q 6CLAIM YR B>N IS WOR? ?REE ?\S&
DOLL>S40
  8,OH1 IS X80 SNE]$ ! F>M]4 8,WELL1 ,I
DIDN'T ASK Y 6-E "H & MAKE K9DL+ WOOD (
X6 ,T 0 YR DO+S1 & Y'VE _H YR FUN \ ( X4
,N[ Y C PAY ! PIP]1 & ,I'M "H 6MAKE Y
PAY60 ,& HE BR"\ ! GUN >.D 9 A M5AC+
MANN]4
  8,HE'S "R1 9 A WAY10 SD ,N$ 6HIS *UM4
8,WE %D H SECUR$ 8 P]MIS.N F/4 ,HE'S GOT
U 9 A CORN]1 & ALM ANY JURY ( F>M]S >.D
"H1 AF !Y HE>D ! /ORY (! SMA%$ B>N1 WD
GIVE HM H1VY DAMAGES4 ,X ISN'T S M* T !
B>N IS WOR? T Z X IS 8 PROP]TY "RS T
WE'VE VIOLAT$4 ,A F>M]'S B>N IS 8 CA/LE1
S 6SP1K40
  8,I GUESS Y'RE "R10 AGRE$ ,TOM1 )A R
RUE;L FACE4 8,B ,I'M N GO+ 6H& HM OV]
?REE ?\S& DOLL>S4 ,9 FACT1 ,I HAV5'T T
M* ) ME40
  8,OH1 WELL1 ,I DON'T SUPPOSE HE'D WANT
X ALL 9 CA%40
  ,B1 X APPE>$1 T 0 J :AT ! F>M] WANT$4
,HE W5T OV] ALL 8 >GU;TS AG1 & X CD N 2
D5I$ T HE _H ! LAW ON 8 SIDE4 ,Z HE "RLY
SD1 ,TOM CD N EXPECT 6G AB ! C.TRY1
8SMA%+ UP B>NS & S* L10 )\T 2+ WILL+
6PAY4
  8,WELL1 :AT Y GO+ 6D80 ASK$ ! F>M] AT
LA/4 8,I C'T /AY "H ALL "D4 ,I'VE GOT "W
6D4 ,I C'T G >.D SMA%+ B>NS4 ,I WANT
?REE ?\S& DOLL>S1 OR ,I'LL HOLD YR
3TRAP;N = SECUR;Y40
  ,? LA/ HE ANN\NC$ ) M 3VIC;N AF HE _H
_H A TALK ) "O (! M5 9 ! AUTOMOBILE4 ,&
X 0 ? 3SULT,N T 3FIRM$ ,TOM & ,N$ 9 _!
2LIEF T ! :OLE ?+ 0 A PLOT1 GR[+ \ (
,TOM'S R RECK.S DE/RUC;N (! B>N2 A PLOT
ON ! "P ( ,BLAKESON & 8 GANG4 ,T !Y _H S
SPE$ILY TAK5 ADVANTAGE ( ? SITU,N
C>E.SLY GIV5 !M 0 ONLY ANO!R EVID;E ( H[
CLOSELY !Y 7 ON ,TOM'S TRAIL4
8,T MAN :O RAN \ (! B>N M/ H BE5 ! SAME
"O :O 0 9 ! FACTORY10 :ISP]$ ,N$ 6HIS
*UM4 8,HE PROBABLY SAW U -+ ? WAY & RAN
ON AH1D 6H ! F>M] ALL PRIM$ 9 R1DI;S4
,MAYBE HE KNEW Y _H PLANN$ 6RAM ! B>N40

8,MAYBE HE DID4 ,I'VE _H X 9 M9D = "S
  "T1 &
SPOK5 6"S ( MY M5 AB X40

  8,M TRAITORS 9 CAMP1 !N1 ,I'M AFRAID1
,TOM4 ,WE'LL H 6D "S M DETECTIVE "W4 ,B
LET'S GET ? ?+ SETTL$4 ,HE ONLY WANTS
6HOLD YR TANK1 & T W GIVE ! MAN1 96^:
H&S HE'S PLAY+1 A *.E 69SPECT H]40
  8,I 2LIEVE Y4 ,B IF ,I H 6L1VE H] "H
,I'LL L1VE "S M5 ON GU>D 9SIDE4 ,X WON'T
2 ANY WORSE ?AN 2+ /ALL$ 9 ,NO ,MAN'S
,L&4 ,9 FACT1 X WON'T 2 S BAD4 ,B ,I'LL
D T R ?AN 2 G\G$40
  8,NO1 ,TOM1 Y WON'T4 ,IF Y DID L1VE "S
"O ON GU>D1 "!'D 2 TOO M* *.E ( _! GETT+
! BE/ ( HM4 ,Y M/ TAKE YR TANK AWAY )
Y40
  8,B H[ C ,I8 ,I C'T PUT UP ?REE ?\S&
DOLL>S 9 CA%1 & HE SAYS HE WON'T TAKE A
*ECK = FE> ,I'LL /OP PAY;T4 ,I SEE 8
GAME1 B ,I DON'T SEE H[ 6BLOCK X40
  8,B ,I D60 CRI$ ,N$4
  8,:AT60 EXCLAIM$ ,TOM4 8,Y DON'T M1N
6SAY1 EV5 IF Y D "W 9 A BANK1 T Y'VE GOT
?REE ?\S& 9 CA% 3C1L$ AB YR P]SON1 D Y80
  8,PRETTY NE>LY1 ,TOM1 OR :AT IS J Z
GD4 ,I H T AM.T 9 ,LIB]TY ,BONDS4 ,I 0
GO+ 6DELIV] !M 6A CU/OM] :O HAS ORD]$ !M
B N PD = !M4 ,!Y >E *>G$ UP AG/ ME AT !
BANK1 B ,I'M GD = T1 ,I GUESS4 ,N[ ,I'LL
LOAN Y ^! BONDS1 & Y C GIVE !M 6? CRANKY
OLD F>M] Z SECUR;Y = DAMAGES4 ,M9D1
DON'T MAKE !M Z A PAY;T4 ,!Y'RE SIMPLY
SECUR;Y--! SAME Z :5 AN AUTOI/ L1VES 8
C> Z BAIL4 ,ONLY WE DON'T WANT 6L1VE \R
C>1 WE'D R H X ) U10 & HE LOOK$ OV] AT !
TANK1 BRI/L+ ) SPL9T]S F ! DEMOLI%$ B>N4
  8,WELL1 ,I GUESS T'S ! ONLY WAY \10 SD
,TOM4 8,LUCKY Y _H ^? BONDS ) Y4 ,I'LL
TAKE !M1 & GIVE Y A RECEIPT = !M4 ,9
FACT1 ,I'LL BUY !M F Y & LET ! F>M] HOLD
!M Z SECUR;Y40
  ,& ?1 EV5TU,Y1 0 D"O4 ,AF M* HEMM+ &
HAW+ & 3SULT,N )! M5 9 ! AUTOMOBILE1
,MR4 ,KANK] SD HE WD A3EPT ! BONDS4 ,X 0
MADE CLE> T !Y 7 N 9 PAY;T ( ANY
DAMAGES1 ?\< ,TOM ADMITT$ HE 0 LIA# =
"S1 B T ,UNCLE ,SAM'S W> SECURITIES 7
ONLY A SORT ( BAIL1 GIV5 69DICATE T1 "S
"T LAT]4 :5 A JURY _H PASS$ ON ! MATT]1
! "Y 9V5TOR WD PAY ,MR4 ,KANK] :AT"E SUM
0 AGRE$ ^U Z J4
  8,& N[10 SD ,TOM1 Z POLITELY Z HE CD
"U ! CIRCUM/.ES1 8,I SUPPOSE WE W 2
ALL[$ 6DE"P40
  8,YES1 TAKE YR OLD %EBANG (F5 MY
PROP]TY60 ORD]$ ,MR4 ,KANK]1 ) NO V GD
GRACE4 8,& IF Y G KNOCK+ D[N ANY M B>NS1
,I'LL D\# ! PRICE ON Y60
  8,I GUESS HE'S A BIT ROIL$ 2C HE CDN'T
HOLD ! TANK10 OBS]V$ ,N$ 6,TOM1 Z !Y
WALK$ TGR 6! BIG MA*9E4 8,HIS FRS --\R
5EMIES--EVID5TLY HOP$ T 0 :AT CD 2 D"O4
,!Y WANT 6GET AT "S (! SECRETS40

8,I SUPPOSE S10 3C$$ ,TOM4 8,WELL1 WE'RE
  \ ( T1
& ,I'VE PROV$ ALL ,I WANT TO40

  8,B ,I HAV5'T--Q10 SD ,N$4
  8,:AT'S MISS+80 ASK$ 8 *UM1 Z !Y GOT
BACK 9 ! TANK4
  8,WELL1 ,I'D L 6MAKE SURE T ! FELL[ :O
RAN F ! FACTORY 0 ! SAME "O ,I SAW SN1K+
\ (! B>N4 ,I 2LIEVE HE WAS1 & ,I 2LIEVE
T ,SIMPSON'S CR[D 5G9E]$ ? :OLE ?+40
  8,I 2LIEVE S1 TOO10 ,TOM AGRE$4 8,!
NEXT ?+ IS 6PROVE X4 ,B T W KEEP UNTIL
LAT]4 ,! MA9 ?+ IS WE'VE GOT \R TANK1 &
N[ ,I'M GO+ 6GET H] R1DY = ,FR.E40
  8,W %E 2 9 %APE 6%IP SOON80 ASK$ ,N$4
  8,YES1 IF NO?+ M HAPP5S4 ,I'VE GOT A
FEW LL *ANGES & ADJU/;TS 6MAKE1 & !N
%E'LL 2 R1DY =! LA/ TE/--"O ( L;G 4T.E
5DUR.E MA9LY4 ,AF T1 A"P %E -ES 6G 6!
FRONT1 & WE'LL 2G9 MAK+ 'EM 9 QUANTITIES
"H & ON ! O!R SIDE40
8,GD60 CRI$ ,N$4 8,D[N )! ,HUNS60
  ,)\T FUR!R 9CID5T ( MO;T !Y W5T BACK
6! H1DQU>T]S (! TANK1 & SOON ! GRT MA*9E
0 SAFE 9 ! %OP ": %E _H BE5 MADE4
  ,! NEXT TWO WEEKS 7 BUSY "OS = ,TOM1 &
9 !M HE PUT ! F9I%+ T\*ES ON 8 MA*9E1
GAVE X A L;G TE/ OV] FIELDS & "? WOODS1
UNTIL F9,Y HE ANN\NC$3

8,%E'S Z -PLETE Z ,I C MAKE H]6 ,%E'S
  R1DY =
,FR.E60





