omeone ahead of him, and saw it was Trench. He looked up, and straight
into the swinging muzzle of the machine gun that had started the
commotion.

Trench was reaching for his revolver, but he was going to be too late.
Gordon brought his up the extra half inch, aiming by the feel, and
pulled the trigger. The man behind the machine gun dropped.

Trench had his gun out now, and was firing, after a single surprised
glance at Gordon. He waved back toward the crowd.

But Gordon had spotted the open trunk of the gray car. He shook his head
and tried to indicate it. Trench jerked his thumb and leaped to his
feet, rushing back.

Gordon saw another truck go by, and felt a bullet miss him by inches.
Then his legs were under him, and he was sliding into the big luggage
compartment, where the metal would shield him.

Something soft under his feet threw him down. He felt a body under him,
and coldness washed over him before he could get his eyes down. The cold
went away, to be replaced by shock. Between his spread knees lay
Murdoch, bound and gagged, his face a bloody mess.

Gordon reached for the gag, but the other held up his hands and pointed
to the gun. It made sense. The knots were tight, but Gordon managed to
get his knife under the rope around Murdoch's wrists and slice through
it. The older man's hands went out for the gun; his eyes swung toward
the street, while Gordon attacked the rope around his ankles.

The Star Point men were winning, though it was tough going. They had
fought their way almost to the booth, but there a V of Planters' cars
had been gotten into position somehow, and gunfire was coming from
behind them. As he watched, a huge man reached over one of the cars,
picked up a Star Point man, and lifted him behind the barricade.

The gag had just come out when the Star Point man jumped into view
again, waving a rag over his head and yelling. Captain Trench followed
him out, and began pointing toward the gray car.

"They want me," Murdoch gasped thickly. "Get out, Gordon, before they
gang up on us!"

Gordon jerked his eyes back toward the alley on the other side. It went
at an angle and would offer some protection.

He looked back, just as bullets began to land against the metal of the
car. Murdoch held up one finger and put himself into a position to make
a run for it. Then he brought the finger down sharply, and the two
leaped out.

Trench's ex-Marine bellow carried over the fighting. "Get the old