up and take him out in de country Pete?" He looked at the larger man and waited for his orders.

"Naw! he answered. "He don't need no clothes at all on where he's going." Turning to Russ he pointed with his right fist which all but hid a large pistol: "Strip punk. Then you'll think before you try to run away from us." He walked over to the closet where Russ had hung up his suits and topcoat. Taking the topcoat in his left hand he tossed it to Russ. "Put dis on".

Even as the terrified young man slipped into the coat which did cover his nakedness, he protested again the case of mistaken identity but to no avail. “Shut up or I'll cream you here" Pete promised. “Get your shoes and socks on."

Russ obediently sat on the bed and slipped into his footwear. When he had tied the final shoe, he was jerked to his feet and pushed roughly toward the door. "Shorty'll have hold of that coat on your left, Joe will be holding at your right. Me'n Ed here will be just behind you. We head for the elevator and out the side door to our bus. Try to get away and we plug you anyhow. That way you may cause some innercent folks to get shot too. So behave okay?"

"You guys are making a mistake," Russ pleaded. “I'm not who you think I am. Honest."

"Ya gonna do what I said punk, or do you want it here?"

"Yes Sir!" Russ agreed. He stood a better chance he thought, if he could get them out of the secluded room.

The five men left the room as agreed to previously, and then a frighten- ed Russ saw a door at his side marked "Exit". As the rattling elevator was stopping he suddenly slipped out of the armsleeves of the overcoat and plunged through the Exit door. Taking the steps four at a time in desperation he turned the corner on his hunters as an explosion almost deafened him, and a burning sensation ripped at his right arm.

Rather than slowing him, this pain threw him into faster steps.

He was down the third flight before he opened the door that led into the hotel corridor of the 8th floor. His left arm was holding his wounded arm as he hurried down the hall. Seeing a door beginning to open, and

38